Finn’s Fantasy (Maine Men #1) by K.C. Wells

 

Pages: 311

Available as E-book, Paperback, and Audio book

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

 

Blurb

 

A secret desire

 

By day, Finn builds houses on the coastline of Maine. Afterhours, Finn dreams of the hot older guy who walks his chocolate lab on Goose Rocks Beach. The man of his dreams ticks all his boxes. Salt and pepper hair. Strong jawline. Blue eyes.
His dream man is perfect fantasy material. As for actually speaking to him?
As if. Their paths won’t ever cross, and the guy is probably straight.

 

A new chapter

 

Recently divorced Joel is finally living as a gay man, but he’s not sure he’s ready to jump into a relationship. That doesn’t stop him from noticing his new contractor’s muscular build, hewn from hard, physical work, or his storm-colored eyes. Or the way he wears his tool belt slung low on his hips. The icing on the cake? There’s more to Finn than good looks. Maybe he’s the perfect guy to share long walks on the beach and warm nights in front of a fire.

 

But it’s been twenty years since Joel was with a man. While he’s not forgotten how to flirt, he’s nervous about making a move.

 

Especially with Finn.

Review

 

Sighs. Finn’s Fantasy might as well have been written to meet my personal reading preferences.

 

Low Angst?                                         √

Age Gap?                                            √

Strong Secondary Characters?          √            

Adorable Dog?                                    √

 

There really isn’t anything in this story that doesn’t work for me. Quite the opposite in fact. I loved it from start to finish. While Finn and Joel both start off assuming that the other man isn’t for him (Finn thinks Joel is straight and Joel is convinced he’s too old for Finn), it doesn’t keep them apart. Because both men, prior to really getting to know each other, are happy to cultivate a friendship in lieu of anything more intimate, their relationship progresses naturally. It’s already clear they’re a good fit before they’ve shared their first kiss.

 

It wouldn’t be a romance without at least a little tension. In this case, the stress isn’t caused by any issue between Finn and Joel but rather by Joel’s past (I’m not sharing details here, I wouldn’t want to spoil this wonderful story). The issue is valid and understandable and, what’s more, it’s not dragged out but dealt with in an open and relatable manner.

 

Finn and Joel together are as adorable as they are hot. You could say they warm both the readers’ hearts and other body parts. 😊

 

This book starts with Finn spending time with his friends and ends with him and Joel meeting the same group again. Other men from this group will find the loves of their lives in subsequent titles. Since we see enough of the friends to get some idea of who they are, I’m already curious about who’s story will be next and what might happen to him. What’s more, these group scenes guarantee that I will see more of Finn and Joel in later Maine Men stories, and to me, that’s fabulous news.

                                                                                                

So:       YAY! To Maine Men #1

            BRING ON, Maine Men #2 and the rest. (Taps foot impatiently.)

 

 

My Best Friend’s Brother by K.C. Wells

 

Pages: 166

Release Date: March 26, 2021

Buy links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

 

Blurb

My best friend’s younger brother is all grown up. And gorgeous.

Casey’s off limits. Forbidden. But that just makes me want him more.

Rylan
I’ve watched Casey grow up. I never imagined how the sweet, scrawny kid would turn into a hot muscular man. A hot guy who just came out.
Casey torments my thoughts. And my dreams. I need to stay far, far away from my best friend’s kid brother. Should be easy, right? I can find plenty of guys to distract me.
Problem is, all I want is the one man I can’t have.

Casey
There’s never been a time when I wasn’t in love with Rylan. My brother’s best friend was my first crush. My only crush. He’s the one man I shouldn’t go near. And here I am spending the summer in the apartment he shares with my older brother.
That seemed like a good idea in the beginning. I thought I could handle it but now that I’m so close to the man I’ve always wanted, I’m not so sure. About anything.

I can have any man – except the one I want.
It’s going to be a long, hot summer.

Review

Delightful. I absolutely adored this story and these characters.

The set-up is of course glorious in its own right. What’s not to love about a blurb that indicates the main characters will have to suffer their way through a fair amount of pining before getting what they ache for—each other.

Casey has had a thing for Rylan, his brother’s best friend, ever since he first figured out he was gay. Which means that inviting himself to spend the summer with his brother Trask and Rylan is not as straightforward as it might appear. Poor Casey. He thought he had a handle on his crush only to discover that the attraction he feels is as strong (if not stronger) as ever. It seems that he’s in for a long and frustrating summer.

On the upside, Casey was sorta prepared for his reaction to being in Rylan’s proximity. Rylan on the other hand is completely blind-sided by his own reaction to seeing Casey again. The boy he remembered has been replaced a handsome, well-built, fully grown, and irresistible young man. Which wouldn’t be an issue were it not for Trask, Rylan’s best friend and Casey’s older brother, who has warned Rylan to stay away from Casey in the strongest of terms.

And thus, begin weeks of two men circling each other. They flirt when it’s just the two of them, although neither is sure if they’re interpreting the other correctly. It takes them some time and a bit of soul-searching to get together. But when they do…

Yes, Rylan and Casey are hot together. But it’s much more than that. They are so adorable. With these two caring for each other came before lusting after and enjoying each other, and it shows in how interact.

I smiled a lot while reading this book and laughed out loud a few times. The dialogue and banter between Casey, Rylan, and Trask is sharp and sparkles. Casey’s heart-to-heart with his supervisor warmed my heart and when Rylan and Casey at last opened up to each other my heart sang.

I always find it ridiculously easy to lose myself in a K.C. Wells story and My Best Friend’s Brother was no exception. For a few hours, I lost myself in the company of two intriguing men and when I left them again, I was happy and thoroughly satisfied. You can’t ask for more from a romance.

Naked Weekend (Naked, Book 1) by Roe Horvat

Novella / 20k words

Release Date: March 24, 2021

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

 

Blurb

It was supposed to be a casual threesome. Yeah, right. Those kisses are anything but casual, and the third guy is nowhere to be found. Neill should have known their friend set them up. But even as he ends up naked in the tall stranger’s arms, he can’t find any reason to regret anything.

From the first moment, Danny knows he could easily fall for Neill. All these little contradictions fascinate him: Neill’s passionate and playful one moment, and the next second he withdraws into himself, cautious. What made him that way? And how can Danny convince the beautiful boy to stay?

Review

Wow.

Roe Horvat did it again. I have no idea how he does it, but he weaves some kind of special magic with his words. On the surface, this story is pure erotica with steamy, vivid, and imaginative sex on most if not every page. And while all of that is nothing short of delicious, Naked Weekend is so much more than just two hot men making the most of being naked.

I’m amazed how much the author manages to tell us about Danny and Neill through their sexual encounters over the course of one weekend. Not only did I get to know them, I also fell for them, hard and fast. But then, maybe that’s the result of being naked. You can’t hide when you fully expose yourself. I have no idea if the idea behind the ‘Naked’ series went beyond the writing of hot stories, although I’m inclined to think it probably was. But whatever the author’s intention was, for me the set-up of this novella meant that I could see Danny and Neill fully, without barriers or pretense, both inside and out.

Yes, Danny and Neill fall for each other hard and fast; all it takes is that one naked weekend and a few hours of contemplation. But you won’t find me complaining about insta-love. It is clear from the very start that these two are made for each other. Their journey from strangers to lovers stepping into a relationship was as heart-warming as it was hot. They took my breath away while I was reading and now, days later, I still smile when I think about them. And that is exactly what a good story should do.

 

 

Cabin Fever by Roe Horvat

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Also available in Kindle Unlimited

Blurb

Michael Bourgeon is a talented artist, young and gorgeous, a stinking rich heir from a well-connected family. He’s the infamous libertine behind the most extravagant parties in Manhattan, and his exploits often lead to juicy tabloid stories. Enjoying his wealth and freedom to the fullest, Michael has the world at his feet.

Until someone tries to kill him. Repeatedly. After a security breach among his own staff, he has run out of options where to hide while the FBI hunts the killer.

A high-profile private security expert, the gruff and controlling Vincent Nowak, is supposed to provide the miracle solution. And while Michael struggles with nightmares and anxiety due to the looming threat, Vincent becomes not only the ultimately reliable protector, but a wonderful distraction, too…

A small cabin in the woods, a cocky brat with a soft heart, his gruff, controlling bodyguard, and weeks of tension in a confined space.

Gay erotic romance, a boy and his bodyguard, hurt/comfort, rough sex, pain, punishment, and of course, sweet love…

Based on the original short story “Yes Daddy”.

Review

“By taking what I wanted, I gave him what he needed”

If you’ve been keeping an eye on my reviews, I could probably limit myself to stating “Roe Horvat went and did it again” and you’d know exactly what I meant. But that would be very lazy on my part, and not much fun for you, so I’ll expand just a little.

For starters, let me say that Roe Horvat went and did it again. 😊

Seriously though, I turn to Roe’s book for well written, sexy love stories featuring captivating characters and yes, Cabin Fever fits that description perfectly.

Michael (Mikey) and Victor are just about perfect for each other. And each man realizes that they could be exactly what the other needs, right from the start. All would have been perfect if it wasn’t for the fact that the only reason they are cooped up together is the threat on Michael’s life. Victor is there to keep him save and doesn’t need or want distractions, especially not of the sexual kind. Except…

Except that the body wants what the body wants and needs often speak louder than sense. Therefore, it isn’t long before Victor is all too aware that Michael needs a Daddy while with every passing day they spent hidden away in isolation, Victor’s urge to give Michael exactly what he needs becomes stronger.

When they do give in to their mutual attraction, sparks fly. Hot sparks. Kinky sparks. Brutal sparks and, eventually, tender sparks. What follows is nothing short of a sex-fest. Victor and Michael push boundaries, talk dirty, and enjoy each other’s body in every way imaginable. And yet, don’t make the mistake of assuming that this book is nothing but sex. Relationships grow in a variety of ways and between Victor and Michael, much of the growth is created during their sex scenes. Victor learns what Michael needs only to discover it matches exactly what he desires to give. At the same time Michael finds peace of mind, for the first time in months, in his surrender to Victor’s dominance. Not that Victor is always the stronger, more stable personality in this growing relationship. When push comes to shove and he might lose the one person he can’t imagine living without, Michael shows he’s strong enough to force Victor to admit that which he’s been trying to deny for too long.

I loved the hint of suspense that loomed over the story from the start and for once, I didn’t mind the tiny amount of angst. In fact, it worked so well for me I found myself cheering Michael on all the way.

If you like your engrossing stories with a liberal dose of kinky scenes, an enticing Daddy-boy dynamic, a hint of suspense, and an uplifting and sweet happy ever after, you really need to go and one-click Cabin Fever.

Beautiful Beast (Those Other Books) by Roe Horvat

Buy links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Also Available to read with Kindle Unlimited

Blurb

Beautiful Beast is a light tale of lust and love, about a beautiful dancer who keeps a wild beast locked inside him, and the man who sets it free.

Kevin used to hold himself back, trying to keep his less conventional desires to himself. With Joakim, he feels free. It’s almost as if Joakim can read Kevin’s subconscious, touching the right places at exactly the right time, and whispering the most shameless things…filthy, and oh so satisfying.

Falling for Kevin is easy. Joakim can feel it happening and he’s powerless to do anything about it. With every touch, his desire grows. Men have chased him for his money and status before, but Kevin doesn’t seem to care about any of that. Maybe this time, Joakim should let himself fall, and hope the landing will be soft. 

Review

This story starts with one of the most delightful and maybe even best opening scenes I’ve ever read. Joakim falls straight into love at first sight in a shoe shop while…. No actually. I love that scene too much to spoil it for you. Go read it.

In fact, go read the whole book. In my opinion this is the perfect story for the troubled times we live in. If I had been able to order my perfect romance it would have read pretty much exactly like Beautiful Beast.

What’s not to love about a story about instant lust, maybe even ‘insta-love’ as far as Joakim is concerned, in which the two main characters simply give in to the mutual attraction, follow their instincts, and create something gorgeous.

Beautiful Beast is an effortless and tender story. While both characters occasionally question what’s happening, whether they are moving too fast, and why they are so comfortable being completely open with the other, there is no angst. Two men follow their hearts, without conflict or concern, and it works, because there is no doubt they are perfect together.

While all the Those Other Books are sensual and sexy, I want to say this one wins the ‘steam award’. Joakim and Kevin’s journey, as they explore each other, is glorious. Every want of Kevin’s is a need in Joakim, every dream Joakim’s ever had is answered by Kevin’s desires.

But, the beauty in this book goes well beyond the mesmerizing love story and the enticing sex scenes. The writing is smooth and engaging, and the descriptions, of our men and the world they move in, are stunning. What’s more, while these two men found each other through the kink they share, there was never any doubt — not for the reader and not for the characters — that what they shared went beyond bodily pleasures from the very start.

It was wonderful getting glimpses of the characters from the previous Those Other Books, simply because I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of these men. Each and everyone of them has worked his way into my heart, and Joakim and Kevin have joined the crew. I adored both of them, their sex-fest enthralled me, and the deep, instant connection between them made my heart soar.

If there was any doubt (spoiler alert, there wasn’t) I can now confirm that Roe Horvat has earned himself a place near the top of my ‘must read list’.

The Interrogation – a Hunter Dane Investigation by Adira August

196 Pages

Buy links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Also available in Kindle Unlimited

Blurb

Hunter’s most twisted killer. Cam’s most dangerous case.

---

“SO WHO GOT DEAD?”

Twee asked, taking a pastry. Merisi pulled the plate away from her and closer to himself.

“Three little boys," Hunter told them. "The fourth went missing this morning. If this killer’s M.O. hasn’t changed, the boy’s not dead yet.”

“You’re talking about the Wilderness Killer?” Diane Natani asked. “That’s McCauley’s case. How is our unit getting it?”

“The victim is the governor’s nephew. McCauley and his team haven’t gotten anywhere in a year. The governor requested us, and we’re taking over.”

“Well, that shouldn’t cause any resentment.” Merisi dunked half a doughnut into his coffee.

“It’s a recipe for a clusterfuck, Boss,” Twee said.

"True. It’s also exactly the kind of case this Unit was created to handle."

Natani tossed down her pen. “We have political interference, departmental incompetence, personal resentment, and a boy who will die within eight hours. Somewhere.”

"No problem. We find the killer and get him to tell us where in the 1200 square miles of Colorado wilderness he staked out the governor’s nephew.” Merisi punctuated this with an eyeroll.

“The first part got done about an hour ago.”

Assistant District Attorney Natani perked up. “We have a suspect?”

Hunter nodded. "We do. Now I just have to get him to talk.”

“Just get him to talk?” Merisi tilted his chair back. “He’ll lawyer up before you can say ‘You have the right’ and a keyhole satellite couldn’t find this kid.”

“You're forgetting the Boss’s cardinal rule.” Twee pulled the plate back toward herself and Merisi’s chair came down with a sharp bang.

“Yeah? What's that?"

“Never assume.”

---

If you like a master gamesman for a detective and a few twists in your criminal cocktail, you want to read this.

A STAND-ALONE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER

 Review

Unless you’ve never seen one of my reviews before, you probably know I’m a HUGE fan of Hunt & Cam. I’ve been with them from the very start and eagerly await every subsequent book. These two men are glorious together. Made for each other, Hunter Dane and Camden Snow come to life on the pages of these stories, and worm their way into your heart and head…well, they did for me.

But, if you’ve read the previous stories, you probably need to know that this book is different from the earlier titles. Where the older stories focus on the relationship between Hunt and Cam and their D/s dynamic with Hunter day job taking a (growing) backseat, The Interrogation is a pure and simple thriller. While the feelings they have for each other are still vivid, there are no on-the-page sex scenes to be found in this story.

As for the crime? When a young boy disappears, Hunter is put in charge of the case. The kidnapper is soon apprehended, but there’s no sign of the boy. He’s been left, somewhere in the wilderness to die a slow and horrible death in a blizzard that’s about to strike in a matter of hours. In a race against time, Hunter must get the man to talk while Cam is out searching for his victim. As the snow starts to fall, more than one life is at stake.

I have to admit that before I started The Interrogation I wondered if I would miss those extremely enticing scenes. Would Hunt & Cam be able to captivate me as much without getting their clothes off, without their ever so imaginative sexual encounters?

I’m very happy that I’m able to answer that question with a whole-hearted ‘YES’. The investigation in this story, the search for the young missing boy, and the tension during the interrogation were so intense that I didn’t have time to miss the sex. In fact, the timeline in this story is so tight that any time-out for private escapades would have felt wrong, contrived, and shoe-horned in. And yet, even without describing any explicit intimacies, the reader is never in any doubt how much these men mean to each other, how they live and breath for and because of the other.

This is one of those stories that forces the reader to pay close attention. Nothing is exactly what it seems. Nothing unfolds as you might expect. And you’ll find yourself torn between wanting to read slowly, just to make sure you don’t miss anything, and the urge to rush along and discover how it all ends. Between a manipulative perpetrator, policing politics and rivalries, an innocent young victim, a race against time, and a heroic dog, there really isn’t anything in this book not to love. But, best of all, as always, are Hunter and Camden: two heroes so perfect they shouldn’t work and yet manage to be memorable and incredibly more-ish.

Can I have the next book, please?

Third One (Those Other Books #3) by Roe Horvat

Buy links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Available in Kindle Unlimited

Blurb

It could have been just an innocent crush. Something guiltless and fleeting. But Luke spends every day with Marcus; they talk, touch and dance together, they create and perform together. They know each other inside out. As a consequence, Luke has been in love with his very much taken choreographer for years. Seeing Marcus and his partner Liam together has become increasingly painful, and Luke needs to leave. His dancing career is nearing an end anyway. He will start university, reinvent himself, forget Marcus and find happiness elsewhere.

Except Marcus loves him back. And Liam knows. Liam’s dark eyes and his imposing silhouette begin haunting Luke’s dreams. Drowning in both lust and sadness, Luke is swept into a passionate triangle with two men who couldn’t be more different. Suddenly, instead of fear or caution, there’s just a mind-numbing desire for more.

Review

“This is how I look when I’m happy.” – Luke

Third One is the third book (but fourth story) in the Those Other Books series. In my review of One In Between I wrote: “I do hope there will be a Liam, Marcus and Luke story.” And what do you know? Not only did I get my wish, but the story I wished for surpassed all my (very high) hopes and expectations.

Like all of Roe’s characters Liam, Marcus, and Luke feel deeply, love fervently, and enjoy sex/make love with a burning passion. This author always takes his readers deep into his main characters. Not a thought is hidden or vague, every feeling is described in terms that awaken the same emotions in the reader. It’s impossible not to feel Marcus’s need, Luke’s desperation, or Liam’s occasional (and uncharacteristic) doubt. The language allows the reader to emerge themselves in the story, lose themselves there, and find some much needed and deeply appreciated relief from the real world.

Few authors I know write sex with as much depth, feeling, and eroticism as Roe Horvat. The words ‘this story made my Kindle steam’ are a cliché and yet, that’s the only way I can describe it.  Every touch, and the reaction it elicits, is vivid to the point where the reader can almost experience them personally. There is no shame, sex is never dirty. Quite the opposite in fact. Touch, penetration, claiming, surrendering, are so much more than a hot act on these pages. They describe the growing feelings between these three men with maybe more clarity than their thoughts and words do. In each other, in their shared passion and release they find each other as well as themselves and it’s a beautiful sight.

Not that this novella is ‘just’ a sex-filled romp. Becoming a throple is always going to be more complicated than two people coming together. When two of the three have been an established and happy couple for a decade before their third enters the relationship, it only makes things more fraught. And yet, while there certainly was some concern on Luke’s part about being the ‘odd one out’, when these three men come together it heralds the end of their angst rather than the start. Not that all concerns instantly vanished, as if by the magic of peen’, but once these men open up to each other (in more ways than one) and start talking, the stomach-churning disquiet, eased both for the characters and for me. And the moment Luke fully realizes he’s found happiness had tears stinging my eyes.

I could go on…and on…and on… But, in the end all that matters is that with Third One, Roe Horvat once again delivered a beautifully written story about men finding their perfect happy-ever-after. The fact that he also managed to push me out of my reading funk is a very welcome bonus. Not for the first time I highly recommend this book by a wonderful and favourite author.

“It all began and ended with Liam. Without Liam, his love for Marcus made no sense. By giving himself to Liam, he was redeemed.” – Luke

Related reviews: The Other Book | Adam Only | One in Between

More Than This by Alexa Milne

73 Pages

Pride Publishing

Release Date: 17 March, 2020

Buy links: First For Romance | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

Sometimes life gives you more than this.

Two years after whistle-blowing on irregularities in the company she worked for in the US, businesswoman Veronica Smith runs into Cassandra Forster, the woman with whom she had an intense affair back in New York.

Cass pushed all Ronnie’s buttons as well as her boundaries, and the relationship was becoming something more before Ronnie left without an explanation. When they pick up where they left off, Ronnie finds she still wants more…but does Cass feel the same?

Cass wants an explanation. Being with Ronnie had begun to mean more than great sex, but then Ronnie left her high and dry. Cass’ feelings haven’t changed, but can she trust Ronnie enough not to hurt her again? Can she trust herself to let someone into her life?

Over a weekend and a wedding, the two women finally talk and discover they have more in common than the ability to meet each other’s desires. But can they take this second chance life has given them to have more than this?

Review

More Than This is a wonderful ‘second-chance-at-love’ story. There really wasn’t anything about this novella I didn’t thoroughly enjoy or love. The story starts strong and very sexy, and continues that way until the very last page.

I loved that this wasn’t an angst-ridden story in which the two characters have to overcome their past in order to secure their present and happy ever after. Two years earlier, neither Cass nor Ronnie thought they were in or looking for a relationship and while Ronnie's sudden and unexplained disappearance left some unanswered questions, it didn’t cause (unnecessary) soul searching or recriminations. And what’s not to love about a story featuring two strong, independent, and self-sufficient women who come to the conclusion that together they are more than they could ever be on their own?

I loved the shifting power dynamic between these two women, and the ease with which they both accept their own and each other’s needs and desires. Ronnie enjoys a bit of pain with her sex, and sometimes craves to give up control to Cass, but she has no problem taking the upper hand either. It makes for fascinating and very sexy encounters.

I’m in awe at how much (back) story the author managed to give me in less than 20k words, especially since there are no info dumps to be found at all. The story moves smoothly, revealing both the past and the present in a relaxed and very easy to digest manner. The reader is told exactly enough to be able to get to know and love the main characters, to understand their motivation, and to experience their feelings. I would go so far as to say there’s not a single wasted word in this novella.

This is a romance so I’m sure you can guess how this story ends. The occasion and setting where Cass and Ronnie declare their feelings are both inspired and magical.

To summarise: I adored this story. I read it in one sitting and while the length of this story is perfect, I was sorry to say goodbye to Cass and Ronnie. Should they ever get a sequel, I will be among the first to read it.