He Made Me Do It by Zee Shine Storm

 

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Zayn

What is it like to be both Muslim and gay? Honestly? It feels like I've been cursed for all eternity. And then I had to go and fall for Asher Hannes and make it even more complicated.

Not only was he a guy, he happened to be my cocky and rebellious stepbrother who became the reason I began to get in trouble for things that weren't even my fault.

Just seven months of his mother having married my dad, seven months of living under the same roof with him and sometimes even sharing the same bed and I already knew I was going to hell. Because I couldn't keep fighting who I was around him. I couldn't keep ignoring how I felt.

Wanting him was wrong. I never intended to cross any lines. But he made me do it anyway.

Note: This is a high school romance but with 18+ content. It does contain controversial themes relating to religion and homophobia but overall, it's a feel-good love story.

My Rating - 5 Stars!

He Made Me Do It is a fantastic stepbrother romance by Zee Shine Storm. 

And yes, the author had me at stepbrothers!

There's a lot going on in this book. Taboo. Forbidden romance. Illegal work. Risky sex. And plenty of religious homophobia.

The forbidden relationship aspect is the main aspect throughout. First, they are new stepbrothers and that certainly is an issue in itself. But to make matters worse, Zayn is Muslim and is torn between his true feelings and his religious stance on homosexuality. 

This story is tough to read. The tension is large and ever looming throughout. 

But damn it's hot. If you enjoy stepbrother romances, this is a must read. 

Asher is quite badass. He's certainly capable of a lot and very self assured. But poor Zayn struggles with his self esteem and his conscience. 

Overall, I love this book. The boys are so damn good together and you can't help but to root for them to find happiness. I questioned how the author could ever help them find their happily ever after, but damn, they did and it's a fabulous ending.

He Made Me Do It had me engrossed throughout. I couldn't put this book down. This Zee Shine Storm romance is totally compelling and wonderful, yet definitely full of the stress of what's going to happen. I love it!

Falling in Love and Other Bad Ideas (One More Thing #7) by F.N. Manning

 

Amazon Link - Available in KU
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Sometimes bad ideas are the hardest ones to resist...
Zach Ahmad is more used to fooling around than falling in love. In fact, the bi baseball player’s fondness for having a good time earns him many parental lectures from his disapproving father. But Zach isn’t expecting anything to change during his senior year, until he literally falls into the arms of the new boy at school.

When the new guy isn’t impressed by his charms, Zach can’t help but be intrigued by the dog-lover and do-gooder. Even if his meddling friends are trying to turn his life into a romcom. Just when Zach is ready to take a chance on something real, a curveball from his dad puts his whole future in jeopardy. Can Zach face his biggest challenge ever and still fall in love, or will he fall flat?

Falling in Love and Other Bad Ideas is an LGBT romance about what happens when a guy who never falls in love finds himself in a romantic comedy filled with meet cutes, matchmaking friends, and supposedly adorable canines. While characters in this story appear in the One More Thing universe, this standalone Zach novel can be read separately from the other books. 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Falling in Love and Other Bad Ideas is a fun young adult novel. To me this FN Manning book is more about teen life and the pursuit of romance than actual romance, giving us a nice coming of age tale.

Zach's at a crossroads, with some major life decisions to make. He also has some issues with his brother that are extremely profound. The faith aspect of this tale is a major leading factor for Zach's behavior. He struggles with the fine line for a Muslim teen, figuring out who he is in relation to the lifestyle he desires and his religion's rules. 

There are multiple narrators, all funny and quirky, with plenty of meddling friends. It's scattered and crazy, yet perfectly fitting for these characters. It's all written in an honest way. It's sharp and quick witted, with a fast pace, so don't let your mind wander much, or you'll find yourself soon confused. 

I definitely enjoyed Falling in Love and Other Bad Ideas. Since this is only my second FN Manning read, I am excited to go back and read the earlier books in this series. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a quirky, fast and fun young adult read. 

REVIEW TOUR - Shake the Stars by VL Locey

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link

Length: 100,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Sloan J Designs

Publisher: Gone Writing Publishing

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Blurb

Spending time in the Poconos with his family was the last thing Dane Forrester wanted to do over the summer. He had dreams of spending his last break touring Europe and gathering story ideas for his upcoming creative writing classes before heading to college. Maybe even finding that elusive first love in a small café in Paris, or along the Rhine, or even in a sultry villa in Italy. But no, he was stuck at the Silver Fir Lodge with his family where his dreams of romance and passion would wither and die a slow painful death, or so he imagined.

When all seemed lost, the budding wordsmith is saved—in more than one sense—by Khalid Novak, a lifeguard at the lodge’s pool. Khalid is two years older, a bit more sophisticated, and the most incredibly alluring thing Dane has ever seen. The two young men find themselves joyously wound in a searing romance that teaches Dane that love can be wildly intense yet fleeting so one should revel in it when the discovery is made.

Can this summer romance survive the chill of autumn as well as the winds of time? 

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

VL Locey's Shake the Stars is an amazing first love book. Raw and gutsy, it's a fantastic young adult, second chances romance.

An insta-love story, Dane and Khalid fall in love at summer camp. The long summer is spent together exploring both their worlds and each other. With a Dirty Dancing type feel, these two young men are caught in the web of first love and coming out.

Dane and Khalid have a complicated relationship with many issues thrown their way, including religious homophobia, as well as religious bigotry. There are
some amazing quotes; some fantastic conversations about religion. My favorite theme though is that of faith. The author perfectly explores the fact that faith is a personal thing. And even better yet, the fact that God doesn't hate, humans do. I love this. Absolutely love it. The discussions are important and relevant. 

Dane's fear of water is an impressive aspect of this story. Well written, I love the way Khalid helps him with his fear. It's wonderfully emotional, both tender and beautiful.

Their tale also includes the weight of family expectations and the painful lesson that first love doesn't always last. Their long journey towards love is full of angst as well as love. Theirs is a tale of sacrifices and compromises.

Overall, Shake the Stars is one hell of an impressive romance. VL Locey's one of my favorite authors, with this one holding up to her reputation. Basically, if you love VL Locey, be sure to check out this YA romance. It's an emotional journey that is beautiful in both it's story and it's storytelling.

USA Today Bestselling Author V.L. Locey – Penning LGBT hockey romance that skates into sinful pleasures.


V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, Torchwood and Dr. Who, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a pair of geese, far too many chickens, and two steers.


When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in one hand and a steamy romance novel in the other.

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Rabi and Matthew by LA Witt

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Blurb

A queer retelling of Romeo & Juliet, except no one has to bury their gays.

A decades-old family rivalry is reaching a boiling point as the patriarchs vie for a seat in Congress. Democrat vs Republican, Muslim vs Christian, Hashmi vs Swain — the Midwestern town of Arbor Hills is one spark away from an explosion of violence. So when two men find themselves irresistibly drawn together at a party, only to discover they were born on opposite sides of a bloody battle line, Matthew Swain and Rabi Hashmi know they should leave well enough alone.

The pull between them is magnetic, though, and it's too strong to ignore. Unable to resist, they meet again in secret. Generations of hatred can't temper the passionate love growing between them, but two men falling for each other in the middle of a war zone can't hold back the inevitable clash.

And when decades of political, religious, and personal strife finally come to a head, there will be blood.

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

LA Witt's Rabi and Matthew is a fresh, interesting twist on Romeo and Juliet.

Rabi and Matthew are never supposed to be together. Their families are enemies, and have been for generations. But these two boys don't care about the rivalry. The moment they meet at a party, the pull is magnetic. They actually can see past the family issues, like each other, and want to date.

They are faced with a whole lot of bigotry, racism, and hatred. Both know they need to hide and keep their feelings secret. Of course, secrets always have a way of coming out. 

Part of it's charm is how relevant this story is today. I can easily see this story playing out in real life. 

This story is emotionally charged, taking me on an emotional journey. Some parts were gut wrenching to read. I will admit to crying some. 

Rabi and Matthew is well worth the journey! I definitely recommend it.