Tag Archive | Gay Romance

Hell & Highwater (THIRDS #1) By Charlie Cochet (5 Stars)

Feb22

An excellent action-based paranormal police story with a side of romance. Dex was amusing but also compassionate as the newest member of the THIRDS. Sloane was tough as nails and a good leader. The internal struggle Sloane faced, having lost his previous partner and lover, seemed realistic, and the tension between him and Dex made sense. Sloane truly loved his former partner and wasn’t ready to move on. He also felt something strong for Dex who, fortunately, was very supportive of the grieving process that Sloane was going through.

I liked the light humor throughout the book mixed in with suspenseful action scenes. The side characters were also really interesting including all of the other officers and Dex’s family.

This is the first in the series with an HFN on both the romance and overall arc. However, I wasn’t frustrated with the ending, and it didn’t feel like a major cliff-hanger. I’m looking forward to the next story to see how the relationship between Dex and Sloane moves forward, to see if any of the other characters get a story of their own, and too see how the plot moves forward on the killer.

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Originally reviewed for Swept Away By Romance. Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
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The Boyfriend Mandate (The Boyfriend Chronicles #2) by River Jaymes (3 Stars)

Feb17

Although I loved the first story, this one didn’t work for me on several levels. I spent the majority of the story disliking Memphis because of how he left Tyler. There were two main reasons why he left, and while the second one made the most sense, it was told too late in the story. The lack of communication between Memphis and Tyler was exhausting. The few times they did open up and talk, it would only last a few sentences before the scene faded to black. I just wasn’t convinced that these two should get back together. The other irritant was the extensive use of the word “dryly” to the point of distraction.  I’m still hopeful about the next story with Noah and Ky.

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The Subs Club (The Subs Club #1) by J.A. Rock (4 Stars)

Feb15

Five friends. One tragic death. Can the four friends find a way forward and begin to heal?

Dave and his three friends try to work through their grief after losing one of their best friends during a scene at a local BDSM club. It’s been over a year, and the pain is still fresh. Dave still hasn’t come to terms with what has happened and is extremely upset that the Dom responsible was found innocent in court. He tries to work through his issues by spending time with his friends and trying to find other outlets for his grief. He turns to another Dave, the “Disciplinarian”, for guidance. He ends up with more than he bargained for in a good way.

The Disciplinarian is trying his best to give Dave what he needs, including spankings, an enema, a caning, and the hardest thing for Dave, learning to be silent. While Dave and the Disciplinarian develop their relationship, Dave is also busy starting a website called The Subs Club. It’s meant to be an outlet for other subs to share reviews on Doms in the hopes that nobody else has to die at the hands of somebody who doesn’t know what they’re doing.  I liked the concept of this website, the drama that surrounded it, and the related consequences.

This was only told from Dave’s point of view, and I never felt like I really got to know the Disciplinarian very well. The two seemed to play well together, but it was the relationship side that was a bit too light for my tastes. Romance aside, Dave’s voice was strong and interesting. Without a doubt, this author consistently writes very real and unique characters. We spent quite a bit of time during the story with the other three intriguing characters which set us up for the next several books in the series.

Finding discipline, no matter the source, can sometimes make all of the difference in the world.

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Originally reviewed for The Romance Reviews. Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
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Until Forever Comes (Mates #2) by Cardeno C. (5 Stars)

Feb15

Can a vampire and a shifter, supposedly mortal enemies, become each other’s soul mate and savior?

Ethan Abbatt is a wolf shifter and the weakest link in his pack. He is unable to shift, and fears his days are numbered. Discovering that his true mate is a vampire is earth shattering, but Ethan is determined to make the best of it.

Miguel Rodriguez is one of the strongest vampires around and has no idea why a shifter, who originally tried to attack the vampires, is now so determined to stay by his side. As they work through developing their own relationship, they also have to deal with vampire and pack bias.

Ethan is such a lovely character. He’s a bit insecure after spending his life unable to shift, making him an outcast in his pack. However, he had the unconditional love of his family, especially his sister, allowing him to value himself and making him determined to hold unto his mate after finding him.

Miguel is extremely old, powerful, and smart. He is on the verge of going feral since he can’t seem to feed enough to satisfy his hunger. Since a shifter’s blood is poisonous to a vampire, Miguel is shocked that he can not only feed from Ethan, but actually feels better afterwards.

Once Ethan and Miguel accept their mating, the amazing steamy sex scenes happen fast and frequently. They also spend a lot of time talking, helping the pack, and dealing with the other vampires who aren’t fans of shifters.

It was absolutely adorable how jealous and protective each of these men were of the other. The epilogue was perfect, answering some questions from the first story and giving us a solid feeling of forever for Ethan and Miguel.

You can’t go wrong with this riveting page turner with true love, a suspenseful plot, wonderful dialogue, vampires, shifters, and steamy hot sex. I couldn’t put it down, and I’m anxiously awaiting the next book in the series!

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Originally reviewed for The Romance Reviews. Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
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