notguilty's reviews
1434 reviews

On Thin Ice by Hayden Hall

5.0

Finally, the stepbrothers!!

On Thin Ice is a bit different than the other books in this series, in that it mostly takes place away from campus at their family lake house. So, though I missed the campus life and the team especially, it made sense to their story.

Trying to meld two families together, especially when it involves teen boys can’t be easy, and if not done with care can lead to a lot of animosity. And in this case it didn’t go well. No matter how many times Asher’s mom called them brothers, they did not feel the same. They existed around each other, nothing more.

"You are my everything. You are all I want and can’t have. You’re the dreams I dream and the song I hear in total silence. You’re my happy place, but I can’t let you find that out."

Even still, they had an impact on each other. But it’s not until they spend the summer together at the lake house that they discover just how much.

It’s an emotional story, with plenty of drama that makes you want to shake your head and fist.

I’ve set it before…this is an exceptional series!

 

Restless by Willow Thomas

4.0

A quick sweet read with a lot of hilarious banter between the jock and the cheerleader! And their friends of course.

Neither deny their chemistry but Gio is wary of starting with Tucker seeing as his recent relationship ended when the guy cheated on him. But Tucker is basically a golden retriever who is not dissuaded from his quest to date the beautiful and slightly snarky cheerleader.

These two are a lot of fun but also touching as they work through some personal issues as well.

There are a number of great scenes, especially when Gio meets Tucker’s mom and an epic declaration of love!

This is a lovely series with some awesome friend groups and hilarious interactions.

 

Wild at Heart by Riley Hart, Christina Lee

5.0

Oh heck ya, I 100% need more cowboy stories from Riley & Christina!!

These two will break your heart. Porter especially. So angry and so desperate to be loved (not that he’d admit that). They had such a beautiful young love, though far from perfect, it had potential. But tragedy and fear broke them apart.

Now, years later, they have a second chance, but Porter’s anger is still consuming him, and Bishop is still trying to be the ‘perfect’ son. Yet, under it all, there’s no doubt they deserve each other and the love they could have. 

There’s an underlying story about the ways their families were connected that was compelling and touching the way it played out. 

Riley and Christina are amazing writers on their own, and they make a perfect pairing. This story drew me in immediately and didn’t let me put it down till the very end. In fact, I’m sure it’ll stay with me for a long time.

 

Dock Tease by DJ Jamison

4.0

Dock Tease is book one in Jamison’s new series Swallow Cove. Think Granville on the water. It’s a small town on a lake system full of the quirky people and store names that she’s best at.

This age-gap romance between Fisher and Hudson kicks everything off with a cute and sexy story.

Hudson moved to town a few years ago to run a boating business, but in the process, he made enemies with the owner of bait, tackle and gas store. A man who might try and feed his body to the fishes if he found out he was sleeping with his son Fisher.

Fisher has been crushing on the older man for a long time, and he wants him to be his first (and maybe only?)

These two are a lot of sexy, flirty and fun. I love the way they get so wrapped up in each other and spend so many sweet moments together.  I also appreciated the way they worked together to support one another and figure out a future for them both, winning over the locals along the way.

 

Anson's Ambition by Quinn Ward

4.0

I love Anson. And I love him even more with Kevin. He is sucked into Kevin’s vortex and no matter how much he tries (which I argue wasn’t very hard), he can’t stay away.

Anson is a loner, stuck in his own head, and a workaholic. If it wasn’t for his dog, he probably wouldn’t even know any of his neighbours. Which is exactly how Kevin ends up in his life.

Kevin himself is a very lovely guy. A police officer with a desire to help build the community, and a sweet relationship with his mother. He’s also handy with tools and good with dogs. So…ya know…perfect boyfriend!

I love their dynamic. A friendship built on shared dinners and a shared dog.  And I really appreciated the way they supported each other in their ambitions.

 

Relic by Mia Monroe

4.0

This was a really entertaining Vampire/Witchy story set in the lore of New Orleans.

It’s a quick read, so the relationship feels like it happens pretty fast, though by no means immediate, but that’s part of what makes it a fun story. Add to that the New Orleans setting, vampires who can disappear into smoke (I’ll take that superpower), and a host of paranormal side characters.

Emory is drawn to NO when he runs from his ex-boyfriend, only to find himself in the middle of a Vampire conspiracy to take over the city. Not to mention a mysterious man who seems to be a tad possessive and always seems to be there when he needs a protector.

Seriously, this is a great way to wile away a Saturday afternoon and indulge in some vampire sexiness.

 

Raze by Roan Parrish

4.5

“Rituals are kinda their own magic, aren’t they?” Felix said. “Maybe they don’t do anything, but they remind you what you want.”

Ah man, Huey was such a beautiful and emotional depiction of someone who’s in recovery from addiction but is stuck in the loop of it. Following his rituals and putting all his energy into helping others. Until Felix.

Felix who is younger and a carer. He’s spent his life caring for his family, being their rock.  They have that in common. But Felix also helps Huey see that he can dream again. 

This story is tender and warm, and you’ll want to wrap them both up in a blanket. The characters are honest and very real. 

I also love that this was dual-narrated.  It feels so natural to have two distinct people narrate the story. Helps they are both super talented. Definitely recommend the audiobook.

 

Never Getting Over You by Aria Brennan, Aria Brennan

4.5

An emotional story of a young love that is torn apart and leaves them both heartbroken and struggling.

My first book by Aria Brennan, and I was impressed. It’s an epic story that spans many years and brings all the emotion. The joy of two young friends, their sexual discovery and first love, to that love being ended by the expectations of a rich and powerful family.

I love a story where what happened in the past is fed to us slowly. I love a good reveal because it makes us sit with emotions before knowing if those were the emotions we should be feeling.

Both guys suffered, but what we knew for sure was that their love was everything, then and now.

I could have used a little more dialogue rather than just descriptions and inner monologue, but overall I did enjoy the righting style.

 

No Secrets by Nora Phoenix

5.0

Fantastic romance and mystery. I was hooked from the beginning, a DA being targeted by powerful people trying to stop his investigation.

So he takes refuge with his brother and his very kinky security team. Needless to say, Roman is stressed. Enter Caleb. A Sub who is very good at stress relief!

Roman isn’t out, and he’s not a Dom. But this story is full of self-discovery and figuring out what’s most important in life.

So as they fight to figure out who’s after Roman, these two spend a lot of time together. Time that is spent getting to know each other, and exploring their chemistry. Which was all kinds of hot and heartwarming.

 

Summer of You by Joelle Lynne

4.0

A sweet but emotional second-chance love story between two men who were young and just starting out in life when they first fell in love.

Nathan was supposed to return from college. When he didn’t, it left a huge hole in Chase’s life. Trapped in a small town working for Nathan’s uncle, he’s none too pleased when Nathan strolls back into town years later.

His excuse is flimsy, but the draw to one another is still strong. Over the course of the summer, they have a chance to rediscover their slightly older more mature selves and see if they still have something special.

They are both good guys who were young and made mistakes, and thankfully the future for them both looks bright, once they figure out who to communicate of course. LOL