Cowboys Don't Ride Unicorns (Cowboys Don't #2) by Tara Lain

 

Amazon Link  - Available in KU
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Does it make sense to get turned on by girly guys when you want to be topped? No. Hell, no.

After a big past in bull riding that nearly killed him, Danny Boone’s looking for a quiet, low-key future on a small ranch of his own.

Two problems.
Where’s he going to get the money for a ranch except on the back of a bull?

And how can he stay low-key when his fantasy is a guy with rose-gold hair, legs for days, a high-profile decorating business, and an appetite for expensive lace lingerie?

Designer, Laurie Belmont needs to get out from under the thumb of a domineering mother, helpless father, and rich, privileged boyfriend. He can’t solve his problems with a two-bit cowboy who’s going to die getting thrown from a bull -- no matter how perfect his ass is.

Talk about lives that are worlds apart.

Everybody knows cowboys don’t ride unicorns.

COWBOYS DON’T RIDE UNICORNS is a toppy femme, bull-riding cowboy, opposites-attract, hidden identity, world’s colliding, dysfunctional family, guest ranch vacation, MM romance – with a red bustier. 

My Rating - 3.5 Stars!

Cowboys Don't Ride Unicorns is a fun opposites attract romance. Tara Lain's second book in the Cowboys Don't series, it's easily read as a standalone. 

If you like opposites attract, this one is certainly that. This is a tale of a bull rider and femme designer falling for one another. It's a tale of a tough and badass bull rider who wants to be topped. 

It all starts when Laurie and his boyfriend Grove are guests at the ranch where Danny works. The heat starts when Danny gets hot listening to Laurie and Grove have sex. Ohhh...love this scene.

One of the best parts of this story is the sexual awakening for Danny, as he never knew he was into femme boys, until he sees the sparkly Laurie. 

If you like men in lingerie, like I do, you will love this one. There's corsets and lace, and plenty of kinky moments. I can't get enough of Laurie and his femme side.

Their meeting is wonderful and I adore the way the two hit it off quickly and easily connect. Adding to the intrigue is that neither man is ultimately representative of their career or appearance. 

There's plenty of conflict for the men, including homophobia and family issues, from both sides, including a controlling mother.  The feelings of inadequacy  and desires that need to be toned down is well done. 

This one definitely gets off to a slow start, but I am glad I kept reading. I think in the end though, the pace is what kept the rating under a 4 for me. I love the storyline, just not the pace. 

Cowboys Don't Ride Unicorns is a  nice story of finding oneself and setting oneself free of expectations. Tara Lain entertains in this story of finding happiness and grabbing ahold of it. It's a sweet, hurt/comfort romance. 

Snow Way Out (Snowed In - Valentine's Inc. #7) by Nora Phoenix

Amazon Link - Available in KU 

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Blurb

He's twice his size and a lot older, but will Mac let Quentin come out on top?

Quentin is searching for…something.

Respect.
Answers.
His identity.

Most of all, he’s searching for a man who will let him be in charge, despite the fact that he looks like an elf.
But all that will have to wait because right now, he’s searching for shelter after getting stranded in the middle of nowhere, New York with a massive snow storm about to hit. He finds an unexpected host in Mac, a man the whole town seems to hate. Mac has secrets…but so does Quentin.

Sparks fly between them, but can it lead to more when Mac is twice his size, a lot older, and practically a virgin… and when Mac can’t leave and there’s no way Quentin will stay?

Snow Way Out is a steamy contemporary gay romance with an age gap, a dash of kink, a ton of snow, a gentle giant of a man, and a bossy twink. It’s a standalone book in the Snowed In – Valentine’s Inc. series, which are only connected by the same writing prompt.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Snow Way Out, Nora Phoenix's contribution to the multi-author series Snowed In - Valentine's Inc, is a delightful read.

Mac's a sympathetic character, a man who the town resents and avoids due to his stutter and some anger towards his family. He's suffered many losses, is an ex convict, and has no one to turn to. This deep theme is well explored, making for a fantastic basis for this story.

Meeting Quinten changes everything, as Quinten ignores the stutter and actually wants to talk to Mac. Quentin is the person we all want in our life, supportive, understanding, and caring. He's amazing. I enjoy that he looks badass, but is anything but.

Together, they are wonderful. It's beautiful that Quentin calms Mac, giving him hope for a future. Reading about Mac's sexual discoveries is fantastic and completely intriguing. The men experiment with bondage, in addition to all the other sexual firsts for Mac. And damn, there is plenty of steamy moments. Making things even better is the size difference between the two men.

The writing is excellent, setting up an atmospheric read, as the situation and the isolation of being in the Adirondacks is fantastically explored. The characters are well developed, fully coming alive. The flow is seamless, full of great dialogue. 
And, damn, Nora Phoenix manages to write Max's stutter in a superb manner.

Snow Way Out is an entertaining hurt/comfort romance.  A completely feel good read, you can't go wrong with this Nora Phoenix mix of forced proximity, age gap, and first times.

Snow Way Out (Snowed In - Valentine's Inc. #7) by Nora Phoenix

Amazon Link - Available in KU 

Goodreads Link

Blurb

He's twice his size and a lot older, but will Mac let Quentin come out on top?

Quentin is searching for…something.

Respect.
Answers.
His identity.

Most of all, he’s searching for a man who will let him be in charge, despite the fact that he looks like an elf.
But all that will have to wait because right now, he’s searching for shelter after getting stranded in the middle of nowhere, New York with a massive snow storm about to hit. He finds an unexpected host in Mac, a man the whole town seems to hate. Mac has secrets…but so does Quentin.

Sparks fly between them, but can it lead to more when Mac is twice his size, a lot older, and practically a virgin… and when Mac can’t leave and there’s no way Quentin will stay?

Snow Way Out is a steamy contemporary gay romance with an age gap, a dash of kink, a ton of snow, a gentle giant of a man, and a bossy twink. It’s a standalone book in the Snowed In – Valentine’s Inc. series, which are only connected by the same writing prompt.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Snow Way Out, Nora Phoenix's contribution to the multi-author series Snowed In - Valentine's Inc, is a delightful read.

Mac's a sympathetic character, a man who the town resents and avoids due to his stutter and some anger towards his family. He's suffered many losses, is an ex convict, and has no one to turn to. 

Quinten ignores the stutter and actually wants to talk to him. Quentin is the person we all want in our life, supportive, understanding, and caring. He's amazing. I enjoy that he looks badass, but it anything but.

Together, they are wonderful. It's beautiful that Quentin calms Mac, giving him hope for a future. Reading about Mac's sexual discoveries is fantastic, completely intriguing.

A mix of forced proximity, age gap, and first times. The men experiment with bondage, in addition to all the other sexual firsts for Mac. And damn, there is plenty of steamy moments. And making things even better is the size difference between the two men.

Snow Way Out is an entertaining hurt/comfort romance.  A completely feel good read, you can't go wrong with this Nora Phoenix story.

Waiting for You (Whirlwind Bar Book 1) by Reese Morrison

Amazon Link - Available on KU

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Taylor would give anything to have his best friend, Julio, look at him the way he looks at his revolving door of hook-ups. But Taylor knows that he's too big, too fat, and too plain to ever appeal. It doesn't help that his secret desires for lace, makeup, and submission don't match his outsides at all. But he can't keep pining for Julio forever, so he makes one last effort to move on.

When Julio finds Taylor's Grindr profile, he's can't believe how lucky he is. Not only do their kinks align perfect, but he might have a chance to finally show Taylor what he means to him. He quickly creates his own Grindr profile to get Taylor's attention. What could possibly go wrong?

This is the first book in the Whirlwind Bar series. It follows the adventures of some kinky couples (and trios!) who are looking for love. The series features many transgender, gender queer, and gender-bending characters. Expect a whirlwind of sweet and spicy subs and not-so-perfect Doms who want to take care of them. Taylor would give anything to have his best friend, Julio, look at him the way he looks at his revolving door of hook-ups. But Taylor knows that he's too big, too fat, and too plain to ever appeal. It doesn't help that his secret desires for lace, makeup, and submission don't match his outsides at all. But he can't keep pining for Julio forever, so he makes one last effort to move on.

When Julio finds Taylor's Grindr profile, he's can't believe how lucky he is. Not only do their kinks align perfect, but he might have a chance to finally show Taylor what he means to him. He quickly creates his own Grindr profile to get Taylor's attention. What could possibly go wrong?

This is the first book in the Whirlwind series. Each book encompasses a single whirlwind moment, usually around a single day, in which two (or sometimes three!) characters connect in a special way. The series features many transgender, genderqueer, and gender-bending characters who are looking for love (and some kink). This book contains some light bondage, spanking, and a HEA.

Review 

My Rating -  4.5 Stars!

Reese Morrison's Waiting for You, the first book in the Whirlwind Bar series, is fun and riveting. 

This series is unique, revolving around the Whirlwind bar, yet it's barely in the story. The book starts with the bartender at Whirlwind's point of view, introducing the couple we're going to be reading about. This confused me at first, yet it's actually quite fun in the end.

Taylor and Julio are best friends and business partners who secretly love one another. In a nice twist, Taylor is a large man who desires the smaller Julio to dominate him. Theirs is a story of secrets being unveiled, and desires being satisfied. 

Both men are lovable. Taylor's overweight, looks like a bear, but doesn't have the mindset of a bear. He prefers femme clothing, including lace, as he enjoys being pretty. I love these two friends who have secret desires that perfectly compliment one another. Their story is full of heat, including BDSM, spanking, and bondage.

My first time reading a Reese Morrison tale, I was pleasantly surprised by Waiting For You and looking forward to more of the series.

Jami: Darkness to Light (Boy With Toys #2) by Sky McCoy

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Blurb

“It’s hard being a gay man when you think you’re straight.”

Straight men were never Jami Caulfield’s style and especially one with a wife who uses her babies by another man like a pawn in a chess game.
Maxwell Gold never thought he would fall in love with a gay man, and especially one who is Trans with two ex-lovers who hold the secret to why they can’t let Jami go.
Will Maxwell Gold discover Jami’s secret of why he’s so desirable? Or will he think that Jami is too over the top, and will never accept him or his babies?
Will Jami make Maxwell his, and overlook the children, or will Jami return to his ex-lover and leave Maxwell wondering WTF just happened to his life? 

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Jami: Darkness to Light is a fun second book in Sky McCoy's Boys With Toys series.

Jami's as delightful as ever, in this tale of change. Jami and Maxwell are faced with issues with Maxwell's ex wife, as they prepare for parenthood. And then if things weren't tough enough, Jami's sister is convinced that Maxwell should be with her. The sex is hot and we're introduced to a little puppy play, and we get to read about the smaller man being a top. I look forward to the next book.

Regifted: A Muscle Man and Nerd Holiday Romance by Declan Rhodes

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Goodreads Link

Blurb

"Regifted? Isn’t that what people do with fruitcakes?"

Vincent, owner and trainer at the most exclusive gym in the city, is in the middle of a bad luck streak in his dating game. To avoid having a blue Christmas, he reluctantly volunteers to participate in a date auction event at the holiday benefit for his city's LGBTQ community center. Vincent’s thrilled when a wealthy silver fox with muscles as big as his own wins the auction.

All is going well for the merriest of Christmases until Vincent finds himself regifted to Desmond, a viola-playing nerd who wants a date for a performance of the Nutcracker at the city ballet.

Desmond can’t believe his good fortune, and Vincent is laid low by the humiliation of his rejection. With the help of good friends Maeve and Jerry, both Vincent and Desmond learn that there is much more to falling in love at Christmas than shallow appearances.

There’s plenty of good humor, steamy scenes, and a happily-ever-after ending in this muscle man and nerd romance.

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Declan Rhodes' Regifted is a fun holiday romance. A hunk falling for a nerd? Always a fun trope. 

This tale is adorable, sweet and tender. And, if you like when the smaller man tops, oh yeah, you'll enjoy this one. It's fun when things go against the norm, and this story has a whole lot of that.  

Both Desmond and Vincent are great characters. There's also some fantastic secondary characters, most notably, Maeve and Jerry, who are hysterical. And the epilogue will leave you smiling. 

Check out Regifted when you're looking for a feel-good story.

Ollie On The Out (Till There Was You Book 2) by Gianni Holmes

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Roses are red
Violets are blue
I hate being touched
But not by you Drew
I had a normal childhood until my father caught me fooling around in bed with one of my male friends. Since then, I've been nothing but a disappointment for them. Leaving town always seemed like the answer, but even accomplishing that did not prevent the feeling of disconnect I have with the rest of the world. Until I meet Oliver Mattis.
Ollie has haphephobia, an irrational fear and aversion to being touched. If I hadn’t witnessed his body, broken and bruised, I would not have understood his meltdown when his father tries to comfort him. Almost two years later, Ollie’s still struggling to maintain relationships with even his family. His number one rule is that no one should ever touch him. I intend to follow that rule no matter how much I want to comfort him. Until one night his need outweighs the risks.

Ollie
For reasons unknown to me, Drew has appointed himself my protector. But all I see when I look at him is temptation, one I cannot indulge in. Not because he’s my father’s best friend but because I am terrified of his touch…of everybody’s touch. In therapy, I’ve learned a new trick that turns me into someone else. It’s mental. It’s deliberate, but for a couple of hours, I can be almost normal. Maybe, just maybe wearing this disguise, I can afford for Drew to hold me the way I haven’t been held in two years. My father forbids our relationship, but the intimacy Drew exposes me to is bittersweet. Will he understand my limits or push me away, especially as I make the tentative step of enrolling in Stonewell University?

Ollie on the Out is approximately 90k words. It includes tropes such as May/December and smalltown romance. Warning: This book follows the recovery of a sexually assaulted male character which may be triggering for some.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Ollie On The Out by Gianni Holmes is the follow up to Easy Does It Twice, in which I fell in love with Ollie.

When we catch up with Ollie, he remains that broken and lost young man who's afraid to be touched. And Drew, oh sweet and lovable Drew, longs to protect Ollie.

Their story is everything I was expecting, and more. There are gut-wrenching moments, moments that are so romantic and tender that you'll find yourself swooning, and inspirational moments of recovery and healing.

I am still completely enamored by Ollie, with his gender fluid outfits and moments. It is marvelous seeing the way Drew accepts this true side of Ollie and encourages it.  

Ollie's a survivor in every sense of the word. But, it's with Drew's love and care that he's able to start accepting touch into his life again. It's exquisite the way he knows that a touch from Drew is one of love and tenderness instead of abuse.

And what a touch it turns out to be. Ollie and Drew have some scorching moments together!

In addition, there are just so many moments of beauty between these two men. How can you not love that Drew helps Ollie's world to make sense? And with Drew's help, Ollie can start opening up to others. It's loving and powerful.

The moments between Gordon and Ollie and so realistic, and so sad.  

I love this book! Love it! Ollie On The Out is written so well, developed so well, and completely worth the read. Gianni Holmes has created an irresistible and memorable series with her Till There Was You series. I can't recommend it enough.