His Accidental Cowboy (Woods Ranch #3) by A.M. Arthur

Wyatt Gibson is in Texas looking for answers about his past. When he talks his way into a job at Woods Ranch, he never imagines that the hot cowboy he (almost) slept with the night before not only works there, but is the one showing him the ropes.
As a rustler at the ranch, Jackson Summer handles all sorts of things: mucking, herding, grooming, riding—and minding his own damn business. A lifetime of hurt will do that to a guy. What he never imagines handling is the greenest cowboy to ever step foot in Weston, Texas.
Jackson is determined to keep his heart safe—and falling for a hot young thing like Wyatt is definitely not safe. Especially because Jackson knows Wyatt is keeping a secret…one that he can’t quite put his finger on but that just might change life at Woods Ranch forever.

Nothing is exactly as it seems, but that also seems to be the theme with most of the residents and employees at Woods Ranch. They all have their secrets, some of them more serious than others, but none of them are kept with malicious intent. Wyatt and his secrets are no exception, even though they have the potential to hurt more than one person, including Wyatt himself.

Despite the age gap, Wyatt and Jackson are the perfect couple. I loved how they grew together and weathered the turmoil that the revelation of why Wyatt was really there caused. It wasn’t easy and there were some rocky moments, but it worked out for everyone – eventually.

I’m not sure what A.M. Arthur has in store for readers next, but I’m there for it. 😉

House on Fire (Ashes & Dust #2) by Jenn Burke

He’s done fighting his attraction to the sexy vampire…
To say former firefighter Colin Zhang is struggling to accept his new life would be a vast understatement. He’s bound to a vampire he didn’t choose, living in a house filled with creatures better left to the imagination—there’s a lot to resent. As much as he tries, he doesn’t resent Evan—far from it. But he needs to know that what he feels is real and that requires breaking their bond. No matter the cost.
Vampire private investigator Evan Fournier is more than willing to explore his connection with Colin, but the crisis at hand keeps getting in the way. Their bond makes it dangerous for them to be apart, so he’s forced to put the other man at risk while he investigates the latest in a series of murders. If he doesn’t find the killer soon, the paranormal community will seek retribution on all humans, not just the guilty ones.
As the tensions escalate, Evan and Colin find solace in each other and their growing attraction. But if their bond is broken, attraction—even love—might not be enough to keep them safe.

You know the old adage, “Be careful what you ask for?” Well, this reader had to keep reminding herself throughout most of House on Fire that I had not only asked for this series, I had pretty much begged for it. Way back when I reviewed Graveyard Shift, the last book in the Not Dead Yet series, I made this comment:

“First and most importantly… this cannot be the end of this series. However, if this truly was the end of the Not Dead Yet series, then I seriously hope that there is a spin-off series in the works because some things were not totally okay at the end of Graveyard Shift.”

To be clear, the main “thing” that was not okay at the end of the Not Dead Yet series was how things were left with Evan. To be fair, Jenn Burke is now giving readers what they asked for, but in true #EvilAuthor fashion, she’s not making it easy for him… at all. *sigh*nNow that I’ve gotten that out of the way… House on Fire finds Colin and Evan still dealing with the bond and the emotions that they’re both going through. Even though the series is still being told solely by Evan’s POV, not being in Colin’s head didn’t bother me too much. There were still times that it would have been nice to know what Colin was thinking, but he was pretty transparent – especially when things weren’t going exactly how he wanted them to go – which given his situation, was pretty much all the time. Not only was the bond inconvenient at times for both of them, having to “tag along” was getting old and making Colin feel useless. As painful as Evan’s past was, Colin was obviously dealing with a lot too – and House on Fire added another layer to what he lost in the years he was locked away under a powerful and controlling spell. Unfortunately, their inner turmoil wasn’t all that they had to deal with.

Someone is going to great and dangerous lengths to reveal the existence of the supernatural – and it’s getting even closer to home than before. The mystery of figuring out “who” and “why” is top priority so trying to break the bond between Colin and Evan is taking a back seat, even though it’s causing more and more friction between the two – regardless of their growing feelings for each other.

There were so many twists, turns and WTF moments in House on Fire, it was almost impossible to put down. My heart broke more than once – and for more than one character – while I was reading. And just when you thought things had settled down just a little… yeah – my first comment when I finished reading was “May of 2022. MAY of 2022! That’s how long readers have to wait for #EvilAuthor @jeralibu to fix things!” And believe me, there is a LOT of fixing that needs to be done. Yikes! Needless to say, I’ll be waiting less than patiently for Out of the Ashes to be released.

Trash and Treasure (Fox Hollow Zodiac #3.5) by Morgan Brice

Raccoon-shifter Mico Foley drives a garbage truck in Fox Hollow, a job that keeps a roof over his head while he pursues his true passion—creating art with found objects. He fears he might never find a mate—until he falls hard for the sexy new baker in town. But will a hottie like that fall for a guy like him?
Possum-shifter Jack Hargrave is the new night baker at Bare Necessities Cafe, his big opportunity to do what he loves most—creating irresistible confections. He didn’t move to Fox Hollow to find a mate, but the handsome truck driver who empties the cafe’s dumpster has stolen his heart. Could a hunk like him still care when he finds out Jack’s secret?
Trash and Treasure is an MM shifter romance with a flirty baker, a brooding artist, hurt/comfort, unusual art, a fancy tree house, found family, fated mates and seductive donuts.

What a short, sweet addition to the Fox Hollow Zodiac series. ❤

With multiple POVs readers get to see just how unsure of themselves each man is when it comes to matters of the heart. I loved both Jack and Mico and even though their story was short, it wasn’t lacking. Just a little drama and did I mention a lot of sweetness?

Dragon Soldier (Supernatural Consultant #5) by Mell Eight

The aftermath of the last battle has left Nickel weak in bed and grounded for the next decade. Despite being in trouble, Nickel wants to return to the battle against the enemy as soon as he can, but thoughts of Platinum, the dragon helping to nurse him back to health, keep distracting him.
Platinum can’t believe how much his life has changed. He went from being a lonely fugitive on the run to part of a family in only hours. The last few days have been his happiest, especially now that he’s met Nickel. He knows it’s only temporary, though. The enemy that kept him captive for most of his life isn’t finished with him yet, but even Platinum and Nickel’s combined powers might not be enough to save them all.

Dane and Mercury’s little family isn’t so little any more. They’ve not only gained a few more members in the years that they’ve been together, their kits are growing up. Even the oldest of the kits need some guidance and boundaries though and as responsible as Nickel is, he still has a few lessons to learn.

Since this is a continuation of Nickel and Platinum’s story, Dragon Soldier picks up where Dragon Detective left off, with Nickel recovering and Platinum keeping watch over him. Nickel’s not the only one who has some recovering to do though. Although Platinum is no free, he is still feeling the effects of his captivity. With the help of Dane, Mercury and a few good family friends, both kits are steadily getting stronger. Nickel’s an impatient patient though and he’s anxious to get back to the battle he had to abandon. He’s also working on gaining the trust he’s feared he’s lost from Dane and Mercury.

This was another great installment in the Supernatural Consultant series and I’m enjoying the new perspectives. The kits are just as fun as always and there was still plenty of action and a touch of sweet new romance. Everything that’s made me fall in love with this series.

The Couple Next Door by Rick R. Reed

Jeremy Booth leads a simple life, scraping by in the gay neighborhood of Seattle, never letting his lack of material things get him down. But the one thing he really wants—someone to love—seems elusive. Until the couple next door moves in and Jeremy sees the man of his dreams, Shane McCallister, pushed down the stairs by a brute named Cole.
Jeremy would never go after another man’s boyfriend, so he reaches out to Shane in friendship while suppressing his feelings of attraction. But the feeling of something being off only begins with Cole being a hard-fisted bully—it ends with him seeming to be different people at different times. Some days, Cole is the mild-mannered John and then, one night in a bar, he’s the sassy and vivacious drag queen Vera.
So how can Jeremy rescue the man of his dreams from a situation that seems to get crazier and more dangerous by the day? By getting close to the couple next door, Jeremy not only puts a potential love in jeopardy, but eventually his very life.

Well, Rick R. Reed has done it again. He’s sucked me into another one of his crazy dark stories with The Couple Next Door. Although this is another re-release (the author has had a lot of those recently) since I didn’t catch it the first time around, it’s new to me.

Since there’s so much that happens… so many twists and turns and so much suspense, I don’t want to risk giving away too much- so I’ll apologize in advance for my vagueness. Just know that nothing is quite what it seems and… well… that pretty much covers it.

As far as the characters go, I’m not sure anyone except for Jeremy would have stuck with Shane as long as he did. I questioned his sanity more than once. He actually tried to walk away from the drama more than once, so he did have some sense of self preservation. I got just as aggravated at Shane as Jeremy did at times for keeping himself in harm’s way. As for John/Cole/Vera? Well, there just are no words….

There were times that reading The Couple Next Door was like witnessing a train wreck – one that I couldn’t walk away from. It definitely kept the pages turning – if for no other reason just to find out if any of the characters would make it to the end. Prepare yourself before going in – this is definitely not one for the faint of heart.

Brains and Brawn (Summer of Hush #2) by R.L. Merrill

A rock star with a secret is injured in a freak accident. A single-dad Navy corpsman comes to his aide. Neither expected romance to bloom, but now that it has, will their secrets end it before it begins?
Billy “Brains” Brennan has achieved rock stardom in not just one, but two chart-topping bands, but events from his past have him convinced he’s living on borrowed time. Brains and his brothers-in-Hush are ready to take the last cross-country Warped Tour by storm…until the actions of two drunk dudes with bad attitudes set off a chain of events that leave him incapacitated…and face-to-face with a handsome stranger who inexplicably feels like home—and not the home Brains fled at sixteen.
Chief Petty Officer Paul McNally has spent his 25-year career as a Navy Corpsman responding to emergencies and caring for wounded soldiers. When fate has him in the right place to provide aid to a fallen rock star, it sends his life spiraling on a trajectory he never planned for. Instead of concentrating on his impending retirement and a second career, he’s now playing nursemaid to a fascinating younger man…and falling in love—a fact he can’t seem to figure out how to explain to his adult son.
A health scare, band drama, and pain from both their pasts threaten to end Brains and Paul’s fledgling relationship. Fate brought them together. It will take trust, honesty, and hope to keep them together.

After finishing Brains and Brawn and skimming some reviews by other readers, I realized that there was an overlap between this book and Summer of Hush. That’s what I get for skipping the first book in a series. Other than missing the other characters’ response to Brains’ injury and the initial meeting of him and Paul, I don’t think it mattered much. Other than the fact that I now want to go back and read Summer of Hush. So yes, readers, this is another case of “do as I say, not as I do” – you’ll find that happens a lot around here. 😉

Even though it was Paul that came to Brains’ rescue, in a way, Brains did the same for Paul. He had a full life, but between being deployed, working state-side, helping his sister take care of her twins and worrying about his son Bowie, his life was still missing something. Something that he didn’t realize it was missing until he let Brains into his life.

I really enjoyed their story and how their secrets defined them and held them back. I loved the other relationships in the story as well. Though not as traditional as Paul’s close-knit family, Brains’ found family was just as important and supportive in a manic sort of way. Finding a way for them to make things work between them wasn’t easy. There was some heartbreak and they both had to learn how to trust, but in the end, it was worth it.

There was just one little niggling issue I had with the way that the story ended, but I can’t really say what it was…(sorry, no spoilers.) I’m really kind of hoping that there is more to come in the Summer of Hush series. There seemed to be quite a few loose ends that need to be tied up along with the one that really bugged me. This is my first M.L. Merrill read, but I’m pretty sure it won’t be my last, especially since I have to start from the beginning. 😉

Smoke & Mirrors (Thirds #7) by Charlie Cochet

Life for Dexter J. Daley has never been easy, but he’s always found a way to pick himself back up with a smile on his face. Taken from his home, and the arms of his boyfriend and THIRDS partner, Sloane Brodie, Dex finds himself in a situation as mysterious and lethal as the Therian interrogating him. Dex learns what he’s secretly believed all along: his parents’ death wasn’t an accident.
Discovering the whole truth about John and Gina Daley’s homicide sets off a series of events that will change Dex and Sloane’s lives forever. As buried secrets rise to the surface and new truths are revealed, Dex and Sloane’s love for each other is put to the test, with more than their relationship on the line. If traversing the waters of murder and secret government agencies wasn’t enough, something inexplicable has been happening to Dex—and nothing will ever be the same.

Smoke & Mirrors marks a turning point in the THIRDS series. New dangers, new and even more dangerous enemies, life changing developments, even revelations that connect more than one character’s past in crazy ways. Secrets were revealed and connections were made that changed everything. To say Smoke & Mirrors was a page turner would be putting it mildly.

Thankfully, Smoke & Mirrors picked up where Catch a Tiger by the Tail left off (which I know I owe a review BTW – Yikes!) So… Smoke & Mirrors begins with a bang and doesn’t slow down at all. It was full of emotion as well as action and more than a little danger. More than one character’s life changed drastically in this book, which is going to make the rest of the series interesting to say the least.

Although Smoke & Mirrors didn’t end in a cliff hanger, it didn’t make me want the next book in the series any less. There’s a lot more in store for Sloane and Dex’s team and others. Dex has a plan and Sloane is determined to back him up. Their main goal is to keep everyone they love and care about safe while bringing down a couple of really bad guys in the process. The novellas in this series are just as action packed as the full length novels, so Thick & Thin is next. Stay tuned!

Big Love (Big Love #1) by Rick R. Reed

Teacher Dane Bernard is a gentle giant, loved by all at Summitville High School. He has a beautiful wife, two kids, and an easy rapport with staff and students alike. But Dane has a secret, one he expects to keep hidden for the rest of his life—he’s gay. But when he loses his wife, Dane finally confronts his attraction to men.
A new teacher, Seth Wolcott, immediately catches his eye. Seth is also starting over, licking his wounds from a breakup, and the last thing Seth wants is another relationship—but when he spies Dane on his first day at Summitville High, his attraction is immediate and electric.
As the two men enter into a dance of discovery and new love, they’re called upon to come to the aid of bullied gay student Truman Reid. Truman is out and proud, which not everyone at his small-town high school approves of. As the two men work to help Truman ignore the bullies and love himself without reservation, they all learn life-changing lessons about coming out, coming to terms, acceptance, heartbreak, and falling in love.

I guess my way of warning people of trigger warnings in a book is tagging it with “tough issues” and Big Love was loaded with them. Coming out, grief that involves both a partner and children, attempted suicide, bullying are all included, so if want to stay clear of any or all of these topics, this book is definitely not for you. Although I haven’t been reading books by this author for very long, I’ve now read enough to realize that shouldn’t consider anything that he writes to be an “easy” read so I brace myself going in.

Another important point about Big Love is that although there is a bit of romance, it’s more of a book about relationships than a true romance. It’s also about characters finding themselves and being comfortable with who they are. The story centers around Dane and his prior relationship with his wife and his current relationship with his kids, his his relationship with his students (especially Truman) and Seth. There is a lot that all of these characters have to come to terms with in Big Love and none of it is easy. Readers spend time getting to know not just Seth and Dane, but are given Truman’s POV as well. This is one of those books that wasn’t easy to read, but it was well worth the emotional time spent with each of them.

The next book in the Big Love series centers on Truman. He was in a good place at the end of Big Love and I’m hoping he’s still there by the time readers catch up with him in Bigger Love.

Dragon Consultant (Supernatural Consultant #1) by Mell Eight

Dane, a supernatural consultant, is hired by the FAA to look into a series of reported dragon attacks on their planes. What Dane finds in the wooded area where the attacks took place is not quite the problem he expected: a group of dragon kits and their sick father hiding from the authorities.
When he learns the real reason the family was in the woods, his case grows more dangerous, and though Dane is experienced at both crime solving and watching his own back, taking care of baby dragons and their ill father makes everything else look easy.

Since there seems to be some confusion… yes, I did tag this book as a M/M Romance. No, it has no explicit content at all, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not a romance. There’s no better way to categorize it than that though. I considered Dragon Consultant a sweet romance because two people found each other and fell in love. Sometimes less is more when it comes to the written word – the important part in Dragon Consultant is that love is love, it takes all forms and sometimes a found family is the very best kind. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way…

Dragon Consultant was adorable. The dragon kits, from the youngest to the oldest, were witty, cute, smart and not easily won over. They had experienced a lot in their short lives and they didn’t trust easily. Dane was determined to find out what happened to them though and then he was willing to fight to make sure it never happened to them, or any other dragon, again. He was a pretty great hero.

It didn’t take long to figure out that Dane and Mercury were made for each other. They were cautious though and neither one of them had a lot of self confidence in the romance department. In some ways, they were as adorable as the kits.

Dragon Consultant wasn’t a long story, but it wasn’t lacking. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t want more and since it’s part of a series, I’m in luck. The re-release of Dragon Deception is coming soon!

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.
When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he’s given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.
But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.
An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.

For the record, I should probably give you a heads up by letting you know that this will be a rambling review. If you’ve been here before, you already know that I tend to do that when I review a book by an author I adore. For the record, T.J. Klune is one of those authors and unsurprisingly, The House in the Cerulean Sea is most definitely one of those books. Consider yourself forewarned. 😉

I have to admit that Linus didn’t win me over in the beginning. The more I got to know him though, the more I realized that the real reason I couldn’t connect with him was because he couldn’t connect with himself. He was lost and didn’t even really realize it. He wasn’t really living, but simply surviving. It took me a while, but in true T.J. fashion, once I connected with this amazing story it wouldn’t let me go.

I was as leery as Linus when readers were first introduced to Arthur and his charges. It didn’t take long to figure out that these kids were much more than their “classification.” It also didn’t take me long to pick a favorite. (I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in my adoration of Lucy. ❤ ) Only T.J. Klune could make me fall in love with the Anti… well, that name or label just isn’t used in reference to one of Arthur’s charges.

Kids are a soft spot for me and The House in the Cerulean Sea pulled on all my heart strings. It did more than that though. there was more than one message. Without spoiling anything, but to give you just a taste of why this author is a must read for me…

“It’s not fair,” Linus said, staring off into nothing. “The way some people can be. But as long as you remember to be just and kind like I know you are, what those people think won’t matter in the long run. Hate is loud, but I think you’ll learn it’s because it’s only a few people shouting, desperate to be heard. You might not ever be able to change their minds, but so long as you remember you’re not alone, you will overcome.”

So yeah, Linus grew on me, just like he grew on Arthur and his charges. And then there was a theme that is front and center in a lot of T.J.’s books and one that I adore…

“A home isn’t always the house we live in. It’s also the people we choose to surround ourselves with.”

The House in the Cerulean Sea was much more than I expected. Sure, it was a little bit corny at times, but it made me smile. And yeah, the inevitable tears were there, even when I didn’t quite expect them. If you’ve never read a book by T.J. Klune, this is an amazing place to start.

“Don’t you wish you were here?”

Trust me, once you read The House in the Cerulean Sea, you’ll totally understand. 😉