3.5 stars

Milo Santiago is eighteen year old trying to make enough money to go to college and build a life for himself after he is thrown out by his parents for being gay. He's staying with his brother, Dante (see book 1 in series). When a gorgeous guy (Campbell Brooks) walks into the restaurant he works in, Milo can't help but to approach the guy only to be quickly shot down. Campbell isn't really the emotional or committment type. The two eventually come to a understanding and start up a relationship that benefits them both. But when one of them comes to the realization they've fallen for the other things may not end well.

I enjoyed the story but I wished it was more fleshed out. The epilogue skipping seven years into the future left me wanting more. I was interested finding out what happened between those years. It's not exactly the only part I wanted to know more about but it was what it was. Milo and Cam seemed to evenly balance each other and I liked that they had to work to make their relationship work.

An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

This was a short but well-written clearly laid out novel of high school lovers that separated tragically and reunited later in life. The story seemed short but I don’t think it could’ve been put together any better. All the scenes and dialogue worked seamlessly and gave the reader enough details to build a sense of intimacy with the reader whilst at the same time holding the reader thirsty for more.

Jake is the top who is jaded by the trauma he was put through when they separated in high school. Kane is hoping to reunite the relationship he has never forgotten. Brock is Kane’s son who plays a pivotal role in setting up situation(s) to bring the two lovers back together. Jimmy plays a pivotal role in helping Jake realize that Kane is more than willing to stand up for Jake and in such, eliminating the last doubts that Jake has about getting back together with Kane.

I love the turn of jaded man-whore and learning the depth of Jake’s character despite his one-night stand ways and then turning to seeing a man who is wearing armor to protect his tender romantic heart. Kane is the stalwart gentleman who made a mistake(s) as a scared teenager and who has grown up to be an admirable responsible handsome man.

The love scenes are steamy and tinged with an air of sensuality and rosy je-ne-sais-quoi that just makes the reader’s heart go squee. Logan and Aaron are cute supporting characters and the dialogue between them makes Jake’s initially jaded adult heart yearn for what he has lost.

A free copy was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

This was a steamy novel about Beau, gentlemen’s club owner, and his personal assistant, Adam. Beau isn’t described as the most likable of characters and comes off as a arrogant wealthy man who cares about staying fit and not tolerating an ounce of fat on his body. He decides to confront Adan about being sexually appealing, giving flirtatious glances, and makes his move on Adam. Adam caves and accepts Beau’s advances and good steamy times ensue.

After their steamy, mind-blowing encounter, Adam admits that Beau was his first. Beau feels the same but plays the scene off as a mistake so they go their own separate ways as if it never happened. At a dinner party at Beau’s mansion, Beau makes his moves on Adam again and Adam, being so in love with Beau, drops to his knees in lusty bliss. The scene is interrupted by an emergency phone call about Adam’s son Johnny.

The entry of Johnny gives this story personality and actually saves this novel. Prior to this, it was an overly cliché novel of a wealthy arrogant man taking advantage of a spineless young man who melts at his owner’s feet and a hot sex scene – respect not necessary. After getting Johnny back from the hospital, Beau offers for Adam to bring his son to work with him to avoid having to quit his job as Beau’s personal assistant. They make mutual confessions to each other and seem to actually start their real loving relationship. Beau’s arrogance and selfish needs cause a fight and they separate for the evening in a cloud of anger and regret.

Adam’s apartment building burns down and Adam goes to Beau as his first line of support. Beau is supporting, warmly takes them in and redeems himself as he sets their relationship back on track from their fight. Beau has now realized that he would do whatever needed to convince Adam they were meant to be together. Honest conversation results and steamy happy ending is established! The character development is evident from silence with unpalatable cliché characters to open characters with relatable feelings, open communication and a sense of mutual respect.

An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Reckless Seduction - Amanda Young 3.5 Stars

I read the second edition.

Reckless Seduction

Nineteen year old Cody Bradbury has had a crush on his uncle’s best friend, Dante Santiago (32 yo), since he was fourteen. When the invitation to his uncle’s much acclaimed gay club Halloween party falls into his hand Cody thinks he’s hit the jackpot. He’s ready for some fun and if his uncle’s bestie happens to be there he wouldn’t mind losing his V-card.
I wanted a bit more romance but for erotica it was pretty darn good. The heat level was incendiary. Cody was bratty but not overly. He knew what he wanted and he was more than willing to push for it until he got it. Dante, I enjoyed seeing him giving a good fight and trying to resist Cody’s charms. There was just the right touch of taboo in the story.

That being said, it seemed like all the guys in Cody’s life had huge appendages between their legs. I mean Dante was described as “biggest d*ck outside a porno” and Cody’s roommate, Josh, had a behemoth d*ck. It was just weird and a tad contradictory on Cody’s part. Who had the bigger phallus?

Reckless Behavior

Picks up 6 months after the end of Reckless seduction. Cody and Dante are in a relationship but it seems to be an open one where they pick up guys to have menages. While, Reckless Seduction, was told mostly from Cody’s POV; in Reckless Seduction, we get more of both MC’s POV.
Dante seems to be dissatisfied with the direction he led their relationship in. While Cody seems to have embraced the threesomes, Dante has grown tired of it. What Dante doesn’t know is that Cody has grown tired of the arrangement too. He wasn’t really built for anything but monogamy but fears his lover will tire of him if he shows his reluctance. When he finds someone else in Dante’s house, Cody thinks the worse.

I liked the story but I could have done without read the double penetration scene and their first foray into a threesome. The mess with neither Dante nor Cody communicating was a tad aggravating/frustrating. I really wanted to shake some sense into them both.

An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Crushing - Amanda Young Cole Winchester is a closeted gay man who's been in a relationship with with a female for the last two years. When he's pushed into marriage, he finally decides he can't do it anymore and plans to address it with his fiance.

Eric Radcliff has had a crush on Cole since he was in his teens. When Cole stumbles over him on the beach its unexpected but welcome.

This was quite a short read and felt a bit rushed because of it. Cole's relationship has barely ended before it seems like he runs into Eric (really it was two weeks since his breakup but in book it felt like no time at all). The reunion shows is a happy occasion for both of them though. Their first date is awkward like any first date is. Everything looks is fantastic until they're interrupted by Cole's ex-fiance.

There's no time to get attached to the characters or even really get to know them and it worked against the story since I was pretty detached towards the characters and their situation. It had potential though and the intimate scenes were pretty hot. It was a good (snack/lunch/dinner) break read.

A free copy was provided to me by the author for an honest review.