The Two Stars Collision (College Boys of New Haven #3) by Hayden Hall

 

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When an adorable force meets an irresistible object they might just fall in love.

Miles

Studies astrophysics? Check.

Loves Star Wars? Check.

Still a virgin at twenty-one with zero experience in real life? Double-check.

I didn’t want any fanfare around my twenty-first birthday. But when a series of unfortunate accidents confirming Ramsey’s rules of randomness takes place right in front of my eyes, I find myself dancing with the hottest, most popular jock on campus.

Liam makes me feel special. He makes this night one to remember. He becomes the very first boy I ever kissed.

Except it’s all a charade. He’s just making his crazy ex-girlfriend crazier and I’m happy to play along. Call it a kissing practice.

But when the door is closed and his ex isn’t around to see us, are we still faking it? Or are we the crazy ones?


Liam

Am I going through one helluva breakup? Yes I am.

Am I coping with it by dancing with the first guy who accidentally pissed my ex off? You bet I am.

Hayley and I were supposed to spend our lives together. Well, that was the plan until she changed the plan. She’s now hooking up with some random caveman and I’ll be damned if I’m just going to stand here and watch.

Oops, the nerd just kissed me; and you can bet your life I kissed him back. Now she knows what it feels like.

And I discover it feels way better than I expected.

The Two Stars Collision is the third book in the College Boys of New Haven series, but it fully works as a standalone. If this is your first encounter with the series, feel free to start here! You will find a nerd/jock pair, opposites attract, gay for you, and a happily ever after.

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

The Two Stars Collison is the third book in the College Boys of New Haven series by Hayden Hall. This college romance is easily read as a standalone. 

This one combines nerd/jock, opposites attract, and first times to make it exactly what I crave to read everyday. 

I love Miles and Liam and their relationship. They're super adorable together and I love the way everything develops between them. 

Their story includes a funny meet cute, and a fake relationship. Yay! I love when a fake relationship leads to love.

The opposites attract factor is huge with this one. One's a science geek who's also a virgin. The other's a jock who's also a frat boy. But they certainly work well together and discover that they get along wonderfully. 

I love the chemistry between the two. The connection is instant and the dynamic between them is fabulous.

There are a lot of Star Wars references that fans of the series will love. But, if you're like me and have never even watched Star Wars, it doesn't make it a problem. 

I love the author's writing style and the storyline is plenty of fun. There are a lot of secondary characters who fully come to life and add tons to the story.

The Two Stars Collison is a great choice the next time you're in the mood for a college romance. This Hayden Hall tale kept me reading late into the night. 

Thin Ice (Pine Cove #6) by H.J. Welch

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Kamran’s ex broke his heart, tricked him into aiding a bank robbery, and now he wants him to do one last job. There’s only one way to say no: seek the protective custody of the biggest, grumpiest FBI agent ever. And pretend to be his boyfriend for a week-long family reunion in their giant mansion. Wait, what?

Agent Lee Marshall is notoriously all work and no play. Letting a flirty, hot-as-sin playboy like Kamran wind him up is not an option. He has to protect him, not hook up with him. But pretending they’re an item for a week? That couldn’t hurt…

Kamran swore he’d never love again, but Lee will do anything to keep him out of harm’s way. Maybe there’s a teddy bear heart under the hunky FBI agent’s gruff exterior, and Kamran is the only one who can tease it out. What started out fake becomes all too real, but when Kamran’s past catches up to him, Lee must risk everything to save him.

Book Six of Pine Cove. Thin Ice is a steamy, standalone MM romance novel with a guaranteed HEA and absolutely no cliffhanger.

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Thin Ice is the sixth book in HJ Welch's Pine Cove series. It's easy to read as a standalone, but is best enjoyed if you have read the series in order.

I adore this book. It's a fabulous mix of danger, action, family antics, and romance. The slow burn aspect is fabulous and I absolutely love the suspense element. 

Kamran first won my heart in Troubled Waters. Now it's time for the lovable Uber driver to get his own love story. 

Now we see Kamran falling for FBI agent and personal protector to Kamran, as they try to keep Kamran safe from his dangerous ex. 

If you enjoy bodyguard romances, you'll love this one. Although Lee isn't exactly a bodyguard, he is personally set on protecting the lovable and charming "race car driver."  

The family issues add a lot to this story. Staying with Lee's family, we get a great look into Lee's life and the toxic relationship with some of his relatives. Of course, there are also some lovely family members, including Lee's grandmother. Love her.

Thin Ice is a fabulous addition to this wonderful HJ Welch series. I adore it completely and highly recommend it. 

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - MF - Writing the Rules (The Dating Playbook #6) by Mariah Dietz

 

WRITING THE RULES (The Dating Playbook #6) by Mariah Dietz

Release Date: April 29th

Genre: New Adult Sports Romance 🏈

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Poppy Anderson was nailing her sophomore year at Brighton University. She liked her classes, had the greatest best friend, and was finally ready to start dating again. Or she was … until her ex, Mike, transferred to Brighton and started exchanging long stares and inside jokes that Poppy thought he’d forgotten.

 

Paxton Lawson was long ago labeled ‘The Golden Boy.’ Starting quarterback and team captain at Brighton University, his future was brighter than the sun until a short path of indiscretions tarnished his name and potentially his future. When he learns that his sister’s best friend, Poppy, has backed herself into a corner and is facing as many doubts and uncertainties as he is, Paxton suggests the biggest ruse of the year: a fake relationship.

 

Writing the rules was supposed to make things clear, defined, and definite. Only, their relationship becomes increasingly complex as the lines are blurred, days become weeks, and kisses for show begin to feel like confessions.

Can lies lead to truths? And what happens when the rules they wrote begin to expire?

 

One lie,

Two hearts,

And fifteen years of friendship are about to be put to the ultimate test.

 

This is the last book in The Dating Playbook series and can be enjoyed as a complete standalone. 

 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Writing the Rules is a delicious fake boyfriend romance. The sixth book in The Dating Playbook series by Mariah Dietz, it's a great combo of best friend's brother, college sports, and friends to lovers. It's just awesome. 

I adore Paxton and Poppy together. The way they slowly, yet naturally, go from pretending to real feelings, is awesome. 

The complication of Candace and Mike are awesome. Some readers won't like this, but I definitely do. Both are written realistically, although typically annoying, but I like the addition. We all know women who are all about dating the athlete who's expected to get rich.

That said, I definitely wanted to smack some people around, including Hudson. 

And hot damn, the author definitely delivers with the heat!

I love this quote. "Sometimes the goal isn't the dream that's right for us."

Writing the Rules is one of those college romance books I couldn't put down. Everything about this Mariah Dietz read is riveting and enjoyable. This is the kind of book I wish I could read everyday. I absolutely love it.

Mariah Dietz is a USA Today Bestselling Author and self-proclaimed nerd. She lives with her husband

and sons in North Carolina.

Mariah grew up in a tiny town outside of Portland, Oregon where she spent most of her time immersed in

the pages of books that she both read and created.

She has a love for all things that include her family, good coffee, books, traveling, and dark chocolate.

She’s also been known to laugh at her own jokes.

Connect w/Mariah: 

Website:www.mariahdietz.com

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fINu6w

Reader Group: https://bit.ly/2UqbizK

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Rough and Tumble by Shae Connor

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My name’s Grant Clark, and I have managed to screw up my entire life. In triplicate.

Number one: I fell in love with my best friend.
Number two: I thought he was straight.
Number three: Because of number two, I didn’t make a move on number one. Until it was too late.

Or is it?

When I accidentally interrupt him with another guy—and he turns out to be the worst—well, I think it’s time I finally make a move.

Don’t you?

Warning: This book contains two men who don’t mind a little humor and heartache as they struggle to find their happily ever after in the aftermath of a toxic relationship.

My Rating - 3.5 Stars!

Rough and Tumble is an emotional college romance by Shae Connor. 

From the start, we learn that Grant has long been in love with his roommate and best friend, Darryn. Soon after, we learn that Darryn's boyfriend, Rich, is both controlling and toxic. 

I immediately felt bad for Grant, as his pain of losing his chance with Darryn is front and center. After that, I just got mad. Omg, I wanted to punch Rich. 

Throughout the progression of events, I just got so damn frustrated with Rich. I know people easily fall prey to controlling partners, but I was just so angry and annoyed by it. I wasn't easy to read. I definitely don't love every aspect of this story, but it isn't that I disagree with the author's choices, but rather it all just mad me so angry. 

This is about much more than the romance. This is about saving one's friend from an abusive relationship, as well as the aftermath. I appreciate the way the author deals with the aftermath, being genuine with the mental healing. It would have been a disservice to not deal with it and fluff over this aspect. 

Written all from Grant's pov, his inner monologue fully kept me intrigued. The title is perfect for this tale, as it certainly can be interpreted multiple ways. 

Rough and Tumble is a riveting college romance. I love college athletes falling in love so I am happy to have found this Shae Connor story. There's never a question that the men love one another, but rather a doubt as to how they'll find their way to a happy ending. 

Winter Wonders by Leighton Greene

 

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Faking their way through Christmas...

This holiday season, Cooper Kincaid finds his perfect Christmas gift on the side of the road: Jonathan Ashe. So perfect, in fact, that he can't resist unwrapping the gorgeous present and playing with him a little early, after taking Jon back to his cabin to recover from a minor car accident.

Jon seems to bring out something deep inside Cooper...something he's tried to keep hidden from previous boyfriends. But their merrymaking is complicated when Cooper lies to his meddling mother, and tells her he's dating Jon.

Jon has no interest in a new relationship after getting his heart broken. Definitely no interest in the heir to the Kincaid estate, where Jon is working for the holidays. And especially no interest in a guy who's so new to finding his bossy side in bed.

Still, maybe a fake relationship could be fun, just for the holidays?

But Cooper has made up his mind: it's his Christmas mission to heal Jon's heart. He's determined to work out exactly what Jon wants, and give it to him.

Meanwhile, Cooper's disapproving mother not only invites his ex to their Christmas Eve event, she digs into Jon's past to prove to Cooper that they're totally unsuited.

Can Cooper and Jon admit that they might be each other's winter wonderful, or will their differences and outside interference prove too much?


Winter Wonders is a standalone holiday romance novel with humor, just a dash of angst, and west-coast cool versus east-coast class. HFN/HEA guaranteed, and no cliffhangers.

Featuring: Snowed In, There's Only One Bed, Hurt/Comfort, Fake Dating, Mistletoe Kisses and (naturally!) some naughty fun.

MM Holiday Romance

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Winters Wonders is a sweet winter romance by Leighton Greene. It's a pure sweet read. 

The forced proximity aspect is a leading factor for Cooper and Jon, as Cooper helps Jon after his car breaks down. What follows is a one room, one bed night. 

After that, it's the fake relationship aspect that takes over, as Cooper needs Jon's help in dealing with his controlling mother. If you enjoy fake relationships, you will love this one. The way it comes about is fun and humorous, and the way it carries out is wonderful. I love when feelings get involved, which is just a fantastic part of this tale.

And then there's Cooper's mom. She's the classic bitch at the start, but the author definitely has more in store for her, making her a multi-layered character of her own rite. And damn, I absolutely adore the way Jon deals with her. Score one huge point for Jon! I seriously love that scene.

The BDSM aspect isn't a huge factor here. There's a little bit of sweet d/s at play, but it really isn't much. If you enjoy a little bit of kink, you will enjoy this here. They are definitely hot together. I didn't love Jon's desire to talk about kink though, as I thought it kind of didn't fit with the rest of the story. 

Their story also includes a rich versus poor factor and a jealous ex. 

Overall, Winter Wonders is a nice holiday read. Leighton Greene kept me intrigued with a sweet and tender tone and kept me compelled with the sweetest of their developing feelings. The idea of Winter Wonders itself is beautiful; totally a Hallmark movie type thing. It warms my heart to imagine it. 

Precious by Roe Horvat

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Travis hides in solitude in his remote chalet on the border of the Fool’s Mountain National Park. Working from home, he routinely resists his brother’s attempts to lure him back to the city. Since his engagement failed, his life is on standby, but Travis likes it that way. Until one day, after a flood in the park, he finds an unconscious young man on the riverbank. Assuming he’s a hiker who got swept up by the river, Travis brings him to the chalet, intent on summoning help from there.
Except Micah wasn’t hiking. He’s on the run, scared, and desperate. And he’s in heat. Maybe he can convince the kind, burly alpha who found him to help him. In every way.

Precious is an erotic love story, inspired by MM omegaverse romance. 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Roe Horvat's Precious is one hell of a steamy omegaverse romance. 

An omega in heat, the scent that he can't resist, and knotting with the stranger. When Travis finds Micah, he not only saves him from the elements, he saves him from his heat. 

Holy sex! This story is oozing with sex scenes. The beauty of it, however, is the amount of intense emotion put into those scenes. The sex is to help Micah with his heat, but it cements the bond more and more between the two each time. 

The love and tenderness is amazing. The way Travis sooths Micah is beautiful. And the development of the connection between the two is awesome. 

Did I mention the sex? Words can't do it justice. Sex, sex, and more sex. Heat sex with knotting, fisting and womb sex. Day after day. It is smoking!

Honestly, I am still shocked and impressed with the sex scenes. Normally one has to be in a certain mood to read a book that's mostly sex. But this one is so unique. With all the emotions throughout the scenes, and all the different ways the sex is both had and described, it never is just about the sex. Never. If you're someone who doesn't always want to read the sex scenes, and skips them sometimes, skip this book. Not only is this book chapter after chapter of sex, but each scene adds to the development of the story and can't be skipped. 

There's also danger and action, including an attempted rape scene. Yes, stay clear if that's a trigger for you. 

Overall, Precious is the perfect book the next time you're in the mood for a sex filled omegaverse read. This Roe Horvat romance will not leave you disappointed. 

Honeythorn by Marina Vivancos

 

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Omega Milan Pryor knows his duty. He must travel North through the continent towards the snow, the cold, and his new betrothed. They say that Lord Alpha Raphael Ledford, the man he is to marry, is as artic as the weather of his land. But Milan has always been an optimist. Perhaps he might find friendship in the arranged marriage. Even love.

It doesn’t take long for Milan to realize that all the rumours about Lord Raphael are true. Reclusive, distant, frigid. Milan finds himself unwelcome in what he must now call his new home. He’s used to fighting for what he wants—but can he survive a husband as cruel as Lord Raphael?

Being bonded to one who rejects you is a painful thing. Will Milan be able to win his husband’s regard? What terrible secret is Lord Raphael keeping, and will Milan be able to discover it before it’s too late?
Or will Milan perish along with his heart?

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Marina Vivancos' Honeythorn is a sweet historical romance. 

An omegaverse read, Milan and Lord Raphael certainly don't get along at the start. Milan is dealing with being in a strange place and is faced with a bethrothed who doesn't seem to want him around. 

His is a story of new customs, mistakes, and fears. It's a combination of arranged marriage, and being tossed into a world full of unknowns. The thing I love most about Milan is the way he treats the servants as his equal. 

But damn, the emotions. The author takes us on Milan's journey, with his emotions front and center every step of the way. The writing is well done, with a nice, pleasant tone. All told from Milan's pov, it takes the reader a while to warm up to Raphael. He is rude and stand-offish at first, and isn't a man of many words. 

Raphael's background is horrible, with all of his behavior making sense. Unfortunately, it takes the reader a long time to understand him. It probably would have been better if we got his pov also. 

But damn, the bond aspect is amazingly well written. Now only are they hot together, but the emotions around the bond is mesmerizing. Outside of sex, it's the sweetness between the two that had me hooked. There are plenty of sweet and tender moments that just make you smile. 

This is a book of different halves. The first is a standoffish enemies to lovers tale. The second is a romantic and beautiful tale. 

Overall, Honeythorn is a great choice when you're in the mood for an omegaverse historical read, Marina Vivancos has built a world that will interest you and leave you happy to have visited. And if you enjoy reading about the strength of alpha/omega bonds, this is a must read.