I Want Forever by kjavdekar

I Want Forever by kjavdekar

After all they've experienced together, Connor decides that now is the time to make things permanent with Oliver.

This is such a sweet, heartwarming story! I love how the author not only portrayed the deep love Connor and Oliver feel towards one another, but also the nervousness that comes along with proposing. Poor Connor was a wreck! lol Definitely give this story a try!

~ M

I ❤️ Yaoi: Under the Sheets by Deliciest (Free! Doujinshi)

Good morning fellow yaoi lovers! This week's selection is Under the Sheets by Deliciest!

Before they start new lives after high school, Makoto and Haru spend a relaxing night in.

Once again, Deliciest's doujinshis are lovely! She really captures the essence of Makoto and Haru, and the story is filled with adorable and humorous moments. I know all MakoHaru fans will enjoy this!

4.5 stars

Read Under the Sheets here.

~ M

artwork credit: Deliciest

Book Review: New Leaf by Hayden Hunt

Grant and Jackson were the best of friends while growing up. After graduation, Grant decides to confess his romantic feelings, and even though Jackson is drunk, he tells Grant that he feels the same. The following morning, Grant's happiness is ruined when he finds out that Jackson has left during the night and no one, not even his parents, know where he is.

Jackson regrets leaving town the way he did after graduation. He hurt his parents and most of all, his best friend. Now back in town to take care of family issues, Jackson is determined to make amends and win back the heart of the man he's loved all along.

This is a sweet story, but it was so hard for me to root for this couple when Jackson was so incredibly selfish. I absolutely understand being confused, scared and wanting to get out of small town life to explore the world, but the way he went about it was incredibly immature and downright cruel. Grant occasionally came off as a little whiny, but I really couldn't fault his distrust for Jackson. He was almost irrevocably hurt, so I was surprised he entertained the thought of starting any kind of relationship with Jackson. While he did quite a bit of groveling, I still felt like Jackson got off a little easy for his behavior. The "I was young and stupid" excuse can only be used for so long. I also found it really sad that Grant had no friends and wasn't close to his family. Much of his life centered around pain he suffered a decade prior, and he seemed like a one-note character when he could have been so much more than that. All in all, this is a frustrating, but engrossing read.

I received a copy of this book from the author and voluntarily provided my honest review.

Buy Links
Amazon

~ M

Book Review: A Christmas Kiss by Annabelle Jacobs

When best friends, Riley and Alex, share a drunken kiss one night, Riley believes that this could the start of a successful relationship. He and Alex have been close for years, so it only seems natural to take the next step, right? The only problem is that Alex doesn't remember the kiss, so Riley vows to never reveal the secret out of fear of ruining the friendship.

I enjoy friends-to-lovers stories and saw the potential this one had to offer. However, I just find the non-communication/miscommunication trope so incredibly frustrating. Almost three quarters of this book is spent with both of the MCs internalizing what may or may not have happened between them when everything could have been solved with simple conversation. Riley feared ruining the friendship so much, but his awkwardness and creating distance between himself and Alex could have easily done that as well. Unfortunately, by the time Riley and Alex finally sat down and talked to one another, I just couldn't bring myself to root for them anymore and was left unsatisfied with the situation as a whole.

Buy Link
Amazon

~ M

I ❤️ Yaoi: Rift by Conro

Good morning yaoi lovers! This week's feature is Rift by Conro!

He’s always been by my side, and that was as natural as breathing to me. I’ve never imagined otherwise. Even from now on…

This is a beautiful manga! Yuni and Natsuki have been best friends since childhood and always want to be in each other's lives. When tragedy strikes, Natsuki decides to confess to his best friend. Afterwards, their confusion causes a rift and Natsuki moves away and disappears. Yuni must now try to move on, but he refuses to let go of the love he holds for Natsuki.

Not only is the story lovely and angsty, but the artwork is equally as beautiful and melancholic. I highly recommend this manga!

                                                                             4.5 stars

~ M

Book Review: To Love and to Cherish (Vows #3) by Addison Albright

After losing his fiance two weeks before their wedding when his long-lost husband returned from being marooned on a desert island, Nash is through with love. All he wants is companionship and regular sex because love only complicates things. Luckily for him, Nash's colleague, Dr. Myles Burlingham, feels the same way. They decide to enter into a very business like marriage since they get along well and are attracted to each other. However, a car accident and lost memories throw a wrench into their well-thought out plans.

This is an interesting premise. I liked that Nash and Myles initially entered their relationship and marriage in a very business-like manner, but we all know it can't be that simple, right? Myles is a paradigm of patience, intelligence, common sense and keeping cool. I didn't see him as a cold character, but someone who is very focused and only allows certain people to see his warmer, goofier side.  I really liked him.

Nash, on the other hand, annoyed me a bit. He is obviously very jaded after the break up of his relationship two weeks before he was to be married, but I wanted to scream when kept mentioning that he was old (he's only 34), he didn't want to start from scratch relationship-wise and that he'd never find love again. I tried to be sympathetic to his situation because I knew he was really hurt, but after a while he just came off as a petulant and whiny. He didn't get what he wanted, so there was no hope for him.

The side characters were all very likeable and added a nice amount of depth and complexity to the main characters' lives. All in all, this is an enjoyable read.

3.5 stars

I received a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Buy Links

JMS Books | Amazon

~ M

The Boys of Summer by connorwalshruinedmylife

The Boys of Summer by connorwalshruinedmylife

Connor and Oliver have been friends ever since Connor saw Oliver, the new kid, being bullied in high school. Their friendship evolved and deepened and now they're at a crossroads after graduation. Will they be able to hold on to their relationship with 3,000 miles separating them?

I can't even effectively explain how much I enjoyed this story! This AU has a great balance of romance, fluff, humor and heartbreaking angst. Readers not only get to see Connor and Oliver experience growing pains in terms of their plans for the future and their relationship, but they also see the beautiful bond they share with each other and their friends. Be sure to give this lovely story a try! You won't be disappointed!

~ M

I ❤️ Yaoi: Out of the Blue by Deliciest (Free! Doujinshi)

Greetings yaoi lovers! This week's feature is Out of the Blue by Deliciest!

Makoto has been keeping his distance from Haru because he doesn't understand the hold Rin has over him. If his obsession with Rin continues, Makoto fears that he will have to end his friendship for good.

Not only is the artwork great, but I also enjoyed the storyline. It's nice to see a jealous Makoto who isn't afraid to stand firm with his decisions. I highly recommend you give this doujinshi a try!

4.5 stars

Read Out of the Blue here.

~ M

artwork credit: Deliciest

Blog Tour: Falling Down by Eli Easton

Falling Down - Eli Easton

Author: Eli Easton

Release: November 9, 2016

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK 

Blurb

Josh finds himself homeless at eighteen, but he has a plan. He’ll head north on the bus to New England and spend October there for his mother’s sake. She always talked about going to see the fall leaves someday. And when the leaves were done and the harsh winter came, Josh would find a place to curl up and let go. It would be a relief to finally stop fighting.

Mark spent his life trying to live up to the tough swagger of his older brothers until he pushed himself so far against his nature that he cracked. Now an ex-Marine, he rents a little cabin in the White Mountains of New Hampshire where he can lick his wounds and figure out what to do with the rest of his life. One thing was clear: Mark was nobody’s hero.

Fate intervenes when Josh sets up camp under a covered bridge near Mark’s cabin. Mark recognizes the dead look in the young stranger’s eyes, and he feels compelled to do something about it. When Mark offers Josh a job, he never expected that he’d be the one to fall.

The snow is coming soon. Can Mark convince Josh that the two of them can build a life together before the flurries fall?

Book Review: Tattoo (Twisted Cherry #1) by Piper Kay

Evan has known he's gay for a while now, but he chooses to hide his sexuality out of fear that his friends will turn their backs on him. He lives a life that he doesn't enjoy, but at the same time is curious to know what it's like to actually be with a man. In an effort to quell those feelings, Evan gets tattoos and relishes in the feeling of the needle penetrating his flesh.

When Evan finds himself uncontrollably attracted to his tattoo artist, the feelings he only thought were fantasy may finally become reality.

The idea of hot, tattooed men is obviously very appealing. However, I had problems with this book. This is a pretty fast read, I felt like the writing style was stilted and almost jarring. The characters weren't as developed as they could have been, and some of the situations not only seemed unhygienic for a tattoo artist, but also unprofessional.

This isn't a favorite, but it isn't horrible. I just wish that readers didn't have to suspend belief so much in order to move the plot forward.

Buy Links
Amazon

~ M

Blog Tour: Stroke of Luck by Posy Roberts

Title: Stroke of Luck

Author: Posy Roberts

Genre: M/M Romance

Available Now on Kindle Unlimited Publisher:
Labyrinth Bound Press

After everything Marc owned burned to a crisp, he’s living off the kindness of others. A model condo is his temporary home, and his last dime went to essentials. He doesn’t need another distraction, but the fates conspire against him, setting up a chain of encounters that bring him face to face with Cas.

Cas’s love life has been in limbo for years, lovers moving on as soon as they discover how close he is to his best friend, Maisie. Then he meets Marc. The attraction between the two men can’t be denied, but Cas isn’t sure he can risk his friendship for a guy who will only end up leaving when he sees how close he and Maisie are.

When Marc and Cas discover they live in the same building, it’s kismet. But Marc has to invite chaos into his life if he and Cas stand a chance, and Cas faces a choice between friendship and love. Luck may be on their side... if they're willing to risk it all.

Hot Blooded by scarletsaber

Hot Blooded by scarletsaber

Haru works at a blood bank that caters to both the humans and vampires. When an awkward and adorably flustered customer walks in inquiring about "product," Haru doesn't know whether to kiss him or kick him out.

This one shot is so incredibly adorable! It's pure fluff that will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face! Check it out!

~ M

artwork credit: ceejles

I ❤️ Yaoi: Glow! by Yamada Papiko

Hello fellow yaoi lovers! This week's feature is Glow! by Yamada Papiko!

Ever since he was a kid, Morisaki Aki has been loved by the spirit of misfortune, and it's continued even after he started high school! He is coerced by his upperclassmen, Akabane and Tokunaga, into joining the gardening club, but as it turns out, that was just a cover for the Loan Shark Club! He gets involved with upperclassmen that not even the teachers would want to cross. And thus begins his unfortunate high school life. However, unbeknownst to him, mysterious feelings begin to bloom. These three guys with their clashing personalities grow together to paint a bold graffiti tag of teenage angst!

This is an interesting manga. I wasn't completely drawn into the story, but I did like the main protagonist, Morisaki. He is quite sweet and innocent, and suffers from the worst luck ever. It's that bad luck that causes him to join a school club under false pretenses. Akabane and Tokunaga aren't the most likable characters, but given the fact they're loan sharks, it makes sense. It will be interesting to see how this manga progresses and how the relationship between Morisaki and his two senpais develops.

2.5 stars

~ M

Book Review: Cold Turkey by Hayden Hunt

Daniel did everything in his power to escape the small town he grew up in. His relationship with his parents was non-existent and he just didn't want to deal with the scrutiny that comes along with everyone knowing each other. When he decides to surprise his parents for Thanksgiving, his world simultaneously comes crashing down and changes for the better.

When Ethan looked across the street and saw his childhood best friend looking dejected and pathetic, he knew he had to intervene. Not only would Daniel have a real family-oriented Thanksgiving, but Ethan would also get to spend time with the man he's been in love with since...forever. Can these two men overcome their obstacles and live happily ever after?

This is an enjoyable, quick read. The main characters are very likeable, and the secondary characters added a sweet element to the plot. They were not overbearing, but added a nice amount of depth to the MCs. There isn't much drama or angst, but I often found myself frustrated with Ethan and Daniel because they were inside their minds so much. They overthought everything, almost to the point of madness. This is one of those books that would have been over much too quickly if they'd only just been truthful and actually spoke to each other.

All in all, this is a cute holiday-themed book that will warm you heart.

Buy Links
Amazon

~ M

The Speedo by jooliewrites

The Speedo by jooliewrites

Connor discovers an article of Oliver's clothing that both humors and excites him in the best of ways.

Wow! I did not expect to read such a sensual, romantic and tender story when I first saw the prompt. This is one of those stories that will pull you in and hold you hostage. I think I suffered from Stockholm's Syndrome because I did not want it end. This fic is beautifully written and a welcome change from all of the current Coliver drama on HTGAWM. If you're a Coliver fan, you do not want to pass this one up!

~ M

I ❤️ Yaoi: Darenimo furesasenai by Babypink (Free! Doujinshi)

Greetings yaoi lovers! This week's selection is the Free! doujinshi Darenimo furesasenai (I Won't Let Anyone Else Touch You) by Babypink.

When Makoto takes in a stray kitten and names it Koharu (little Haru), Haru can't help but feel jealous. He wants Makoto's attention all to himself...and what's with comparing him to a cat?

This is an adorable read! The storyline is cute, the drawing style is appealing and there is a good amount of heat as well. I know this dj will definitely bring a smile to you face and make you chuckle. Give it a try!

4.5 stars

Read Darenimo furesasenai here.

~ M