Duplicity (Blue Mountain University #1) by A.E. Madsen

 

Amazon Link - Available in KU  
Goodreads Link

Duplicity
Blue Mountain University Book 1

Daniel
When my ex outed me, he also lied about our relationship, and everything changed. Now, I’ve been effectively disowned by my parents, and I haven’t dated anyone in almost nine months since. According to my friend, that’s too much time to waste regretting the actions of a good for nothing jerk. Part of me wants to get back out there, but I’m not sure. She insists on setting me up on a semi blind date with her old study buddy. But when I run into him on campus, he isn’t anything like she said.

Ian
I can count the number of people that I’ve told I’m bi on one hand, make that one finger. I’ve never been the out and proud type. So, when Daniel approached me nervously asking about a date, I was a little surprised, but I was also on my way to soccer practice and had no time to think it through. I gave him my number so we could meet up later and we went on a date the next weekend. It was great, and he kissed me when we were saying goodbye. Then he called me Aiden. That’s my brother’s name. Did I forget to mention I’m a twin?

My Rating - 3.5 Stars!

Duplicity is the first book in the Blue Mountain University series. This AE Madsen book is a new adult romance that's a promising start for this series. 

I absolutely love and crave college romances, so I jumped into this one with both feet. What's not to love about a closeted bisexual athlete falling in love? Add in that he's pretending to be his twin, and oh hell yeah, I'm intrigued. 

Some people might not enjoy that Ian pretends to be his brother, and I understand that complaint. I definitely struggled with this and the way it all started. It just seemed "too easy" for someone who's supposed to be closeted. I'll also add that the twins are so completely different that it seems hard that anyone could ever mistake them for each other. But, damn it, I just didn't care. I was able to overlook that and just enjoy the story for what it is. 

Of course, the secret is looming overhead throughout, as the reader knows that Dani will be mad. This adds plenty of tension and excitement for the reader, as these men are so darn sweet together. And of course, there's plenty of worry about the reveal, as the heartbreak is sure to be real.

Honestly, I'd be upset about the pretending thing if I didn't understand how hard it is for athletes to come out. This was just a good case of getting to be "out" without being "out." If you can overlook that, you'll enjoy the story.

Written in alternating first person pov, the writing flows well and the reader is easily brought into the emotions and thoughts throughout.

Overall, I enjoyed Duplicity. If you enjoy college sports, this AE Madsen tale is worth a try. It's a nice debut book and I'm excited to see what comes next in this series, as the friend group is simply delightful.

The Air That I Breathe (The Game #3.5) by Cara Dee

 

Goodreads Link

The Game Series, Book 3.5

“In that moment, I stopped caring about right and wrong.”

The only thing that stood between us were the boundaries set by others, by society, by our parents. But together we could knock them down. Together, we could find freedom and live life on our own terms. Screw the rest of the world. He was all that mattered. He was the air that I breathed.

It’s recommended that you read Breathless, book three in the standalone series The Game Series, before you sink your teeth into River and Reese’s prequel.

Available on Smashwords and Cara Dee's website only.

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Wow! Oh, how I love this book. After reading Breathless, I desperately needed Reese and River's story in my life. I am thrilled to have it now. 

Their tale is emotional, sweet, and of course, taboo. I mean, twincest, so yeah...

The interesting thing about this book is that it takes place long before the two became sadomasochists. This is the story of their closeness while growing up and their sexual experiments. There is plenty of emphasis on their family's dislike of their close relationship, long before it became sexual. 

And after it became sexual, we get the set up for these two to find their boy.

The writing is fabulous and the storyline worthy of the characters. It's definitely great to have the questions about their relationship answered.

If you read Breathless, you absolutely need to read The Air That I Breathe. Cara Dee delights with this much desired look into the twin's personal relationship. 

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Available on Smashwords and Cara Dee's website only.

If We Were Us by K.L. Walther

 

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Goodreads Link

Everyone at the prestigious Bexley School believes that Sage Morgan and Charlie Carmichael are meant to be....that it’s just a matter of time until they realize that they are actually in love.

When Luke Morrissey shows up on the Bexley campus his presence immediately shakes things up. Charlie and Luke are drawn to each other the moment they meet, giving Sage the opportunity to steal away to spend time with Charlie’s twin brother, Nick.

But Charlie is afraid of what others will think if he accepts that he has much more than a friendship with Luke. And Sage fears that things with Nick are getting too serious too quickly. The duo will need to rely on each other and their lifelong friendship to figure things out with the boys they love. 

My Rating - 3.5 Stars!

If We Were Us is an interesting coming of age tale by KL Walther. I love the outcome, but I struggled with it along the way.

I took me a long time to get fully invested in this story. The different povs threw me off, as I didn't know why we were getting Sage's pov. But, I am glad I kept reading. 

Charlie's the big man of campus. He's dated all the girls, but no one lasts long, as they all think he and his best friend Sage love each other. I thoroughly love his story, once it really started coming alive. I just wish things were revealed sooner. Charlie is closeted, and uses his friendship with Sage to hide as a beard. Falling for his new friend Luke throws a big complication his way. 

And then there's Sage and Nick. They struggle to be together also, as they can't quite come clean to Charlie. I like them together, but I also didn't love the way their conflict was carried out. It seems that one minute there was conflict, and the next everything is resolved, without every talking about it. 

Both couples have a long journey to get to be together. For a large part of this story I just wanted to yell at everyone. But, in the end, I enjoy the authenticity of Charlie's long and rough road towards coming out. 

If We Were Us is a compelling young adult novel. The writing threw me a bit. There was a lot going on and it took a while to figure out where things were going. But it's a sweet read and I'm glad I read it. 

Breathless (The Game #3) by Cara Dee

 

Amazon Link  - Available in KU
Goodreads Link

“Will you beat me without knowing the reason?”

That’s the question I ask when I go to clubs to seek out Sadists.

Most men say no immediately. They see the flags my question raises and walk away. They’re the good guys. They’re the guys who adhere to safe, sane, and consensual. They wanna be aware of the risks and cause no harm.

But I’m not looking for a good guy.

I’m looking for punishment.

The strobe lights hit me as I reach their table. The heavy, industrial music is deafening, and my head is swimming with images of grief, fire, and accusation. I hear the piercing tone of a machine letting me know that I have to tell my two kid brothers that our sister’s heart will never beat again.

Maybe these two twin Sadists will help me. The only thing bigger than River and Reese Tenley is their reputation. They better not let me down.

I ask my question. I ask if they’ll beat me without knowing why I want it.

They give me a stone-cold onceover, and I don’t know if it’s River or Reese who responds. He has a menacing-looking tattoo on his neck.

“Sure. It’s your funeral.”

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Breathless, the third book in Cara Dee's The Game series, is a tough one for me to review. I definitely have mixed opinions on this s/m read.

The story definitely kept me intrigued, and the story is ultimately extremely emotional. From the start, Shay's pain and need for punishment is well explored. He carries years of guilt and grief, with punishment being the only thing he craves. Enter Reese and River, two brothers, both sadists, who set their eyes on helping Shay with his masochist needs.

The brothers are twins who play together, but never allow a third to enter their lives emotionally. Until Shay, who has the brothers breaking every rule they have. I  don't think it's ever stated, but it's definitely hinted at, that the brothers are in a taboo relationship. Personally, I would have preferred more of their relationship. I would have loved to have seen their taboo secrets. I felt that was missing. 

This is a tale with heavy issues of grief and despair. The emotions are raw, real, and well detailed. The story includes humiliation play, bondage, and lots of pain.

The three complement one another perfectly. Shay is a man who desperately needs to forgive himself and to find a purpose in life. And, in a wonderful manner, the twins are able to help him. I love that they see his need for a Daddy, but I would have loved to have seen more of that. I needed more of Shay as a little.

The author excels in this exploration of the extreme levels of pain some people crave. It explores the extreme need to escape one's mind via pain. It definitely explores the benefits of a BDSM relationship. 

Breathless is a fantastic combination of emotional healing and extreme kink. Cara Dee spares no punches in illustrating either aspect. It's a tough read. Don't expect rainbows and unicorns. But it's a great read, if one is craving some heavy kink.