Head Over Wheels by Jayda Marx

Title: Head Over Wheels                 Word Count: 519 pgs
Genre: Contemporary Gay Romance

Blurb:Harley – After the accident ten years ago that put me in a wheelchair, I did my best to avoid the world and its drama. I lived alone and worked from home. I’d disappear into my safe space for days, maybe even weeks, at which point my cousin always showed up to drag me out of my house to interact with the world whether I wanted to or not. On one of our outings, I met the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen in my life; Finn Becker. So what if he was trying to stab his cheating ex at the time? Finn was everything I wasn’t – sassy, feisty, hilarious, full of life – and everything I needed. To my amazement, Finn was interested in me too. Could I move beyond my insecurities and accept his love? Could I ever make such an amazing man happy?

*This M/M romance is for readers 18 and up! It has no cliffhangers or cheating and a very happy HEA. It contains a feisty, grade A sass factory who would do anything for his love, a man who needs love more than anything else in this crazy world, and lots of steamy sexual healing.

**My stories tend to be low on angst because it hurts my heart. They are, however, packed with sexy scenes, heartwarming moments and a healthy dose of humor.

Author’s Note

Thank you for your interest in my book! My stories tend to be low angst because it hurts my heart; I like getting to the good stuff and live for fluff. If “instalove” isn’t your thing, my books may not be for you. I want my readers to finish my books with a smile on their face and a fierce case of the warm and fuzzies. Laughter is guaranteed, and each read delivers its own type of drama. Thanks again for taking a look and happy reading!

My Review: Harley Woods could never have imagined how astronomical the changes in his life would be when he meets Finn Decker. Harley has been in a wheelchair since his teens after a spinal cord injury. The car accident not only caused his injury, it also took the life of his one true best friend, his mother. He has closed himself off from the outside world gaining the title of hermit from his cousin. His cousin Jake, has stood steadfast beside him through years of depression, always encouraging him to put himself out there. It’s because of his cousin pushing him, that he is face to face with the sassy fireball of a hairstylist who is threatening to maim a stranger with shears.

Finn Decker might be slight in stature, but his sassiness turns him into a giant. He is the sweetest little man you’ll ever meet, until he comes face to face with an ex who won’t take no for an answer. Harley is in awe of the little man who is threatening the stranger with his hair clippers.He is so enthralled that he doesn’t even realize that he has become Finn’s fake boyfriend. Finn uses Harley to prove a point to his lying cheating ex . He is well and truly over him. The ruse pays off when Finn’s ex stomps off. Finn is oh so thankful that the sexy stranger, played along. Finn continues flirting  with Harley , not caring that he is in a wheelchair.  The conversation flows between the two men, the chemistry is off the chain. It isn’t until his cousin Jake encourages Harley to ask the sexy Finn for his number, that he realized that his feelings might not be one-sided after all.

Although, he is shy and he wants to be cautious Harley knows he can’t let this opportunity pass him by. Finn is only too happy to say yes, when Harley asks him out. Harley leaves on cloud nine,  hardly believing that he has a date with the sexy man. Their date is fabulous and by the end of the night, Harley knows that he is half way in love with Finn already. He has never met anyone like Finn before, who treats him not as disabled , but as someone who is differently- abled and competent in every way. It soon becomes clear that Finn will be a constant champion. Finn is not afraid to sass anyone who is disrespectful or slights Harley in anyway. It is clear that the feelings are definitely not one sided, Finn is certainly in love with Harley as well.

Their relationship progresses at a fast pace. They are open and honest with each other, sharing their likes and dislikes. They are clear about what they want in their relationship.  It doesn’t take them long to know that it’s forever for them. Finn is extremely excited to be Harley’s first. He is ready to explore all that they can do sexually. Things heat up between the sheets for them. In Harley’s eyes, for the first time he feels like a whole man. Finn allows him to feel sexy,  and he doesn’t  dwell on their differences.  For Finn, their differences  complements each other. It makes them a cohesive united couple.

Finn and Harley’s life become fully entwined, because these two can’t seem to take their hands off each other. Finn is definitely not ashamed to show his love for Harley. Finn’s light shines through wherever he goes. He is welcomed with open arms by Harley’s wheelchair basketball team. They are all touched by Finn’s  kindness, he makes everyone feel special. It doesn’t take long for Harley to ask Finn to move in. Finn is over the moon.

When Harley is faced with some serious health issues and needs surgery, Finn is there by his side. He can clearly see how devastating this is for Finn. He tries to comfort his sexy little man, even though he is in tremendous pain. The love that these two have for each other is such  a beautiful thing, making them constantly put each other’s needs first in everything. I really enjoyed this book. It was extremely funny watching Finn’s antics,  super sweet and the sexy times were truly hottt. I could not get enough of these two. I give this my ratings of 5- bring out the vibrators.

Firm Hand( Perfect Hands 1) by Nora Phoenix

Title: Firm Hand Word Count: 312 pgs
Genre: Contemporary Gay Romance

Blurb:How can he want to call his best friend’s son Sir? Or even worse…Daddy?

Cornell is broken after losing his best friend Jonas and getting hurt himself. He’s too old, too imperfect to ever attract a Dom again.

Until Rhys.

When Rhys gives him commands, Cornell yearns to obey.
When Rhys takes care of him, Cornell wants to kneel for him.
When Rhys is everything he’s dreamed of, Cornell aches to call him Sir.
And when Rhys makes him fly, Cornell soars higher than ever before.

But there’s one problem. Rhys is twenty years his junior…and he’s Jonas’s son. How can you want to call your best friend’s son Sir…or Daddy?

Firm Hand is a standalone slow burn MM romance with daddy kink, an age gap, a very caring Daddy and a boy who needs it, hurt/comfort, mild D/s play, and all the feels.

My Review: Our lives can be irrevocably changed in the blink of an eye. Nobody knows this better than Cornell, who loses his best friend Jonas in an accident on their way home from a club. It can be hard losing one’s best friend, but for Cornell it’s a bit different. Not only was Jonas his best friend, but on some intrinsic level he was Cornell’s soulmate. It wasn’t necessarily sexual, even though they were both submissives who played alongside each other for years. They enjoyed the comfort of each other’s touch whenever they both found themselves without Doms. Cornell and Jonas knew everything about each other. He lost a piece of his soul the night of the accident.

Rhys, Jonas’ son suggests that Cornell moves in with him after the accident. Unfortunately, Cornell did not escape the accident unscathed. The range of motion in his legs and back muscles is severely limited. Rhys has his degree in kinesiology and knows a lot about physical therapy. He’s decided to take care of Cornell. For Rhys, this is a dream come true. He has always known that Cornell is submissive and he’s had a serious crush on the man who is 20 yrs his senior. There is just one problem, Cornell has no idea that Rhys is a Dom. Rhys knows he is skirting the line of consent and knows he needs to come clean before it’s too late.

Things are revealed when Cornell unintentionally overheard a phone conversation between Rhys and his mentor Master Ford. Cornell is flummoxed and hurt when he feels like he’s been manipulated. Rhys has been quietly ‘Domming’ him, using a bit of control in his voice and rewards as a way to help Cornell recover. Cornell feels betrayed and is not sure how to respond to Rhys who he has known since he was born. Cornell’s submissive body has been responding physically to Rhys’ without him really understanding why. Rhys, in his defense didn’t think that Cornell would take a ‘baby Dom’ seriously. Cornell slowly starts to forgive Rhys when he thinks of the insecurities about himself being a 45 yr old sub. In his mind, his identity as a sub has been tied up with his age. He feels the double standards in the BDSM community, because there is hardly any Doms who are willing to play with a sub whose age is so advanced.

Something is unlocked during their physical therapy session which Rhys leads with a massage. This comes after a frank conversation where Rhys points out to Cornell that he might be into sensory play. He’s made this deduction from the way Cornell’s body reacts to his touch. This massage ends in a very happy ending for Cornell. For Rhys, it is so much more, as throughout he gains the honorific of Sir from Cornell’s lips. To him, Cornell is so beautiful in the way he begs for his pleasure. Rhys knows this is a stepping stone and by no means has the war been won. This becomes obvious in the way that Cornell retreats within himself once their scene is done.

Cornell is conflicted about a few things concerning Rhys. The first and foremost is the 20 year age gap between them. The second and third is tied up together, he questions if it’s morally wrong since he’s known Rhys since birth and also the fact that he is Jonas’ son , his best friend who he occasionally had sex with during a scene when they played with the same Dom. It’s in that moment he misses Jonas the most, a man that had been his sounding board for so many years. This takes him down memory lane and he remembers something crucial. They both believed in the premise that there was no shame in any kink or fetish, once it was between two consenting adults. In that moment, he knows that Jonas would definitely approve even if he needed time to acclimate to the idea. He also puts in a call to Rhys’ mentor Master Ford who gives a glowing recommendation that Rhys is a great Dom. This solidifies his decision to pursue something with Rhys. Rhys is overjoyed that Cornell is willing to finally give him a chance.

Rhys sets up the perfect sensory scene for Cornell. However, before they can even get started, something goes horribly wrong. Cornell can’t pinpoint the exact problem, he just knows he feels like a failure as a sub. He has an emotional meltdown, leaving Rhys feeling out of his element. Rhys is caught off guard, but after talking to Master Ford, they both surmise that Cornell’s reaction is more about grief at losing so much in such a short time, especially losing his best friend. Rhys sets up a dinner date with his best friend who is a Little and his Daddy Dom. It starts off okay and Cornell feels energized being around likeminded people. It is amazing watching Rhys’ friend Raf delving into his Little persona. He takes a keen interest in the care that Rhys affords his friend. However, watching their friendship facilitates the dam being broken. He misses his own best friend Jonas in that moment so much. Rhys holds him in his arms while he totally falls apart, weeping at how isolated and alone he feels.

Their next scene together is a spanking that is so pleasurable for Cornell that it leaves him in subspace for awhile. He is so blissed out and clings to his Dom and soaks up all his sweet words and praises. Rhys is so proud, but he is also worried as his time draws near for him to go back to work. Cornell gains greater respect for Rhys when his Dom recognizes him experiencing a subdrop and takes great care of him. Cornell knows for sure he has fallen in love with Rhys. This is soon put to the test when they get a visit from Rhys’ mother. She’s very confrontational and expresses her disapproval about their relationship. She openly berates Cornell and Rhys stands up for his boy. He is very firm with her, letting her know that her disrespect will not be tolerated. Rhys is concerned about Cornell’s state of mind, but he finds Cornell glowing with happiness. With him standing up for Cornell, Cornell has found the strength to believe in the relationship that they are building. He now knows what he needs to do.

There are lots of decisions to be made, but the couple find it easier now that they are together. As soon as Rhys goes back to work, he knows it’s no longer an ideal situation for the life he wishes to build with Cornell. He misses his sweet boy too much when he’s at work so he decides to quit his job. He already has plans to open up a rehabilitation studio, his timeline is now moved up sooner. Cornell is very happy when Rhys includes him in his plans. He freely expresses his intentions of not going back to work himself, since he is no longer happy there. Rhys is totally on board with that as he sees the weight lifted off his shoulders. It was a great experience watching this unconventional relationship finding a stronghold. Their love story was refreshing and watching them finding love in a relationship that defies standard parameters was a joy. I give this my ratings of 4-lose the underwear.

No Filter ( No Shame 1) by Nora Phoenix

Title: No Filter               Word Count: 290 pgs

Genre: Contemporary Gay Romance

Blurb:Indy will do anything to prevent his mobster ex from finding him. Their last encounter left Indy recovering for months in the hospital, and ever since he’s become an expert at hiding in plain sight. Determined to stay under the radar, he takes on a new identity and moves from place to place. His life has no room for friendships, let alone love, so he keeps his heart firmly closed. After all, he has nothing to offer but a damaged body and a broken soul. Plus, he’s so done with men. Until he meets the man who breaks through all his defenses.

Former Army Medic Noah came back damaged from his last tour—in more than one way. Between supporting his best friend-with-benefits Josh who’s struggling with PTSD, dealing with his own issues, and the stress of his job as a physician assistant, rebuilding his life seems impossible. There’s little time for what Noah needs, let alone for what he wants. When he meets Indy, Noah discovers what he wants more than anything: for Indy to stay. But how will a relationship with Indy work when Noah needs Josh as well?

Indy never expected the strong, confident Noah to be as damaged and broken as himself. But what will happen if he starts letting Noah in? Indy knows he should run to protect Noah and Josh. 

Noah needs Indy to stay more than anything. But will what little he has to offer be enough to make Indy trust him and stay? 

No Filter is a steamy M/M romance featuring an open relationship (no cheating!) that ends with a HFN, but with the promise of a HEA. It’s the first book in the No Shame Series, and is not a stand-alone novel. It contains hot sex, a hint of a ménage, lots of talk about hot sex, flashbacks of said hot sex, and…Oh well, you get the idea. Also: trigger warning for mentions of sexual abuse.

My Review: If anyone would have told Indy that being subjected to a convenient store robbery would have been a turning point in his life, he wouldn’t have believed it. This is how he met Josh, the young army veteran who suffers from severe PTSD. Josh has a flashback the moment he saw the robber’s gun. It is Indy’s quick thinking that saves his life. Indy tackles Josh to the ground with his superior jiu jitsu moves to snap him out of his flashback. It sucks for Indy who already has a broken arm in a cast. Indy is trying to breath through the pain and stay in character since he is on the run and pretending to be a southern belle. Not wanting to blow his cover and desperate to get Josh out of his flashback, Indy decides to ground him by kissing him. It finally works and Josh slowly comes out of his spell.

By the time the cops show up, Indy is in severe pain and in need of medical attention. This is where Noah comes in, he is Josh’s best friend who is a former army medic. He works in the ER now and when Josh calls him frantic telling him he needs to protect Indy’s female persona, he steps in to help. Noah doesn’t know what to think when he meets Indy, but there is an instant spark between the two. However, it is clear to see that Indy is very afraid and hiding something. Warning bells go off in Noah’s head when he feels scars on Indy’s body. He also sees signs of trauma in Indy’s reactions to being restrained.

When Noah and Josh offers Indy a place to stay and recover, he takes a leap of faith and puts his trust in these two men. Indy feels an attraction to Noah, something that hasn’t happened in quite some time. When Indy realizes that Josh and Noah shares a bedroom, he feels like a fool for lusting after somebody’s boyfriend. Noah explains that Josh and him have a very complexed relationship that may defy certain norms.

Watching these three men come together was exhilarating, sensual and a little bit confusing at times. It was the pure trust and honesty in their connections that pulls it all together for me. Here we have three broken men trying to piece together their wounded hearts and souls. We have Josh who suffers from PTSD and is very codependent on his best friend Noah. He is openly gay and navigating his sexually submissive side while also working through issues from his past. Then there is Noah who facilitates Josh’s codependency as a way of healing them both. Noah has lost his leg in the war and has some residual feelings of insecurity. He is only recently identifying and accepting himself as a gay man. Indy is the only other man that Noah has been attracted to sexually. Indy is on the run for his life. He feels like he is damaged goods and it is clear that he has suffered severe sexual trauma. Noah and Josh are the first two men he has been attracted to in awhile. It is Noah who makes him want to trust again. He feels unworthy and undeserving to be in a relationship with a strong man like Noah, because of his past. Indy is afraid to become too attached and wants to protect them from the dangers of his past.

The sexual tension in their house is combustible. They all paired up sexually with each other at different times without any resentment or hurt feelings amongst each other. Noah and Josh had sex all the time as a way of finding release and it helped Josh to understand his sexually submissive side. When Noah let Josh top him, it helped him accept himself as a gay man. Josh and Indy getting together was about healing each other from their past sexual trauma. Josh gave back Indy some of the power he lost when he offers to bottom for him. Indy regains a part of himself he thought was lost forever. After their fun filled activity they fall asleep blissfully.

When Noah comes home after a sixteen hour shift in pain from standing all day, he becomes jealous when he sees them cuddled up together. Tempers flare when he believes that Indy has given Josh something that he couldn’t get. Josh sets him straight and diffuses the situation by offering up himself to relieve some of the stress and pain that Noah feels. Noah goes at Josh hard with Indy watching the whole time. When Noah finds release a dam finally breaks and all the pain and sorrow for all he’s lost comes pouring out. 

This is cathartic for all of them. It is Josh’s way of saying goodbye and bringing Indy fully into Noah’s life. Indy makes the decision the next day to tell Noah his sordid past of being sold into sexual slavery by his mom at sixteen. The man she sold him to, Duncan Fitzpatrick belongs to the mob and treated him deplorably. Indy lived in hell for four years. He finally snapped when Duncan passed him off to his sadistic cousin who raped Indy. When he was done Indy stabbed him and waited for him to die before he called the cops , so he could claim self defense. Duncan found Indy and tortured him before he could testify. Indy knows he will always be a hunted man.

Indy finally sees that what he has found in Noah is worth fighting for. He gives himself freely to Noah without fear. He gets a taste of what a loving sexual relationship should be like. Noah is happy that Indy has finally let him in and is allowing him to love him. Josh will always be a part of their lives and they have a different kind of love for him. Noah is willing to protect Indy with all that he is . He will never allow Indy to be hurt again. This is only the beginning, but it is clear to see how deep their love runs for each other. Looking forward to Josh’s story and the continuation of Indy and Noah. I give this my ratings of 4- lose the underwear.

Someone to Hear Me by T. A . McKay

Title: Someone to Hear Me             Word Count:290pgs
Genre:Contemporary Gay Romance

Blurb:Kohan has a simple life but he’s happy. The only thing that’s missing is that special someone to come home to at night. That is until he literally bumps into Ares, a man who sparks his interest, but he rushes off before Kohan can talk to him. When he sees the stranger again, Kohan is determined that he’s not going to let him escape this time.
What Kohan doesn’t know is he’s falling for a guy that has been through more than he could ever imagine, and when Ares’ dark past catches up with him, there might be a chance that neither man will walk away unhurt.

We all dream of finding that one true love, the person who completes you, and when you find them you should hold on tight to them. But what happens when that dream turns into a nightmare, one that you can’t escape from? Ares is running from a past that almost cost him his life, a past that changed everything.
When he meets Kohan he’s scared of letting someone in, scared that history will repeat itself, but finally he sees that not everyone is out to hurt him. He sees that maybe someone could love him without causing pain.
But when the thing Ares is hiding from appears again, it takes him right back into that dangerous past and he doesn’t know if he will survive it this time.

My name is Ares, and the man I married is the person who will probably kill me.
I want to leave.
I want to escape.
I don’t want to die.
My name is Ares and I want Someone To Hear Me.

Please Note this book contains scenes of domestic abuse that some people may find uncomfortable.

My Review: It is never easy when someone who swore to love and cherish you breaks your trust. Twenty five year old Ares learns this the hard way, after he wakes up in the hospital with his life irrevocably changed. After being beaten and terrorized numerous times by his husband Micah for the slightest infractions, his husband finally went to far. Micah has beaten Ares so badly that his face is left disfigured with a scar bisecting his forehead and he is now deaf. As many victims do , Ares blames himself for what Micah did. Even though Micah is imprisoned, Ares still lives in fear for his life.

Ares suffers from PTSD and he has panic attacks if he is surrounded by too many people. He flinches at every shadow , and he is virtually a hermit. He knows he has to do something to reclaim his life. Ares’ therapist suggests that he find a job and meet new people. Ares finds a job as a cleaner at a newspaper office and that’s where he meets Kohan. Kohan is a journalist and he is immediately intrigued by the quiet man who refuses to look at him and make eye contact.

There is just something about Kohan that makes Ares feels safe. Its the safest he’s felt in a long time with another man. The two men form a tentative friendship and Kohan soon realizes that he wants more, but he sees a dark fear hidden in Ares. Ares finds himself confessing the horrors of his past, at least some of it. Kohan is saddened to know that such a sweet man has been hurt by such a monster. Kohan is extremely patient and understanding with Ares and his issues.

Everyday Ares gets a little bit stronger mentally and continues on his quest to reclaim his life. He makes a concerted effort to open up more to Kohan even though it scares him. He doesn’t feel like its fair to take things any further with Kohan for fear that he won’t be able to follow through. Kohan notices every time Ares takes two steps forward he retreats a little. He refuses to let Ares push him away, because he knows he is the light that Ares needs to step out of the shadows.

Things heat up between the two after Ares attempts a night out with Kohan and his best friend Sophie.Ares feels almost normal after a few drinks, he definitely feels desire when Kohan rubs against him while they dance. He gives in to the pleasure and allow himself to feel again. Kohan realize that underneath that fear is a very passionate willing young man and he wants to stoke that flame. These moments are heartbreaking and oh so tender and just what Ares needs to move past his pain.

We see all the atrocities Micah perpetrated against Ares through his nightmares and flashbacks. One thing that comes through is how much Ares blames himself. He fears he will make the same mistake with another man because he feels like he can’t trust his own judgement. This is a continuous setback in his relationship with Kohan. Kohan’s strength and patience is constant, because he knows its what Ares needs whenever he catches a glimpse of his past pain.

Kohan soon realizes that the key to making their relationship work is to treat Ares as normal as possible and not like he is fragile glass. Ares is able to experience the beauty of a relationship and receiving pleasure without the repercussions of pain. It is exhilarating for Ares the freedom he is finally experiencing. Ares takes charge for the first time in his sexual encounters. Kohan relishes this new dominant side of Ares and he allows him this freedom of taking the role of top. He understands that this role empowers Ares and continues to strengthen his positive personality.

They make plans to go out to meet with Kohan’s brother Carey and his new beau Duncan. The whole night starts going downhill from the beginning when Duncan doesn’t turn up. Carey’s in a foul mood and this causes the brothers to argue. Kohan is upset that Carey isn’t even trying to get to know his boyfriend. Ares gives them a moment . He has a panic attack when he thinks he sees someone who looks like his ex Micah. Ares bolts from fear and leaves in a cab.

Once again Ares does not trust his instincts and this proves to be his downfall. It turns out that Duncan is actually Micah who is out of prison on a technicality. Micah attacks Ares and the horrible abuse starts right away. Ares tries to break up with Kohan through a text. Kohan goes straightaway to his house, but Ares is firm in pushing him away. Kohan respects Ares’ wishes and go on a three day drinking binge. It isn’t until a family crisis that his brothers pulls him out of his stupor.

By the time Kohan figures that something is wrong, Ares has been held hostage for more than a week with his despicable ex. The abuse he endures is horrendous and almost pulls Ares deep down in the dark abyss. It isn’t until Micah hurts Kohan that Ares gets the courage to defend the love of his life. Ares kills Micah and ends his cruel reign. Kohan just got a taste of the atrocities that Ares must have experienced, but it scarred him pretty good. Kohan has nightmares and flashbacks now, but it is Ares’ steadfast presence that keeps him sane . I really enjoyed this one. It had the right amount of angst. I give this my ratings of 4 – lose the underwear.

Scary ( Twirled World Ink 3) by J. M. Dabney

Title : Scary                          Word Count:196 pgs

Genre: Gay Biker Romance

Blurb:Welcome to Twirled World Ink where the crazies run the asylum.

Gene Sheridan earned the appropriate nickname when Legend Gib Phelps employed him at Twirled World Ink—Scary. No one made it out of his old neighborhood without scars both mental and physical. At one time, Scary thought he had a chance that is until his ex-boyfriend discovered slumming with someone like him wasn’t worth his trust fund. No-strings hookups became his go-to when he needed to relieve some tension. Co-owning a bar called Brawlers with his best friend, Tank, made it easy to find a body to use for the night. If not happy he was content with his life, but one man made content seem like such a terrible thing.

Elijah Vaughn worried about everything. His life was put on hold at eighteen when his mostly-absent parents died on one of their many adventures leaving him to raise his six-year-old brother, Brody. He’d never had anything or anyone that was just his. When Brody met a tattoo artist named Trouble, Elijah hadn’t realized how much it would change his life too. He met a huge man named Scary and how the man made him feel terrified him.

Tank Davis lost his voice the night he was attacked and had this throat slit ear-to-ear. It kept him in a world of silence. Silent and intimidating, he scared off more men than he drew to him. His best friend Scary and him made a life for themselves in small town Georgia with their bar Brawlers. Most night everyone could find him working security at the door. Scary called in a favor, and Tank met the one man he couldn’t resist, proper and upstanding Elijah Vaughn.

Can one man accept that there’s not one perfect man for him, but two damaged souls who need him to be whole?

Author’s Note: Although this is part of a series each book is stand alone and every book deals with a separate couple.
My Review:  Gene ‘Scary’ Sheridan is the big bad wolf out of all the Twirled Crew. He is mean as hell and he doesn’t care who knows it. From the very first moment he met Brody’s brother Elijah, he’s been unsettled. He has come across prissy clean cut men like Elijah before and nothing good has ever come from it. Elijah has been very attracted to Scary from the first moment, but he knows Scary hates him. At first he wasn’t sure about all these tattooed bikers in Brody’s life, but he now realize how genuine and loyal they are. Elijah feels comfortable being around them, because what you see is what you get. He yearns for the type of relationship that his brother has with Trouble. Elijah is not sure what he wants from Scary, he just wished it didn’t hurt so much to be ignored by him.

Princess has bragged about all of her ‘uncles’ to Elijah, especially Scary and his silent best friend Tank. After a horrible event that left Tank scarred, he has been unable to speak ever since. Most of the crew talks to Tank in ASL. When Tank lays eyes on Elijah for the first time,he is definitely smitten by the pretty little man. Elijah allows Tank to feel something he hasn’t felt in forever. Tank finds his protective instincts coming out with Elijah. He wants him.

When Brody notices the weird dynamic between the three men at one of Scary’s famous sleepover, he corners his brother. Brody’s reality check puts a damper on Elijah’s feelings and it hurts to feel like he doesn’t belong. Elijah goes to find the bathroom and accidentally walk in on Scary pleasuring himself. He is about to back out of the room, when he is cornered by Tank at his back. Tank becomes the mastermind and gently nudges them in the right direction. Sparks fly between these three and the passion that unfolds is inevitable. Before they can even get anything started, Elijah gets scared and run away.  He is scandalized at his feelings for both Scary and Tank.

Tank and Scary are a little hesitant to pursue Elijah due to his respectable job as the mayor. However, their feelings quickly overshadow respectability and they decide to go after their ‘boy’. They approach Elijah with the concept of a threesome and he is stupefied , but he can’t deny his attraction for the two of them. They decide to start dating. It doesn’t take long for Elijah to be indoctrinated to the hardcore sex of these two tattooed bikers. They know Elijah is a delicate flower on the outside, but Scary’s aim is definitely to muss up all that perfectness and turn him into a dirty ‘boy’. 

They get a nice groove going, but insecurities pop up for Tank and he feels like a fifth wheel. Scary is there to soothe his best friend but he knows it has to come from Elijah. Elijah does his best to reassure Tank even though he is away on a business trip. Scary seeing that its not enough , plans for them to meet up at Elijah’s hotel. The flames are combustible when they meet up. Scary is undeniably dominant and aggressive , whereas Tank leads with quiet dominance that is almost gentle. Elijah feels like he might have found his fit with these two brash men. When they finally get to talking they realise that they all are a little insecure. They don’t feel like they are enough individually, but they are learning that together they will measure up equally.

Their lives become further embroiled when Elijah decides to start the adoption paperwork to foster a 12 year old girl who he catches breaking in his car. There is just something about Sophie that tugs at his heartstrings. Scary has dubbed her Juvie and the name is very fitting since she is a charming misunderstood juvenile delinquent. These three men can’t imagine their lives without Juvie.

Tank’s past comes back to haunt them when his ex boyfriend Ian, who disfigured him rolls into town. Ian starts messing with them and takes an interest into Elijah. The men toss Ian out of Brawlers when he decides to revisit his twisted attraction to Tank by kissing him. This brings up a host of feelings in Scary, the main ones being jealousy and his possessive tendencies. When Juvie calls to say  Elijah didn’t pick her up from school , they know something is wrong. Elijah is missing for 2 days before they get a clue. It’s one of Ian’s men Psycho , who gives them a lead. They are not sure if they can trust Psycho, but they don’t have a choice.Psycho, Tank, Scary and the rest of the Brawlers get Elijah back in one piece, just a bit bruised. It doesn’t end well for Ian and he certainly will not be missed. Psycho becomes Elijah’s personal bodyguard and is yet another addition to the Brawlers crazies.

Tank withdraws from his men, taking all of the blame on himself for Elijah getting hurt. Elijah and Scary ambushes Tank at his cabin, but its definitely Scary running the show. He is very dominant and shows Tank who is the boss. Tank needs this aggression from Scary. Scary possessed Tank’s body while Elijah watched. This is the first time for the trio to come together sexually. It was intense, brutal and oh so primal. These two rough and tumble bikers finally got the man to soothe their demons and a family with Juvie that they never hoped to have. Scary makes it official by proposing a commitment ceremony. The love amongst these three men is a beautiful thing. I give this my ratings of 5- bring out  the vibrators.

Sex & Mayhem 8:His Favorite Color is Blood by K.A.Merikan

Title : His Favorite Color is Blood            Word Count : 329pgs
Genre : Dark Contemporary Gay Romance

Blurb : Grim. Assassin. Leather-clad sex god. Has the most unusual taste in men.
Misha. Mutilated. Afraid. Will never trust again.

Grim is a bloodthirsty killer, and he owns it. Gay in a world of outlaw bikers, he firmly stands his ground if anyone dares to cross him. He takes pleasure in showing homophobes their place and fucking his way through a life of carnage.

But there is a part of him always aching for something he cannot get. When by chance he saves the most perfect guy he’s ever met, he is not about to let him go. Even if it means he needs to smother his broken bird.

When a masked, bloodstained man rescues Misha from captivity, he doesn’t know if he should thank the menacing stranger or stab him and run. Grim is not the kind of man who takes no for an answer, and Misha might now be in more danger than when he was trapped as a sex slave.

Misha cannot deny though that Grim is as alluring as he is frightening, and once Misha realizes what power his body holds over Grim, he understands that taming the beast of a man could be within his reach.

But any possibility of a future together is like a house of cards when Zero, the sadistic crime lord who destroyed Misha’s life, sets out to get him back.

Will the ruthless biker assassin at Misha’s side be enough to conquer the monsters from his past?

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:

Themes: Outlaw motorcycle club, organized crime, assassin, chase, disability (amputee), devotee, revenge, redemption, kidnapping, road trip, fear, hurt/comfort, past abuse

Genre: M/M dark romance, thriller

Length: ~110,000 words (standalone novel)

WARNING: This book contains adult content that might be considered taboo. Strong language, violence and torture. Reader discretion advised.

My Review : Finally, the long awaited story of Grim, the famous nomad of the Coffin Nails MC. He belongs to no one chapter of the MC, but he is revered and feared by most. He is known as the grim reaper, because he is the one called to clean up sticky situations when the MC needs someone killed. He is very proficient at killing and he takes a certain pleasure in doing his job. The title of the book is very apropos, seeing as how Grim revels in spilling his targets’ blood. It takes a certain kind of person to do that and I think that maybe Grim is a borderline psychopath , but there is something that keeps him grounded.
Throughout this whole series, Grim has been rather elusive but oh so intriguing. All we know about him thus far is that he is gay, has a humongous schlong and he is the club’s cleaner upper. It turns out that Grim has a depth to his character that is multifaceted. Yes, he is definitely a killer but there is so much more to why he is the way he is. His story unfolds with a most unlikely character, the beautiful double amputee Mischa. Grim’s interest in Mischa exposes his fetishistic nature for amputations.
Their paths become entwined when Grim goes on a raid with the Louisana MC to free a bunch of people kidnapped into the life of sexual slavery. Mischa has endured 5 long years of abuse and torture. Grim immediately recognizes the sweet sexy amputee as a porn star on one of his favorite fetish websites. Mischa is a fantasy come true for Grim and he sees it as destiny that he is the one to rescue this particular ‘broken birdie’. Mischa is not sure how he feels about Grim knowing that he is the man who killed his owner. He is a little bit relieved to be free from Gary , but there is almost an overwhelming fear of the unknown. It is obvious that Grim is a dangerous man and he is scared of his overzealous fetishism. Mischa is definitely uncomfortable with Grim constantly touching his stumps. On the other hand, Grim is happy to be the one to assist this helpless sweet man.
The bond between these two men grow day by day, but it is not without misunderstandings. This makes them stronger and they are able to appreciate each other’s true personalities. Mischa sees Grim’s dark side but it is even more precious when he sees glimpses of Grim’s vulnerability. This is exposed, when Grim talks about his first love Coy, another double amputee who he lost in a fire a long time ago.
They both pull through some tough times when they become aware that the bad men are still tracking Mischa and want to recapture him. Mischa is filled with fear and he explains the truth to Grim about his amputations. A man known as Zero is the one who amputated Mischa’s legs for his own perverse enjoyment. Grim is furious on his lover’s behalf and vows to make it right by killing Zero. Mischa is enthralled by this sexy dangerous Grim. The darkness in both their souls call to each other. Mischa’s fear calls out to the ruthlessness in Grim. Grim realizes that he has found his soulmate in Mischa when Mischa embraces his wild violent side without even batting an eye. Grim goes after the ones who have hurt his sweet Mischa and punishes them to the full extent of ‘Grim law’. Grim gets hurt in the process , but he has fulfilled his promise to Mischa by eliminating the ones he fear. Mischa is finally truly free to be happy in his life with Grim, wearing his man’s property vest with pride.
Another great thing about this book was that we were able to catch up with our most beloved characters Lucky and Tooth who are thriving in their love for each other. These lovely authors have truly knocked it out of the park once again with a truly horrifying, yet wickedly intriguing tale. I love , love , love and I give my ratings of 4 – lose the underwear.

Welcome to Alvarado 2:Unwelcome Home by C.E. Kilgore

Title : Unwelcome Home             Word Count : 192 pgs
Genre : Contemporary Gay Romance

Blurb : Sometimes the best way to get back on your feet again is to help someone get back on theirs.

Five years ago, Clint Shepfield broke the town of Alvarado apart when he used his fists to break Samuel Garrett’s body. In prison, Clint’s had plenty of time to deal with the guilt and accept the real reasons behind his actions. He’s now accepted his homosexuality, Sam has forgiven him, and he’s being encouraged to return to the town he thought would never welcome him home.

In the blink of an eye, and the stomping boots of drunk bullies, Rick Santos lost everything. Once a track star in the making, Ricky’s been left confined to a wheelchair, his hopes for the future gone. His happy zeal for life is taken over by a pessimistic, bitter attitude, leaving Sam and Cody at their wits’ end. The first time Ricky snaps at Clint, everyone is surprised when Clint bites back.

Clint makes it his mission to get Ricky out of his funk and out of that chair. Maybe if he can help Ricky stand up straight again, Clint will be able to do the same. But, not everyone in Alvarado is ready to welcome them into the community, leaving Clint and Ricky dealing with the possibility of being unwelcome home.

My Review : Self-hatred is a very profound emotion that eats away at our very souls. Nobody knows this better than Clint Shepfield who made a horrible mistake in his teen years that he will forever regret. He hurt the sweetest young man Sam Garrett who he had a crush on, a crush he could not own up to out of fear of being acknowledged as gay. His horrific actions sent him to prison for five years, a penance he would willingly pay over and over again if it could erase his past. Instead of being the soccer star that he was meant to be he is now the town’s pariah.
Clint has a long hard road ahead of him especially since he will be staying with the same young man who he almost destroyed. It so happens that Sam is in love with Clint’s best friend Cody and they are living together. Sam has since forgiven Clint for his actions when he finally understood that his rage was not motivated by homophobia but rather it was self -hatred. It comes from the inner most part of Clint’s ‘self’ that was not able to understand his feelings. He lashed out at Sam who had the courage and owned his sexuality even though it meant that he was bullied and treated harshly especially by his father.
Initially, Clint is bombarded by all the emotions and all the updates of the old town. He realises there is so much that he missed out on. He also feels a bit unwelcome when he meets the other house guest Ricky Santos, Sam’s best friend. Ricky is staying with them after enduring a homophobic attack which left him in a wheelchair. Ricky is very bitter and he also hates what Clint had done to Sam. There definitely is no love lost between Clint and Ricky, but they soon realize that they feel somewhat adrift and lost in the house with their two best friends who are madly in love. These two shattered men accept that they both have to acknowledge the part they played in the path that their lives have taken. They have to discover how to forgive themselves for their actions. They both have a lot of healing to do and it soothes them to tag team their issues together.
For the most part, Clint is not able to trust his instincts due to his inexperience and his past violent acts. He has to learn to forgive himself so that he can trust in what feels right. It is undeniable that there is a spark between Ricky and Clint and they can’t help but to explore this option.Ricky is there to guide him into the foray of intimacy between two men. Although they are able to relate on both being lost in their new realities, they are constantly reminded that their roles are vastly different. There is a juxtaposition of Clint being a felon while in contrast Ricky is a victim. It is hard to see how they will reconcile their two personas without Clint’s past intruding. As soon as they get beyond this, there is yet another hurdle for them to jump.
Clint has to relearn how to live again and how to be a normal man. On the other hand, Ricky is battling his disability and trying to revise how to live in a wheelchair and how to be content with that corporeality. Clint does all he can to help Ricky and gives him the push he thinks his brain needs. He has a feeling that Ricky’s disability is more of a mind thing and he wants to see if he can get the physical body to work in conjunction with Ricky’s battered pysche. Clint comes up with the juiciest incentives in the form of foreplay to try to get Ricky using hand crutches instead of his wheelchair to get him mobile. They decide to trust in each other and stand strong together in love. I give this my ratings of 4 – lose the underwear.

Odds Are 2:Against all Odds by Chris T. Kat

Title: Against all Odds        Word Count : 36742
Genre : Contemporary Gay Romance

Blurb : And then they lived happily ever after…

Sometimes Joshua Stone thinks he’s died and gone to heaven. How else can he explain Michael’s love for him? And now they’re living together… in a real relationship. This is the stuff of fairy tales, a love like other people take for granted.

Sure, they have their moments, what couple doesn’t? But a small doubt lingers in Joshua’s heart. Can this really be true? Can a gorgeous man like Michael really love someone like Joshua—the guy with cerebral palsy, who’s helpless without his walker or his tricycle to get him around?

Michael senses Joshua’s worries, but there’s nothing he can do to dispel them because that would mean revealing his secret—and he’s not ready for that. Their mutual secrets hang between them like time bombs waiting to explode. They might not survive the inevitable blast.

My Review : Michael and Joshua are totally head over heels in love with each other. Like so many relationships, theirs is fraught with challenges. Joshua is a great professor who has cerebral palsy and often rely’s very heavily on his cane. He has figured out that a combination of rest, less stress and taking his medications when needed allows him to lead a functional life. Josh is often plagued with feelings of inadequacy and has a low self esteem which stems from his disability. He is still amazed that he has such a wonderful, sexy hunk for a boyfriend.

Michael is a hot construction worker and he is the exact opposite of Joshua. One of the things that they have in common is that feeling of inadequacy. Michael is always worried that he will never measure up or be good enough for Josh. He has a learning disability and he can hardly read or write. He is plagued by self doubts and his wish is to be a man who can make Josh proud. Their self doubts fester and leads to a misunderstanding that can ruin their happy lives.
All of Josh’s insecurities converge on him, making him think that maybe Michael has decided to cheat on him. For sure , Michael was very wrong for lying to Josh, but it was only his fear of looking like a failure in front of Josh that had him keeping secrets. His clandestine movements turned out to be him going to a course that would help him read. The huge meltdown that Josh experienced, forced them to learn from their mistakes. They both had to accept that they were both perfect for each other through their imperfections. They realized that they had to both trust in each other and in their love.
There were incredibly tender moments and supremely steamy love scenes. I loved these two main characters immensely. There is no better man for Josh than Michael who takes care of his lover, by always placing Josh’s needs as a high priority. Michael is so giving and all he sees when he looks at Josh is an equal partner. On the other hand Josh loves Michael despite his limitations and never belittles him or treats him as less than a man. Against all odds, they truly learned to appreciate and love each other as they are. I give this my ratings of 4 – lose the underwear.

Like No One is Watching by Jaime Samms

Dusty has finally landed a job he thinks he’ll be able to keep long-term, even with his broken brain and bum knee. He didn’t anticipate that cleaning a dance studio would reawaken his yearning to dance—even though he is no longer capable—or that meeting the studio’s director would rouse his dormant libido. Or his sleeping heart.

Conrad thinks his life is finally complete with his successful dance studio and a steady stream of students. When Dusty arrives, he rediscovers his thirst for a man who will let him hand over control and give him the undivided attention he’s never had. The trouble is, Dusty isn’t sure he’s worthy of the studio director’s submission.

To make their relationship work, Dusty will have to trust his ability to dominate the powerful and beautiful dancer, and Conrad will have to stop talking long enough to hear Dusty’s promises.

My Review : Right off the bat , it is clear to see that Dusty has a very low self-esteem. He is the janitor of a dance studio who thinks of himself as just a mere janitor. He is overly self critical and always points out he is a high school dropout. This is a way to insulate himself from the pain and hurt that comes from being judged by other people. At first , he is not sure how to react to the owner of the dance studio Mr. Conrad Kosloff, a man who obviously comes from affluent beginnings. Conrad is a sophisticated dancer who is drawn to the cute janitor. He sees someone who he can really be himself around without any worries. Their stations in life are like day and night. They have to see if it’s worth bridging the gap.
Conrad has been hurt badly in the past. His lovers often take too much from him or cheapen their relationship. He is looking for that perfect someone who can appreciate all he has to give as a lover without taking advantage. The stereotypical roles are reversed for these two, with Dusty becoming the more dominant demanding one in their sexual exploits. This shift was new, exciting and very freeing for Conrad who was expected to always be in control of all aspects of his life.
It is very hard for both these men to live their lives beyond society’s mandates about who gets to be priveledged. The gap is wider than they could have imagined. Dusty’s backstory is that he was a very bright upcoming ballet dancer who was beaten to an inch of his life for being different which led to severe brain damage. He has to deal with the long lasting effects which causes him to forget something as simple as getting home or remembering where his mailbox is located. He has a bum knee and he has not danced for years for fear that his knee will fail him. It is a touchy subject for him and this is one area he will not explore with Con.
Their budding relationship comes to a standstill when Con makes a very insensitive comment about their different station in life. If they want to move forward they will have to learn to navigate around these landmines that are a part of their lived realities. Conrad might have grown up in money, but he has seen his fair share of tragedies. His twin sister died because he was not able to provide a bone marrow transplant to her; he was rejected by law based on the premise that he is gay. Conrad has grown up a very lonely life of feeling that he was always just not good enough for his family to value him.
Conrad begs for another chance to be the man that he knows can be the perfect partner to Dusty. For this to happen , Dusty will need to let Con into the most intimate parts of his life , teaching him how to live with a man with brain damage. He has to trust Conrad to be an anchor and help him through the fuzziness that is his everday existence. In a way dance is the balm to sooth his soul and repair some of the damage to his body. I give this my ratings of 3 – it was ok, give it a try.

Signs by Anna Martin

Title : Signs                      Word Count : 65, 398

Genre : Contemporary Gay Romance

Blurb : After spending most of his life in special schools, Caleb Stone now faces public high school in his senior year, a prospect that both excites him and threatens to overwhelm his social anxiety. As a deaf teenager, he’s closed himself off to the world. He speaks a shorthand with his parents and even finds it hard to use American Sign Language with people in his local deaf community. But Caleb finds comfort in his love of photography. Everything he can’t express in real life, he posts on his Tumblr.

Struggling to reconcile his resentment for his father’s cruelty with the grief of losing a parent, Luc Le Bautillier scrolls through Tumblr searching for someone who might understand his goth look and effeminate nature. When Luc reblogs a photo by Caleb, sparking a conversation, they both find it easier to make friends online than in person.

Luc and Caleb confront their fears about the opinions of the outside world to meet in New York City. Despite Caleb’s increasing confidence, his parents worry he’s not ready for the trials ahead. But communication comes in many forms—when you learn the signs.

My Review :  Caleb feels like there is  a veil between the world and himself because of his disability. Being deaf has made him an outcast and limited him in so many ways. While other teenagers his age are thinking about college, he is fearful of how he will navigate his life now that he will be considered an adult. Caleb has been rather insulated and sheltered by his parents. His horizons are broadening now that he has set up a Tumblr account and started displaying his craft of photography.  Right away he meets a friend in a fellow blogger Luc. Their correspondence soon turns into something deeper, they have frequent video chats which lead to them meeting in person.

Luc is  a sexy goth and he is very much into Caleb. He makes it a point of interest to learn American sign language. He is very invested in his relationship with Caleb. It is obvious that they have something very real and their relationship blossoms regardless of the limitations of Caleb’s disability. Luc treats Caleb like he is whole and shows him that he is not defined by his deafness. Luc makes Caleb want to partake in the trials for a special hearing device that will enhance his quality of life.

When Caleb is denied, he is devastated. Luc plays a big role in helping Caleb with his speech. He entreats the company on Caleb’s  behalf to be given another shot at the trial. This was young love in all its glory, but there was a solid foundation and a depth to their love that doesn’t always come easy. Luc stuck it through with Caleb while he went through the surgery and got the hearing implants. It was the most beautiful sound when Caleb was able to hear Luc’s voice. This was a very sweet romance. I give this my ratings of 3- it was ok, give it a try. 

Favorite Quotes : 1. Caleb pressed his hand back into the bed, and his biceps flexed as he used the momentum to thrust harder, give Luc more of what he so clearly wanted. Their movements together became increasingly frantic, giving and taking in equal measure. Caleb came first, his hips snapping once, twice, then thrusting into his deepest point and holding there as his body trembled and shook and gasps of pleasure fluttered over Luc’s skin. Luc sped up the movement of his hand over his own cock and came too, spilling between them and catching Caleb’s lips in tiny kisses, over and over again. ( The sweetest lovemaking can be the most erotic.)