GaleMR

When the darkness comes without warning and life gives you a shitty hand, you never knew was possible,until it slaps you hard and leaves you reeling, unbalanced and hopelessly lost, just turn around and give it the middle finger! Hazel had it all - 17y of perfect life - safe, cherished, surrounded by the unconditional support and love of her family, the perfect childhood best friend and a clear path for her future ahead, mapped out and ready to be conquered. Until a tragedy hit, snatching away everything- her parents, her perfect life, her dreams and her future. And because this wasn't enough and 1 tragedy never comes alone, in this time of grieving her tremendous loss, darkness comes to claim the remaining pieces of her life. The story is so well written, every detail feels like a painful jab and it builds and builds and builds in intensity ‘until it reaches unbearable level where humiliation, degradation and torment blend together in a dizzying feeling of free fall that never ends, never stops. I am not sure if I have to call this omegaverse dark because for me it was like a black night when the clouds are so dense, you can't see the Moon or the stars. You know they are there, but the oppressive feeling lingers persistently, leaving you unsettled and restless. That's exactly how the book makes you feel - frightened of what's to come and fascinated by all the twists and turns. A brilliant symphony of discordant tones, that are so perfect together in their controversy. And this is how Hazel's life looked like - from the perfect, bright and sweet to the dark, bitter and ugly in a blink of an eye.
All the trigger warnings shouldn't be ignored - there are a lot of graphic scenes of the abuse and agony on page. They are of great importance as corner stones of Hazel's personal hell and the way they impact and change her personality, life perspective and way of thinking. After the untimely death of her parents, Hazel is taken in by her crazy, estranged uncle and thrown into an unfamiliar, hostile environment in the midst of the wilderness, where a cult lives unbothered and unseen, while his leader unleashes all the horrors his unhinged imagination can supply. And if this wasn't trauma enough, her body betrayed her in unexpected way biologically switching from beta to omega which made her life even more miserable.
The story follows closely Hazel's survival - the way her character was broken to crumbs and rebuilt again from the ashes of the past, piece by piece, carryng the horrific scars of a life, far beyond any resemblance of normalcy. Hazel is an amazing example of how much pain human mind can endure and still come out fairly intact. She learned some incredibly useful survival tools like how to compartmentalise all the horrors, separate them on level of importance and lock them in boxes, shoving them deep inside the recesses of her mind. She also learned how to disassociate and isolate mentally while her body was physically assaulted and abused.
So why then the book is called Pack Dutton you will ask? And that's absolutely logical question. While the story's focus is Hazel's survival, the second plot line is Salvation. After 4 years of captivity, Hazel was convinced that death was her only possible escape route. Until 2 united packs of FBI agents swept in and demolished the compound she was kept in. But don't you dare sigh in relief! The seemingly picture-perfect way the author brought a ray of sunshine in the dark underbelly of the story, she masterfully and equally easily took the light again. The plot is multilayered and so complex, the different threads fit and merge together perfectly. Hazel lands from one kind of captivity into another because while she was held isolated, the world she returned into wasn't the one she knew and left behind. It was like society has descended into madness and turned the madness into an everyday reality. Such a fascinating mind game! And it didn't stop there. The pack that took her in their care, that showed her what real love and kindness are - pack Dutton - were a dream she never thought possible. The moment she dared to dream - her second chance was gone. The cliffhanger brings the harrowing question- will she ever have a fairytale of her own?Read it, feel it, live it! It's an omegaverse story you don't want to miss.

I am borrowing Dylan's words in a changed context - Seraphina Bryce should have been named Unholy Terror Bryce. And it's absolutely warranted! This is the kind of characters I like - female or male. The ones that fight back till the bitter end for what they want; the ones with fire in their heart, gasoline in their veins, the fiery temperament and the backbone to back their understanding and beliefs. Elizabeth Dear is a master in creating vivid and interesting characters that feel ready to jump out of the pages and give you a hard slap or a brutal push. The other plus for me is that the stories are thrilling and action packed. Sera wanted to have control over her life and be the one who takes the decisions where she is going, what's going to happen and when. Her parents trying to sabotage her already crafted plan for the future was met by Seraphina's absolute No in a spectacular way. Their meddling was really annoying and despite the HEA at the end, the way they inserted themselves in her situation, made me despise them even more because it was a second strike against the older Bryce family/first is in Dylan's story/. And there are - Loki, Blaze and Hawk/ the code names/ - the perfect match for Omega terror like Sera. When the thunder meets the lightning, Chaos rains and emotions burn fast and out of control. If you crave different flavor of Omegaverse, this is it!

While the first one is tamer, just a glimpse of the real dark that was coming, the second one reveals a world of kinks and Jacob's reluctant submerge in them. Somewhere during my reading I went from sympathising to his misery to outright aching for every degrading and humiliating experience he went through. And why was everything happening you will probably ask? I asked my self too more than once. Because he didn't have the spine and the will to say No and was stupidly clinging to the naive belief that his future was worth the sacrifice. With just a few sentences at the end of the second book, the author just smashed these hopes into pieces. The book itself was so realistically written, it was downright scary.
I am definitely waiting to see the horror waiting for Jacob in the third installment and his screams.
And while waiting no Daddy/boy books for me - I have to first bleach my mind...

Cozy, welcoming and gently warm, each story creates the feeling of coming home. This is one of the series with the most impressive, broad cast of main characters. And while the focus of each book is on a different trio/quad, the other characters don't just fade into the background or make sporadic cameos. Nope! This is such a uniquely shaped found family that their lives are practically intertwined and connected on a deeply spiritual level. They are more than friends, united by the specifics of their D/s lifestyle. Every joy, success, failure, struggle, burden, doubt resonates throughout the community. The stories are all interconnected, but the last one is about some of the characters I love the most so I was really happy for the peek into the inner sanctum of the relationships between KC, Lucian, Cam and Noah. And what I discovered completely floored me. Their love and care for each other were so masterfully described on page that the readers could feel it deep down to the marrow of their bones. And I felt it, experienced it, and kept it as one of my favorite memories. When Lucian ‘s passionate workaholic tendencies, lead him to a hospital stay, this scare rocked the whole foundation of his little family of 4. Because not only did he endangered himself and completely overlooked his own health and needs, but his choices reflected badly on the life of the people depending on him, believing in him, relying on his strength and better judgement. Boundaries were blurred, promises were broken, but we also got to see how the magnitude of what happened and the way Lucian handled the situation, reflected first on his master-slave 24/7 dynamic with Cam and on the relationships with the other 2 most important people in his life - KC and Noah.
Besides the crisis we witnessed happening in the story, there was also beautifully described reflection of KC and Lucian's friendship through the years that naturally, fluidly morphed into so much more. Lucian's hospital stint brought to the front line, the feelings they both harboured for each other for years, but suppressed in fear that could irrevocably change their dynamic in unknown direction. And once again I admired the strength they had to face the internal doubts, wrangle the niggling fears and finally, finally admit the truth in front of each other - the ship has sailed and their friendship has long ago bloomed and changed into love - deep, undeniable and hard to contain in a friendly box, love.
Parts of us is a spot on name for this story : parts of us are afraid, parts of us have doubts, parts of us are in pain, parts of us secretly crave love and affection, but as long as there is a friend or lover to catch the pieces before they are scattered or shattered, we will be good. Everyone needs a safe landing or a harbour to escape a storm. Lucian and KC were all of these places for each for as long as they could remember in all their formative years. It was a natural continuation to confess the love and embrace it. And even better - they each had one more special person to share it with and the balance in their quad was perfectly formed.
As always in Cara Dee's books, there is a huge bonus that makes the emotional impact of every story, even more intense. It's the kinks galore of course: exhibitionism, Voyeurism, sharing, water sports, doll play and so much more. With all the sadists, masochists, Littles and slaves in a tight knitted community without kink shaming, where every desire is welcome to be explored, while boundaries are always respected, there is so much fun to have.

I chose to read the book because of the transgender representation of 1 of the main characters. Despite not knowing the author's writing style and not having read the first book in the series, I had no problem immersing myself in the story. And it was a really amazing journey getting to know the small found family of 4, living quite close and often under the line of poverty, but sticking together no matter the difficulties and trying to preserve as much normalcy as possible in their lives. Every day was a struggle, a battle of survival, described with shocking raw realism in vivid details. This book in particular is Dallas and Beck's story - the strong friendship they formed from the moment Beck took Dallas of the streets slowly transformed into a relationship. When I say slowly, it's really super slow but there was a solid reason behind this careful, tender unfolding of events. Both Beck and Dallas came from wildly different backgrounds and upbringing. And while Beck was a true street cat, hardened from young age in the intricacies of being a gang member, learned all the tricks to make a living on his own, Dallas was totally unprepared for the abrupt change in his life from having everything at the end of his fingertips to being no one and having literally nothing. His mother was a total enigma to me - Dallas had such fond memories of her and looking at them I was totally bewildered how such a stellar example of support and care that has risen Dallas on her own, will just accept the opinion of her piece of garbage boyfriend without a grain of salt and not look for her son. But no! She just upped and disappeared without a backward glance. Phenomenal!
So back to our 2 main characters. The story packs a lot of angst, pain and trust issues. There was impressive amount of gender dysphoria, because Dallas was battling severe insecurities about his body and while his mother loved him unconditionally and helped him transition when he was young, he didn't feel well in his body. Dallas' new friends, roommates and pillars of stability - Scout and Roman and especially Beck had a significant role helping him be himself with absolute, unwavering acceptance and understanding.
The relationship that developed between Dallas and Beck was like a natural continuation of their unusually close and tactile bond. But it wasn't easy because of the heavy weight of their past combined - Beck's gang life and the secrets he was keeping from his friends, his conviction that he wasn't good enough for Dallas; Dallas' own mistrust of letting anyone really close and making himself being truly seen, were a terrifying vulnerability he wasn't ready for. But step by step they worked through all these challenges and built their own little world of love, affection and intimacy. The story packs such a strong emotional punch, it leaves the reader with the feeling of missing answers to a lot of questions and the unsettling sensation of more to come. There are lot of TW that shouldn't be underestimated and ignored because the triggering topics are what gives the story its shocking depth and emotional value.

This book was like landing in the alternate reality of romance, where I rarely take a stroll. But it was an amazing experience with so many, fun, loving and sweet moments, so I lost myself in this enjoyable double bi-awakening story. I won't retell the plot, leaving the pleasure of that exploration to the readers. But I have to say that I loved Aspen. Thanks to his upbringing and supportive family environment, he still looks at the world with pure, enthusiastic wonder as an open field where he is free to explore and conquer in search of the right place for himself and the way he wants his life to be. Cooper is complete opposite - repressed and confined within the strict boundaries of his parents' expectations, he is taught that his life must fit into certain societal norms if he is to succeed. When he meets Aspen, his whole life does a 180. Cooper can't even grasp the idea of absolute freedom, of being the person he wants to be in the first place and everything else as a second priority. Aspen is the much-needed wake-up call for Cooper. And I'm glad they met. Another excellent, heart-warming story with a different flavour than the usual in Courtney's writing palette.

If you need an example of how to write a bestselling mm romance and then outdo yourself with the next book, the name you're looking for is Raquel Riley. This a book, dealing with very heavy topics like mental health, surviving captivity, grief, loss, addiction; a thought-provoking story that gives you heartburn and urges you to reevaluate your life priorities and your beliefs. The darkness within is a stellar example for the emotional strength of a man who is struggling to find anchors to his new reality - life out of the military as a decorated veteran. Because once being a soldier, you are always a soldier - your military career, the orders you have followed, the horrors you have seen, the traumatic experience you have been through and the lives you have taken to survive, don't magically disappear when you are discharged and that page of your life is closed. The darkness within stays in you as a constant companion and the only thing you can do is finding the light that will give hope and the feeling of not being alone. Brewer is exactly 2 of these things - the anchor Nash needed to overcome the nightmare he went through and the light that guided him through the darkest moment. This was a beautifully written story for finding love in a moment when Nash was falling apart and Brewer was there to catch the pieces. The only element I didn't enjoy was the religious aspect of the program because I definitely disagree with Brewer's opinion on that matter. But this is a Me thing as a reader and has nothing to do with Raquel's exceptional writing.

My first step in the world of Smoky Vale and even though I haven't had the pleasure to read the Grimm tales of Smoky Vale, I enjoyed this book to the fullest without prior knowledge of the other characters. But I'll definitely read every other book ASAP.
Who would have guessed that underneath the dapper suits, the straight laced exterior and the shiny boots of the former Mayor of Smoky Vale is hidden such a molten hot core!?! What happens when you lose the comfortable predictability, the false feeling of security and in a matter of hours, everything you've built your life on turns out to be a giant lie?
As I was reading, the situation Gerald was in, reminded me a lot of the wonderful saying : “When life serves you too many lemons, make the most wonderful lemonade.” And what a lemonade it was!!
I loved this explosive bi awakening. The undeniable chemistry between Gerald and Bay was off the charts from the start. It was so entertaining to watch Bay turning Gerald in a filthy, blabbering, gloriously needy mess.
They couldn't be more different standing on both sides of the tracks - one ex politician and one biker in an 1% MC. But the author did it in an outstanding way. What made it even better was the wonderfully written storyline.
I received an ARC in return for my honest review.

There is a saying that Life is what happens when we are busy making other plans. And that's exactly what happened with Aaron and Cortez when they were still young and figuring out their way to be successful MMA fighters. Fighting against fate is a wonderful second chance story about finding the strength and courage to open the door of the past and mending the broken pieces of your heart and dreams. It's a story about love, forgiveness, trust and re-evaluating life priorities. I really loved the way Raquel developed the plot line - for such a short story it had great emotional charge. The hurt, the feeling of betrayal and abandonment, the helplessness while watching their lives splinter and unravel were realistically described as well as the re built, the rebound and the reconnection. In the years they were apart, Cortez and Aaron never lost the feeling that they were missing a crucial piece of their lives. The unfathomable pain was plaguing them persistently. The reconnection was really explosive and hard won.
Overall it was not only an enjoyable read but also inspirational and thought-provoking.

This is one of the authors I never doubt will provide a meaningful story. A story with intense emotional content both on the surface and below the lines. So beneath the usual spice, heat and fun lies a world of thought provoking questions - how much is too much in a brotherly relationship, how close is too close, where does friendship end and deeper feelings begin and when the lines finally blur, will anyone be hurt. This is one of the sweetest taboo omegaverse stories, I've had the pleasure of reading, a full 3-course delicious feast - from the appetizers to dessert in typical Odessa style, or in our case, from the deep, all-consuming love of the eldest brother, devoted to spoil the youngest child in the family through the fierce, intense feeling of contentment and happiness that builds between the two brothers as the youngest grows, to the realization that the special bond they have shared and nurtured over these years goes far beyond brotherly affection. And while the book is focused on Keenan and Ellis in their transition from being brothers to mates, there is an additional plot line in the process of development, that's also interesting to follow and a solid promise for a lot of surprises to come!

This is truly a book about love without limitations and in all forms possible - the love between orphaned brothers who have to overcome grief and built a new life alone/ Cole and Nathan/; the love between best friends which swiftly and seamlessly morphed in love between partners/ Brooks and Lucas/; the love between friends and like minded people, who work together in Knockout gym, providing safe place for the LGBQTA+ community, but not only and the love in a family/ some parents are really supportive even if not all/. Abrianna Denae's writing language is love and emotions - her characters, stories and plot development speak directly to the soul. They are so well written, so deep, wholesome and meaningful you can feel it while reading and live through their experience.
Brooks and Lucas were in already established relationship when they met the two brothers Cole and Nathan. It's one of this beautiful relationships based on communication, respect and acceptance that radiates comfort, warmth and feeling of unwavering stability. Both Brooks and Lucas felt strongly the pull towards Cole when they met him but in different ways and intensity.
Cole was the sole caretaker for his pre teen brother Nathan after a tragic incident left them alone, grieving and totally lost. He was struggling and fighting to remain afloat and provide for his brother but some needs go well beyond the physical. This is truly a book about love without limitations and in all forms possible - the love between orphaned brothers who have to overcome grief and built a new life alone/ Cole and Nathan/; the love between best friends which swiftly and seamlessly morphed in love between partners/ Brooks and Lucas/; the love between friends and like minded people, who work together in Knockout gym, providing safe place for the LGBQTA+ community, but not only and the love in a family/ some parents are really supportive even if not all/. Abrianna Denae's writing language is love and emotions - her characters, stories and plot development speak directly to the soul. They are so well written, so deep, wholesome and meaningful you can feel it while reading and live through their experience.
Brooks and Lucas were in already established relationship when they met the two brothers Cole and Nathan. It's one of this beautiful relationships based on communication, respect and acceptance that radiates comfort, warmth and feeling of unwavering stability. Both Brooks and Lucas felt strongly the pull towards Cole when they met him but in different way.
Cole was the sole caretaker for his pre teen brother Nathan after a tragic incident left them alone, grieving and totally lost. He was struggling and fighting to remain afloat and provide for his brother but some needs go well beyond the physical. At this difficult moment, Cole and Nathan received an unexpected lifeline - an invitation for Nathan to train and learn at the Knockout gym. It was a life-changing moment that connected Brooks, Lucas, Cole and Nathan in unexpected ways. For Cole and Nathan, it was even more - a much-needed breath of fresh air, an island of calm in the hostile sea of daily challenges they both navigated, an embrace of unconditional, caring love they both desperately needed. The story also has a strong non-binary presentation and interesting interpretation of transitioning and finding your true self, even if it doesn't conform to societal norms and expectations / Brooks is enby and Nathan is in the process of discovering who he really is /. The underlined message woven into the story is that everyone has the human right to be accepted and respected in the way they identify. But discovering who you really are is a lifelong journey of self-discovery.

Bloody Hell, talk about a surprise! Brilliant in its execution as a plot and world building, fabulous and engaging as writing style it took my breath away so much so that I inhaled all the 3 books in one go. But let's look at the first one.

A dark romance that starts with the explosive attraction between Tino and Richard from the moment of their unforgettable extraordinary first meeting in the elevator of the company they both work for / boss-emploee trope/. It was more than painfully obvious how different both characters are from these very first moments. Richard /the CEO/- demanding, cold, arrogantly aloof, used to the world bending to his whims immediately and unquestionably. And Tino - the hot tempered, brutally honest italian boy, pretty as a picture but smart as a whip. Their strong personality collided from the start and the screeching of the clash was deafening. And Going down they really went - in an raging inferno of passion that later couldn't disguise how destructive both of them are to each other - Richard more than Tino. And while Tino didn't know the world of pain he is blindly signing up for, ignoring the warnings Richard gave him bluntly and directly, there was no excuse for Richard who dragged him behind the glamorous curtain of his complicated, dangerous dual life; simply because he is used to take everything that snags his attention and sniffs the light out of it. At the beginning of their intertwined paths, Richard was an absolute narcissist, unwilling to change and compromise, always chasing his own agenda no matter the cost for the people around him. On the other hand - Tino's personal growth and character development were astounding and exponential. He learned in stride to survive without losing his internal fire, warmth and emphaty, but his wide eyed innocence and naivete died a gruesome death.

So now you know that after this splendid beginning was carved into my mental eye, I couldn't stop so I directly plunged into book 2.

Be aware of the triggers, gently listed by the author - they aren't a joke. But if you are a fan of descending darkness and all the doom, gloom and emotional twists, this is an excellent choice.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Merged review:

Bloody Hell, talk about a surprise! Brilliant in its execution as a plot and world building, fabulous and engaging as writing style it took my breath away so much so that I inhaled all the 3 books in one go. But let's look at the first one.

A dark romance that starts with the explosive attraction between Tino and Richard from the moment of their unforgettable extraordinary first meeting in the elevator of the company they both work for / boss-emploee trope/. It was more than painfully obvious how different both characters are from these very first moments. Richard /the CEO/- demanding, cold, arrogantly aloof, used to the world bending to his whims immediately and unquestionably. And Tino - the hot tempered, brutally honest italian boy, pretty as a picture but smart as a whip. Their strong personality collided from the start and the screeching of the clash was deafening. And Going down they really went - in an raging inferno of passion that later couldn't disguise how destructive both of them are to each other - Richard more than Tino. And while Tino didn't know the world of pain he is blindly signing up for, ignoring the warnings Richard gave him bluntly and directly, there was no excuse for Richard who dragged him behind the glamorous curtain of his complicated, dangerous dual life; simply because he is used to take everything that snags his attention and sniffs the light out of it. At the beginning of their intertwined paths, Richard was an absolute narcissist, unwilling to change and compromise, always chasing his own agenda no matter the cost for the people around him. On the other hand - Tino's personal growth and character development were astounding and exponential. He learned in stride to survive without losing his internal fire, warmth and emphaty, but his wide eyed innocence and naivete died a gruesome death.

So now you know that after this splendid beginning was carved into my mental eye, I couldn't stop so I directly plunged into book 2.

Be aware of the triggers, gently listed by the author - they aren't a joke. But if you are a fan of descending darkness and all the doom, gloom and emotional twists, this is an excellent choice.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Starts like dark erotica and ends like a thriller? Yes, that's Jay L. North books - Topped by My father in law and Trained by my father in law. In the first book Jacob's absolutely normal life turns from Hallmark rom com to a horror movie in a blink of an eye. When he and his fiancé visit her father, Jacob has a forceful crash course in learning how to submit and go with the flow without asking questions. It's a shocking, non con experience that leaves the foundation of his sexual identity totally changed and shattered. And not only everything he knew for himself abruptly changed and shifted. He gained a Daddy - not the loving and caring type of one though. But a lot more disturbing was the subtle sinister vibe that all the lines crossed and obliterated were just the beginning. For such short reads both books are a real heart-stopping, pitch black delight.

Surprise is the most accurate term I can use to describe this book. Roxy Collins has once again managed to deliver one hell of fascinating story I wasn't expecting, and while I always enjoy her innovative ideas, this time I found it very difficult to connect with the characters and the plot. The time frame in which everything was happening on page was so compact that it affected the usual personal growth I love to read about in her stories.
There's a lot to unravel in this relatively short but emotionally intense read - a real tangle of ulterior motives, external drama, complex relationships, an impressive amount of different kinds of trauma, and a glimpse of the healing process.
This isn't an omegaverse story - yes, that's right. That's not a mistake. I want to be clear that if you're expecting the traditional spin with omega nests, a pack focused on their omega, the omega getting the lion's pie of attention, you're not going to get them. Look at the blurb of the book /”I am worthy a.k.a Beta is worthy”/ The House of Omega is actually a beta story. Grace is a beta and the attention is solely focused on her with just a light sprinkle of moments about her partner - Max. Yes, Max is the Omega in the story. He was the one propositioned by the Rose pack to be courted but he chose Grace as a companion during the courting process.
So how did it all actually begin?
Like an incredible fairytale with Cinderella vibes in a fictional world where everything is about Omegas and Alphas and betas are nothing to be talked about.
Max and Grace met during a faithful bus ride to House of Omega. Grace because she had an interview appointment as a designer, and Max for his own photo shoot appointment as part of the process of choosing a new heart of the House. One and the same place - different goals and different paths. It was an insta attraction, insta lust type of connection between them/which later in the book turned out to be something even more special/. For Grace, meeting Max, was the stroke of luck , she really needed to be finally noticed and her dream to come true. For pack Rose it was a wake up call to strengthen the pack bonds, heal old wounds and face the challenge of solving internal trust issues. Helping Grace escape the shackles of her helish past was a part of the healing process and made them a true family not just a group of individuals, living and working together.
I wish we had time to see more of Garth and the pack dynamic after Grace and Max joined them. And more of Max - he was always in the shadows and there was no time for his sweetness to shine through. Overall it was enjoyable read even though there were a lot of moments were I didn't agree with the plot development.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I love authors who represent diversity in their books; authors whose characters are anything but conventional and fit the norm; authors who follow the pulse of the story even though it deals with uncomfortable topics or hard truths. Crea Reitan is one of them. I am in love with her storytelling - the feelings and power embedded in every word. Because You are worth it! You have an inner Vulcan sleeping somewhere inside you that wants to come out - the whisper of insecurity, our true selves, we, as people often have to hide to appease society, to be accepted and liked. No! We are worth it the way we are no matter the color, the sexuality, the body shape, the clothing. Vulcan is more than a character in a book - he is a special msg hidden inside colorful package of pastel tattoos, sparkling nail polish and beautiful dresses. I loved his personality and strength; the fact that no matter the pain of repeated rejection and lack of understanding, he had the backbone to stay true to himself. And with the passing of years, seeing people paired up and happy, it was getting increasingly difficult to keep the sliver of hope that there is someone out there who will accept him as a package deal - the giant teddy bear, looking like a biker with all the colors of the rainbow, with his love for fuzzy leggings and soft blankets. So I totally understood his hesitation and fear when he met Luca. And through Luca, Vulcan met his partners - Zvi, Wren and Orson. Every one of them was once again someone out of the socially acceptable norm. Like pieces of patchwork quilt so different but fitting so well. Because this isn't only a story about how fascinating diversity is, it's a story of open polyamory and love beyond standard limitations.So if this still isn't enough to convince you, how incredibly good the story is, I am adding the fact that there is role playing and a lot of kinky fun. Check out the TW and dive in.

Totally unknown author to me who surprisingly delivered few hours of entertainment with their story. Enthralling fictional world where humans has learned to coexist with a lot of species from myths, legends and lore. It's a world of magic and technology with main focus on the waterfolk. Yes! That's right - the author has created an interesting world building about the history, culture and traditions of mermen. It's a modern MM fairytale about Royce - a human and prince in hiding and Troller - a counselor of waterfolk pod - how they met, fell in love and built life together combining the best of both worlds and tackling all the challenges thrown their way.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Simply perfection! One of the most heart-warming, authentic and in depth representations of demisexuality I have seen in books. The focus of the story is on building a meaningful emotional connection between both main characters, heat and sm$t are definitely not priority. Noah and Elixon have serious trust issues but they gradually worked through them. They have been around each other because of their sports careers, attending a lot of charities and other events but never paying anything more than a cursory glance. Until a game they both played, brought them together after hours of virtual talking. Their awareness and understanding of each other shifted on a fundamental, visceral level. It was a slow, careful reveal of fantasies, desires and small details, that usually don't come up in first dates and casual hookups that showed how much both of them craved to be seen and understood as ppl and not bags of money, looks and endless possibilities. And then there was something else in common, a passion they both carried inside, a whole new world - dolification - hesitantly revealed in these late night hushed conversations. I loved the pace and the flow of the story, the delicate build up of trust and the mounting desire to move the created connection from virtual to real. And the surprise when they found out who was behind the screen - it was simultaneously a relief and a shock. Finding out the person you overlooked for years, have so many hidden layers - priceless! And the most important - the virtual connection turned into a beautiful real life relationship.

I felt like the pages were crying along with Evan in the opening scene of the story. His grief, anger, and despair were palpable and all-consuming, a tidal wave that overwhelmed and suffocated him with its heavy presence. He was falling free, with no anchor or safety net to save him, only the featherlight weight of his son's frail body keeping the tattered remnants of his sanity intact. Born and raised in the shackles of a small, conservative, narrow-minded religious community, Evan was suffering the whiplash of not bending and conforming to their norms and ideas of what's acceptable. The story deals with very sensitive topic and touches the delicate line between religious beliefs and religious fanaticism. Where is the said line between the 2 when human life is in danger of being lost? I can't say more without my musings being spoilerish. But long story short, when a person plays a God, the results are usually devastating. And for Evan and his newborn son - they are life altering and heart shattering. Ostracised and shunned by both families/his parents and the family of his girlfriend/, left alone to deal with the loss of his love and mother of his child, Evan had to learn to live his new reality shockingly fast. What he didn't expect was someone to catch him while he was falling and not only catch him but to become a solid rock he could rely on. Shunned and ostracised just like him, but for another reason, Simon knew achingly deep, what being alone and different is.
Simon was also Evan's ex uncle/ by marriage, not blood related/ - all grown up, solid 15y older, tattooed, riding a motorcycle, out and proud gay and bringing the wind of change to this backwater town, where Evan was desperately trying to rebuild his life and learn how to be a single widowed father. These men so seamlessly clicked together from the first moment. They had such an amazing chemistry but also character compatibility. After the intense beginning of the story, It was a relief to read how easily they build up a routine around taking caring of Remy and started getting to know each other. There was enough external angst and pressure, to keep me on edge while I was following the development of their relationship but no internal drama. Beneath the profound sadness and grief, after Evan was able to process the trauma that shook the foundations of his life, I was delighted to see a core of steel, calm determination and real maturity. The way he embraced his newfound attraction to Simon and the change of his sexuality, were beautifully written and gently explored. This is an impressive, heart-touching example of well-balanced slow burn romance where the characters had a clear line of open communication - they were in tune with each other every step of the way - listening, talking, thinking, adapting, taking decisions together.

A fitting name for a book dedicated to healing the soul, learning to trust others, personal growth and how to live without sacrificing your personal happiness. Jonas and Jose couldn't be more different in character, upbringing and family background, but they are searching for something that brings them together unexpectedly and turns their lives upside-down. They are both looking for meaningful relationship and a partner with whom to build common future. Jonas is a gentle, shy giant and a people pleaser, forced to live in the closet to avoid disturbing the peaceful family environment. He lives his life in the shadows, making no waves and is quietly stewing in his solitude. On the contrary, despite his difficult time as a teenager, living in a dangerous environment and experiencing tumultuous and violent events, José has realized how precious every second of life is, so he is out, loud and proud. Jose's vibrant and bright personality blends surprisingly well with Jonas's quiet and thoughtful nature.
The book is about their story and all the learning curves, twists and difficult choices they have to make to build their relationship from the ground.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Five different men - 5 different ways to love - 5 lethal weapons. /yes, that includes Seb because excellent defence lawyer is a high level of lethality too/ and combined their strengths are unstoppable force. Cohesion is emotionally very heavy loaded story. While we got bits and pieces of Quinn, Seb, Peyton, Will and Jericho's lives in the previous books, here every emotion, every feeling, every wound of the soul were wide opened and their impact amplified. It's a story about healing, trust and love - real, genuine, cutting to the bone, raw, terrifying but oh, so inescapable! I can't believe this is the end of the road and the last book in this highly addictive, absolutely outstanding and unbelievably wild, unpredictable, twisted ride to the Great unknown. It's also a stellar example that polyamorous romance shouldn't be associated with only smut, spice and no plot. Cohesion, Reactant and Catalyst will always have a special place in my reading memory. And authors like Aurora are the reason I enjoy the complexity and depth of poly relationships, represented in books in all of their messy, irresistible, multilayered chaos.

Sweet, filled with a wide range of different emotions, quite angsty and covering a lot of triggering topics - that's “Until You” in a nutshell. This slow-burn story of two men, heartbroken for different reasons and coping with the shock of losing the lives they've known, and finding their own way to cope and survive, is truly touching and thought-provoking. Paul and Charlie are an unlikely couple brought together by sheer accident of fate and the divide of 27y between them was really quite a lot to take in. But it didn't bother me. Sometimes life delivers curve balls and the way we catch them, can deeply affect us. So when Paul stumbled on the homeless kid in a back alley, saving him from a beating and taking him home, this spur of the moment decision turned into a life changing moment. And I loved seeing how this so lonely, consumed by grief and guilt, man slowly started the climb from the pit of his own mini hell, he was drowning into for years. And while, at the beginning, Charlie looked like a project of self redemption, other stronger, foreign and definitely not fatherly feelings started to grow and develop. The story beautifully presented the initial internal turmoil, the doubts and the wonder that someone so much younger could be the reason for so many intense feelings and longing. And here comes Charlie - the other piece of the love equation. For someone who has lived on the streets alone for a long time and been forced to make tough decisions to survive, he was surprisingly overly tearful. But it was actually so human and understandable. He had accumulated so much trauma in his short 19 years that I wanted to hug him and never let him go. Fortunately they were both able to help each other and built a wonderful relationship. Overall, it was a good read and I enjoyed the fact that Charlie found such a caring, thoughtful and doting partner and for Paul, that in finding Charlie, he actually found a reason to move on, to overcome the crippling pain of his past and fully embrace his second chance at happiness and love.

I am truly in love with this world building - all the harsh angles and cruelty of it, are cutting deep lines in your memory while the plot is developing and expanding. After reading the first book, I didn't think the author could up the violence and gore even more, but obviously I was wrong. Every little detail of the story is bathed in crimson, dripping in blood, radiating pain and misery. The emotional turmoil of the characters is palpable and the angst is steadily going up. After the enormous cost of being freed again, Cy is back with the Veritas. But this time his eyes are wide open and his beliefs are truly shaken. As I said after reading the first book this isn't a romance, the lines between black and white, good and evil are blurred and twisted, a lot of the choices and decisions made are in the vast grey area. There is no HEA, just a bloody HFN - it's an ongoing series that sinks its teeth into your psyche and urges you to go on. I am waiting impatiently the next installment to see how much more heartache is coming and will there be any boundaries left untouched.

Omg, where to start with this one. Stable hand was like a turbulent and hella entertaining landing in the Candy wonderland but for the lovers of the kinks, not the sweets.
“Home, home on the range. Where the kinksters and the ponyboys play.” - it's the heart of the book in a nutshell but a lot more in same time. In her fictional world, AE Lister has created a cozy, warm and safe environment for her characters and an opportunity for them to let go of their inhibitions, embrace their inner kinky side and enjoy freedom.
One unreceived email turns Jensen Moriarty's calm and sheltered life into absolute chaos, sending him into a completely unknown and uncharted territory. Instead of looking after real horses, digging sh*ts and cleaning stalls, he agrees to try and learn how to look after human ponies. The story is a never-ending entertainment that begins with Jensen's first awkward, clumsy, surprisingly well executed attempts to master his pony stable duties. The opportunity to see his inner monologue was so insightful and provided a steady supply of funny moments. The story isn't just about the kinks but also about Jensen discovering his partners on the ranch - Noah and Luke - and the formation of their triad. I would have loved to see Noah and Luke's POV in the book, but no such luck. This is a light, low-angst, kinky awakening full of wonders - a tight knitted found family, exploring new relationships , setting personal boundaries and uncovering hidden desires and all of this accompanied with a sprinkling of shenanigans. Jensen's inner poise was an excellent bridge between Noah's quiet and shy demeanor and Luke's wilder brattines.

The fictional world of Los Demonios is cold, harsh, cruel and unforgiving. Here every step could lead to your death if you aren't careful, cunning and strong enough to defend the corner you have carved and declared to be your own.it's a world where the mafia syndicates rule and people's lives are means to an end. Be aware that it's also based on alpha- omega nonshifter dynamic.

Nico has learned the hard way that he is part of the prey. Vulnerable,lonely, destitute and desperate omega, he is living on the streets since he was 16. The only thing that numbs the aches of his life is being high as a kite most of the time. His weakness is what's going to be the beginning of even bigger nightmare and he falls in the clutches of El Supremo. After a heat goes wrong, his situation turns from bad to worse.

Valentino is part of the opposite world - he is a mafia boss's heir and is bred, born, raised and groomed to step in his father's shoes and continue his work. It's a dark world where the blood bonds are valued and matter but people are still pawns in the grander scheme of the game of dominance and influence.

Valentino's and Nico's worlds would have never been in one orbit and least of all collided if a dire need hasn't interfered and put them on the path of destruction.

This is not a beautiful love story or a classic romance. It's not even a romance for me. The unhealthy relationship between Nico and Valentino started as a heavily influenced dubious consent business deal with both of them pursuing their own goals. For Nico - this is the money needed to terminate his unwanted pregnancy, for Valentino - a marriage needed to keep and cement his position as a leader of The Black Knives syndicate after his father's death.

What wasn't believable for me in this intriguing and well written story, was that Nico and Valentino fell in love in the span of 2 weeks when even the bruises haven't had the chance to be healed and fade from Nico's body.

Nico was brutally coerced, bullied and forced into Valentino's world. He learns fast that everyone's position in it is based on their assets and what they can put on the table for negotiations.

When El Supremo emerged in his new life a second time, it was incredible shock to his system and turned the game of survival even deadlier.

The second not very logical to me part was that after all the suffering and everything he endured to find a way to terminate his pregnancy, Nico's decision was surprising.

But despite some not logical inconsistencies, I enjoyed all the twists in this story and its raw intensity kept me captivated and interested ‘till the end.

Be aware of that there are a lot of triggers - humiliation, bulling, torture, dubious consent, murder, discussions of abortion. If this is your jam, dive in without hesitation.

I feel a little torn on how to describe my personal impressions of the book. The heat level is low, almost fading to black, so it felt a bit like a YA story. As a vivid fantasy reader I enjoyed the fascinating, vibrant and colorful magical world. The author has skillfully woven in it elements of Asian mythology and fairy tales, refracting them through the prism of their own perspective, allowing the imagination to run wild. This is a highly intricate, action-packed story filled with loss, grief, sadness and betrayal, where love and friendship are rare and must be cherished and protected.
The ending felt like HFN so may be there will be continuation in the future.
Regarding the name of one of the main characters - Ling Ling - please, proceed cautiously if you think that it's offensive for people of asian origins and triggering for you.
I received an ARC in return for my honest review.