Book Review: Unexpected Christmas by Nell Iris

Daniel Erickson stormed out of his family celebration after choking on turkey served with a side of bigotry. Utterly miserable, he reluctantly lets himself be charmed by the hulk of a man and gets into the stranger’s car...hoping he won’t be axed before the night is through.

Axel Wilson -- Ax for short, unfortunately -- is a sweetheart. Really. He may be badass-looking but his heart melts into goo at the mere mention of his four-year-old niece. Surely he isn’t dangerous?

Thrown together by family drama, the two men spend the evening getting to know each other. Axel is nothing like Daniel expected. But it doesn’t matter that he loves poetry, is gentle and patient -- and hot! -- Daniel is absolutely not falling in love at first sight. There’s no such thing.

Right?

This is a lovely Christmas read that I really enjoyed! It's very short, but I was immediately immersed in the world Nell Iris created. Daniel and Ax are very likable characters that made me root for their happiness and success. Neither has an easy life due to society's preconceived notions based on their sexuality and appearance. However, Daniel and Ax manage to rise above and live their lives to the fullest. I do hope that a sequel is written because I would love to learn more about these two characters. I received a small taste and now I'm hungry for more.

If you're in the mood for a truly sweet, short story that will warm your heart, Unexpected Christmas is the book for you!

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

Buy Links
JMS Books | Amazon

~ M

Invisible by LoveMeThatsAllIAskOfYou

Invisible by LoveMeThatsAllIAskOfYou

As Alec battles a mysterious, debilitating illness, he feels as if his life is at a standstill. He can't work, he's afraid to go out and his relationship with his boyfriend is hanging by a thread. Alec feels so alone...until one day a beautiful soul walks into his life and changes it forever.

This is a really interesting read. While it has plenty of fluffy moments, there are also some painfully realistic scenes, especially as it pertains to Alec's illness. I appreciate that the author does not gloss over what Alec goes through on a daily basis, the good, bad and ugly. Magnus, as always, is a gem, but he also shows great complexity. This is definitely a story to check out!

~ M

Book Review: Watermelon Kisses by Freddy MacKay

Life hasn't been easy for Amir since he fled Iran after a brutal imprisonment. The trauma experienced at the hands of the guards left a dark spot on his soul. The one constant in his life since relocating to Chicago has been his lover, now husband, Esmail, whose steadfast love and support has soothed his wounded heart.

​But this Shab-e Yalda, Amir wants to be the one giving his husband something special, because even after the darkest nights, the sun will rise again.

I really enjoyed this holiday novella. Even though it contained some serious issues, my heart felt warm and full by the end. The characters are extremely likable and I liked learning more about them, their former lives in Iran and the gorgeous Iranian festival Shab-e Yalda.

My heart broke for both men as Amir dealt with his PTSD and his desire to not only fit in in the United States, but also live freely with the man he loves with all his heart. If you're in the mood for a sweet read that will truly make you feel a myriad of emotions. This is the book for you! Also be sure to read the extra information about Shab-e Yalda at the very end. It's very interesting and enjoyed learning something new. 😃

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

Buy Link

Amazon

~ M

The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot by sanyumi

The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot by sanyumi

Oliver is a correctional officer who is tasked with keeping an eye on a new inmate, Connor Walsh, after he was convicted of double homicide. Their relationship starts off professional, but soon evolves through quiet conversations and mindless flirting. Even though he tries to fight it, Oliver can't reconcile the fact that he's falling in love with a murderer.

 

I was very pleasantly surprised by this fic! I've read this author's work in the past and have always enjoyed it. The depth and complexity of the characters is great, which, in turn, didn't make it so far-fetched that they'd fall in love under such dire circumstances. If you're in the mood for a really compelling read, check this one out!

~ M

photo credit: ABC

I ❤️ Yaoi: Ore to Omae no Stalker Boushihou by Kanbe Gorou & Mongorou

Good morning yaoi lovers! This week's selection is Ore to Omae no Stalker Boushihou by Kanbe Gorou & Mongorou.

When Chino discovers a handsome man potentially stalking a young lady after work, he immediately confronts him and drags him to the police station. Fortunately, it was just a misunderstanding, but to Chino's surprise, Yamada turns his attention to him, bringing him pastries and sweets on a daily basis. Is Yamada a harmless guy with a crush or is he a full blown stalker who should be kept at arm's length?

I'm not quite sure how to take this manga. On one hand, some of the situations are sweet and funny and I root for the main characters to develop a relationship, but on the other, Yamada's actions are very suspicious and I want Chino to run far, far away. 😒 Check it out for yourself and let me know your thoughts.

~ M

Siren's Lure by zero4life

Siren's Lure by zero4life

When Alec is attacked by a siren and injected with a siren's lure, he is immediately taken to Magnus for treatment. Unfortunately, the only way to lessen the effects of the spell is through sexual contact. Alec is embarrassed, but at the same time desperate for relief. Magnus is extremely cautious because they barely know each other and he doesn't want to take advantage of the situation for his own pleasure...even though he would be helping Alec. How will the two men handle the stressful and tense 12 hours together?

Wow! This story is something else! The sexual tension between Alec and Magnus is so palpable that your heart rate will race during each and every chapter. Even though the sexual aspect of the story is at the forefront, there is also a really interesting background story as well. Alec and Magnus are not in a relationship and they don't really know each other that well. It's known that Magnus is attracted to Alec, but he's still in the closet and afraid to live as his true self, which makes the situation that much more tense and difficult. This is an engrossing read that I definitely recommend!

~ M

picture credit: Freeform

Book Review & GIVEAWAY: Jingle Spell by Chris Ethan

It’s the most horrible time of the year.

Smooches under mistletoes and tacky reindeer decorations.
Newly single, Davey has had enough of wasting his love and having his heart broken. Better to be single, he decides. No more dates. No more falling in love. No more dreaming of happy ever afters. Those are for movies.

He’s resolute.

And then Avery steps into his life, bringing care, compassion, and tenderness in his path.

Davey’s so tempted to hope again. But can an online date and a brief encounter turn into anything other than an ephemeral sexual encounter?

Is there a future for them? Will Avery stay? And most importantly, can Davey bear to offer up his heart to the season’s love—just one more time?

This is a delightfully charming story that I really enjoyed. Both Avery and Davey are likable characters and their courtship was sweet to watch. I only had two complaints, and I can't really call them that because they didn't completely detract from the reading experience. Avery experienced insta-love, and I sometimes couldn't determine if Davey truly liked Avery or just the thought of him. We learn very early that Davey is lonely, tired of random hook-ups and has had his heart broken several times. Even though Avery was wonderful towards Davey, I often got the feeling that Davey was caught up in the Hallmark Christmas movie romance of it all, not the reality. Like I said, these things didn't detract from the story for me, just something I noticed.

If you're looking for a sweet Christmas read that's very low on angst, Jingle Spell is the book for you!

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

Buy Link
Amazon

~ M