Undeniably Yours by Brittany Cournoyer

Amazon Link - Available in KU
Goodreads Link

Friend-zone: a place where feelings are buried after they aren’t returned.

Solomon yearned to be more than Brody’s best friend. But when there was no hope of Brody feeling the same way, Solomon took his place in the friend-zone and stayed there for thirteen years.

Serial dating was only ever a sport to Brody, but even then, he sucked at it. No matter who he went out with, something was always missing. Perhaps what he’s missing is the man who’d been standing beside him for the last twenty years.

Feelings can only stay buried so long before they surface.

Were Brody and Solomon always meant to be together? Or will giving into their feelings transform their friendship completely?

Undeniably Yours is a contemporary gay romance. It has adult language, and situations meant for an audience over eighteen years of age.

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Undeniably Yours is an entertaining friends to lovers romance by Brittany Cournoyer. 

The story of Brody and Solomon, this book follows two best friends on their journey towards becoming a couple. Their story includes doubts and fears, as the two struggle to move forward. 

There are some fun side characters, who think the two men are more than friends. I could definitely read more from some of these characters. 

Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. In this one, one character knows he wants more than friendship, the other has no clue. It's a great eye-opening romance, as Brody realizes what everyone else already knew. 

The writing is smooth with good dialogue. It's a simple, yet sweet storyline. Written in alternating 1st person pov, the reader is brought into the mindset of both men are they learn how well they belong together. 

Undeniably Yours is perfect the next time you're in the mood for a nice and easy friends to lovers romance. Brittany Cournoyer will keep you satisfied with this slow burn read.

B Cournoyer - 4 stars - fluffy - ftol - slow burn - 

Forbidden (Strictly Off Limits #1) by Skyler Snow & Rheland Richmond

Amazon Link - Available in KU
Goodreads Link

Everyone knows you don't date your best friend's son. Right?

Scott

I would never do something like that…

But when my best friend asks me if his son could stay for a few weeks until he got on his feet, the plan wasn’t to fall for him.

I know I should stay away from Elliot. He's half my age and I’m not even sure he’s gay.

But no matter how hard I try, all I can think about is making Elliot mine.

Elliot

I've known Scott all my life. He's been there for me and my dad countless times.

So why do I suddenly have such a huge crush on him?

Seeing him after my years away in college has changed everything. I can't stop looking at him. I can't stop thinking about him. His whole vibe screams Daddy and I'm officially confused.

Am I falling in love with my dad's best friend?

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Forbidden, the first book in the Strictly Off Limits series, is an enjoyable read by Skyler Snow and Rheland Richmond. 

If you enjoy age gap romances, you will love this father's best friend story. Elliott is off to stay with his father's friend, Scott, as his new job is nearby. Cue the fun, as the attraction is instant. I like that their attraction is new, despite having known one another for years. Elliott has grown up, allowing Scott to see him as the man he now is, and Elliott is suddenly seeing Scott from new eyes. 

Their story is full of intense want. And of course, the forbidden aspect is always there. They don't jump right into bed, instead developing this new part of their friendship first and working out their feelings. 

This story includes some Daddy play, but nothing heavy. It seemed to come out of nowhere, but I just went with it, since Scott screams Daddy. Their story also includes some pleasurable sexual exploration, as Scott teaches the young Elliott some things.

Written in alternating 1st person pov, the reader is able to get into the mindset of both men. The characters are both charming, their chemistry is strong, and they make for a fabulous couple. The tension between the two jumps off the pages, and the reader will fall in love with this couple.

If you are looking for a serious forbidden element however, this book isn't for you. The forbidden aspect is certainly present, but it's a surprisingly low angst read. 

Forbidden is a fabulous May to December romance. The authors excel in developing this forbidden romance into a riveting tale. It's perfect when you're in the mood for something light and fluffy. As for now, I am excited to see what comes next in this series. 

Ghost Writer (Haunted Souls #8) by Pandora Pine

Amazon Link  - Available in KU
Goodreads Link

Ghost detective Jude Byrne is having the time of his life as a new husband and father. Lost in the shuffle of dirty diapers and late-night feedings is Cope’s birthday. Struggling to find a present for his husband, Jude is drawn to an antique, manual typewriter.

Unbeknownst to Jude, psychic Copeland Forbes has been planning to write his memoir. Eager to get started, Cope writes until he falls asleep. He’s woken by the click of the keys and a page full of song lyrics Cope knows he didn’t type.

When the typewriter continues to write, even with no one sitting at the keys, Cope realizes there must be a ghost in the machine. One who only uses hymn lyrics to communicate. Over time, the shy spirit begins to reveal clues to a powerful enemy lurking in Salem.

Will Jude and Cope solve the mystery of the ghost writer or will the evil consume them? 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Pandora Pine's Ghost Writer is a stellar addition to her Haunted Souls series. 

Having more of Jude and Cope is enough to keep me intrigued. Dear lord, these two are full of banter, humor, and sex. I love every damn moment with them. Their relationship continues to grow and every step of their journey is superb.

This story starts with them and a haunted typewriter. The resulting mystery is fascinating, and went into some serious issues. Let's just say that these serious issues are ones that personally anger me a lot, so I definitely enjoyed this story. The author spares no expense with the emotions involved and does justice to the issue.

I love Jude and Cope, their friends and the kids. Every moment spent with them is fabulous, and this one is a perfect addition to their journey. Their relationship is amazing, and the addition of Wolf just adds a whole new level to their fun. 

Ghost Writer is a fantastic story, as are all of the Haunted Souls books. I can't recommend them all enough. 

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - Rat Park by Marina Vivancos

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 71,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Natasha Snow

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Dominic has lived with an empty ache inside him for as long as he could remember. Maybe it started when he was six, hiding beneath his blankets as the wild animal noises of one of mom’s parties echoed in his head. Maybe it began the first time an adult plied him with drinks just to watch him stumble about.

Or, maybe, it was that he couldn’t even imagine what being loved should feel like. 

Drugs washed all that away. It didn’t cure the ache, but it made him forget it for a while. Anything was better than being conscious. Than being himself. But life had another hard lesson for him: With drugs, the only way is down. 

Dominic hits rock bottom when he’s twenty-three. Turns out, rock bottom looks a lot like the bars of a jail cell. With little left but his own thoughts, Dominic has to decide: Is this what I want for the rest of my life? 

The world has never been kind to Dominic, but when he meets the Romeros, he wonders if that is about to change. Officer Catalina Romero seems to see something in Dominic that he is sure isn’t there. The more she pulls him towards her family, however, the harder it is not to go. 

All his resistance disappears under the force that is Flor Romero. Spitfire, stubborn Flor—even at sixteen, he refuses to be taken lightly. As he grows older, putting a stop to what Flor obviously wants to happen between them is harder than Dominic would ever want to admit. 

Dominic knows that he has too many demons to let anybody get too close. But life doesn’t prepare him for Flor, who just might be ready to fight tooth and nail for a place in Dominic’s life—and his heart. 

The question is, will Dominic’s past keep him from his future?

Review

My Stars - 5 Stars!

Marina Vivancos' Rat Park is an absolutely amazing book. From page one, I was sucked in, and couldn't put it down. 

It's a powerful story of drugs, self loathing, homelessness, and violence.

It's a exquisite tale of growing up too soon, seeing things a kid shouldn't see, and doing things a kid shouldn't be doing. It's about falling a victim to your circumstances.

The author dives into the downward spiral that happens when you have no self worth. She expertly writes what happens when you believe you don't deserve anything good; when you believe you are always meant to be a junkie. 

I love how Marina Vivancos expertly conveys the strength required to believe in yourself; to believe in your worth. Most impressive though may be the title and the meaning behind it. This was perfectly chosen. 

I love Rat Park. I wish I could give it 10 stars. Yes, it's that good. Seriously, just read it! It's exquisite and stunning. Marina Vivancos doesn't shy away from all the struggles that stem from the dangerous power that addiction has over one's life. The never-ending belief that being an addict defines you. The strength that comes with a feeling of self worth.

Author Bio

When Marina was a child she couldn’t sleep. Night after dissolving night she just couldn’t sleep. Nothing much worked – until she started making up stories in her head. Suddenly, the transition into unconsciousness was a smooth dive into calm waters.

Marina is currently in a period of sleepless upheaval, and she hopes writing down the stories in her head will cast the same spell it did decades ago. 

Marina hopes to write in a variety of romance sub-genres, from contemporary to supernatural to sci-fi. Her style, however, tends to focus on character-centred stories that explore different facets of the human experience, such as mental health. She also enjoys writing explicit, drawn-out sex scenes, so expect those to be a prominent feature of her stories.

Marina tends to keep to herself unless prompted, so don’t be shy in approaching her!

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Liberty by Seth King

I recently read Liberty by Seth King.

5 Stars are not enough for this book.  It deserves 10 stars!

Amazon Link
Seth manages to write a story that is so loving, heart-breaking, eye-opening and tender.
And to make matters worse (for the reader's eyes and hearts), Seth's heart-felt letter at the end of the book is so raw and honest.

This book touched me on so many levels.

Seth writes about 2 boys who fall in love.  But if you are hoping for a happily-ever-after, this is not the story.

To write something similar to what the people at Pulse experienced that night was so brave.  Seth achieved to put you through some of the raw issues of that night. 
To be forced out of the closet because of a tragedy.  To watch your lover die. To finally be in an environment where you can be your true self for the first time.

And the other struggles in the book are so real and honest.  To be afraid to come out.  To be told you are wrong for being gay. For having conversion therapy forced upon you. To lose great people to suicide because of conversion therapy.

This book is definitely a must read.

And, I must say Thank You Seth for such an amazing book!