Showing posts with label LGBTQ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LGBTQ. Show all posts

Review // Seraph by Lily Mayne

August 12, 2023

Seraph by Lily Mayne

The man he'd been before—the young soldier Luke Buckley,
who'd already been all alone in the world—was gone.
He was only Seraph now.
The monster the military had made him.

Seraph by Lily Mayne

Seraph by Lily Mayne


My Rating - ★★★★★
Standalone - Monstrous #6
Genre/Trope - Paranormal Romance / apocalypse
POV - Primarily single 1st person
Heat - Absolutely filthy
Source - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 462 pages

Previous books in the series: Soul Eater * Edin * The Rycke * Gloam * Moth

I’ve already mentally prepared myself to kill the screaming, murderous monster in the cage outside our camp.

I’m used to it. It’s what I do here. Kill monsters and other people. And this monster, Seraph, is particularly unstable—has been since the moment he arrived from Collector Mary’s monster menagerie to the west, where the military stashed him away.

He’s in pain. I can see it. But he’s not a mindless beast. Not like some of the others think.

When I start guarding him in his cage every night, I begin to see the person beneath the agony that tortures his every waking moment. I begin to see who Seraph could have been if he hadn’t been twisted into this monstrous creature.

I realise that I wouldn’t be able to bring myself to kill him, even for his own sake, but it doesn’t matter anyway. He’s already dying, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. Not even when new visitors at our raider camp bring with them secrets about Seraph. Secrets the military has tried to hide.

Secrets that reveal the true extent of the horror he’s been put through.

And now… Now, I will kill anyone who tries to hurt him again.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


Seraph by Lily Mayne

My Two Cents

Have tissues and a strong fan ready because Seraph and Lilac were so heartbreaking and explicitly filthy together!

For years, Lilac had isolated himself within the walls of the raider camp. He was the go-to killer of monsters, although his job was getting kinda redundant with all the monsters moving in. He hadn't learned to get close to anyone, though he did consider Rig and Ghost friends. And then Seraph made an appearance and everything changed.

I had an inkling of Seraph's background and I was very sad to realize that I was right. However, I fell in love with the way this author created his story. The pain of his new journey as a monster touched my heart so deeply. The humanity she infused his character with made me smile SO HARD. And what ended up growing, slowly but surely between Seraph and Lilac, was illustrated so beautifully that I'm not sure if I'll ever be the same after witnessing it.

Can I just say... the scenes between Seraph and the other monsters... so freaking sweet. I already loved them, but the tenderness, patience and understanding they showed Seraph made me love them all so much more. I can't wait to see what is next for these monsters and their human mates. Heading to the monster world sounds like it's going to be a trip!

Some gorgeous fanart:


Seraph by Lily Mayne
Seraph by Lily Mayne

The Author

Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.

She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.

She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.

Find out more at lily-mayne.com

Review // Unhinged by Onley James

August 09, 2023

Unhinged by Onley James

Adam spent his life dwelling in darkness and Noah felt like the light.

Unhinged by Onley James

Unhinged by Onley James


Standalone - Necessary Evils #1
Genre/Trope - Contemporary MM Romance with bits of darkness / instalove / vigilante
POV - Dual 3rd person
Heat - explicit
Source - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 306 pages

Adam Mulvaney lives a double life. By day, he’s the spoiled youngest son of an eccentric billionaire. By night, he’s an unrepentant killer, one of seven psychopaths raised to right the wrongs of a justice system that keeps failing.

Noah Holt has spent years dreaming of vengeance for the death of his father, but when faced with his killer, he learns a daunting truth he can’t escape. His father was a monster.

Unable to ignore his own surfacing memories, Noah embarks on a quest to find the truth about his childhood with the help of an unlikely ally: the very person who murdered his father. Since their confrontation, Adam is obsessed with Noah, and he wants to help him uncover the answers he seeks, however dark they may be.

The two share a mutual attraction, but, deep down, Noah knows Adam’s not like other boys. Adam can’t love. He wasn’t born that way. But he refuses to let Noah go, and Noah’s not sure he wants him to.

Can Adam prove to Noah that passion, power, and protection are just as good as love?

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


My Two Cents

My Rating - ★★★★¼


This was one of those times that an Amazon recommendation worked out!

It's not like I haven't seen this author's books make the rounds on my favourite blogs, but for some reason, I kept putting off the effort of trying. My bad because I was really missing out.

Adam is a filthy rich playboy by day, a killing machine at night. He takes out the garbage that the justice system fails to punish.
When Noah comes looking for him to get his revenge, gun pointed at his head in an alley, Adam falls... and falls hard.
Noah had no clue to the truth of his past and Adam tells him everything he needs to know (and a little more).
Traumatized and sick to his soul, Noah doesn't have to heal alone.
He's picked up a stalker.
He's bound to a psychopath who loves him in the only way he knows how.
He's found a forever kind of guy.

They didn't know each other, but he wanted to be Adam's, wanted his heat, his passion, hell, even his violence. But, buried deep down, Noah wanted Adam because he knew he would burn the whole f*cking world down for him and never feel a shred of remorse.

I loved the ridiculous and intense dynamic between Noah and Adam. Noah was super sweet, street smart, with a huge heart. Adam didn't have emotions, couldn't process 'normal' behaviour, but he would lay anyone out or lay down his life to keep Noah safe. He wanted to spoil his man and never wanted him to leave his sight. EVER!!

Seriously, who can resist an anti-hero who will KILL THEM ALL while tickling and smooching his man up at the same time? I can't.

Meeting Adam's brothers and his father, seeing how they work out the whole 'meting out justice' job, I'm definitely intrigued. I'll be continuing this series for sure.

Unhinged by Onley James
Unhinged by Onley James
Unhinged by Onley James

The Author

Onley James lives in North Carolina with her daughter, her daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and a menagerie of animals, both good and evil. James splits her time between writing m/m romance and mainlining dangerous levels of caffeine and attempting to maintain her ever-slipping sanity.

When not at her desk you can find her whining about how much writing she has to do while avoiding said writing by binge-watching unhealthy amounts of television and doom scrolling on social media. She loves true crime documentaries, anti-heroes, and writing kinky, snarky books about morally gray men who fall in love with other men.

Visit linktr.ee/OnleyJames for more information

Review // How I Stole the Princess's White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy by AJ Sherwood

August 07, 2023


What’s a white knight to do when his princess is causing utter havoc leading in mass murder? Go to the famous Black Sorcerer of Grimslock for help, apparently.

What’s a black sorcerer to do when the white knight comes to him for help? Keep him, naturally.

Devan does not approve of this payment plan. Tan does.

FYI: This series is an MM Interracial Fantasy Romance I read through Kindle Unlimited


How I Stole the Princess's White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy

Villainy #1


My Rating - ★★★★


POV - Dual 3rd person
Heat - mentions of sexy times, but nothing's happened yet
Length - 103 pages

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


Diving into the world created for Devan and Tan was a strange delight. These characters cracked me up. For a start, our heroes are set to rescue an entire village from a barbarian rampage. The princess has planned to sacrifice all of the people. Devan has another plan. As her most dedicated, fierce, and loyal knight, he seeks out the black sorcerer for aid. Tan does not disappoint. Throw in some mystical shenanigans, Tan's inappropriateness, Devan's stoicness, and everything in between, I was freaking rolling. Tan begging for cuddles as payment gave me life! I had so much fun reading this book and knew from the first bit that I'd be continuing this series.


How I Stole the Princess's White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy

Villainy #2


My Rating - ★★★★


POV - Dual 3rd person
Heat - mentions of sexy times, but nothing's happened yet
Length - 98 pages

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


Still the same creative dynamic in this book. Devan has been tasked with hunting a strange creature in the woods who only hunts adults. It tears their throats out and drains them dry. Sound familiar? When Devan goes up against it, he finds himself swiftly outmatched and in need of help. Who does he call?

Tan couldn't be happier to help Devan, but he's livid that the Princess, once again, shows a lack of concern for everyone's favourite knight. We're introduced to Tan's siblings, who are almost as ridiculous as he is. His sister, Fa, is a hot mess of comedic delights and his brother, Niran, is a necromance unlike any other I've experienced before. I'm serious, these characters are full of fun. Our heroes take on the undead with glee and I was excited to see the deep level of trust developing between Devan and Tan.

Are we one huge step closer to happily ever after? Tan hopes so!!


How I Stole the Princess's White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy

Villainy #3


My Rating - ★★★★


POV - Dual 3rd person
Heat - mentions of sexy times, but nothing's happened yet
Length - 91 pages

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


Could these characters be any sweeter? The grumpy/sunshine dynamic between these two is so fun! I'm in love with their every interaction, their banter, and the wacky adventures they find themselves a part of. In this book, Tan and Devan are in search of a magical sword.

I enjoyed the fact that they were in a new town, that Tan was using some new magic, and that Devan was fighting the very endearing temptation right in front of him.

Am I the only one who finds it hilarious how quickly our heroes dispatch the dumdums who think they have what it takes to best them?

There's more hilarity, some action, and Tan couldn't stop flirting to save his life.

When will Devan finally give in?


How I Stole the Princess's White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy

Villainy #4


My Rating - ★★★★


POV - Dual 3rd person
Heat - FINALLY!! A descriptive scene towards the end
Length - 95 pages

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


This latest adventure takes Devan and Tan on the high seas. Kinda. Devan's cousin reaches out to him for help because several ships have been capsized and the crews were missing. What is lurking out there?

My biggest takeaway of this book was that Devan and Tan finally consummated their relationship. All of the back and forth, the delicious sexual tension, and absolutely adorable banter brought us to the moment we had all been waiting for... hot sex!

Yes, there was plenty of action and adventure, I was surprised (and strangely excited) to see Tan in a rage, but I was happy to be here for all of it. Especially because Devan finally gave in to what was obviously between them.

Love is in the air people and I can't wait to see how it factors into the stories to come.


How I Stole the Princess's White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy

Villainy #5


My Rating - ★★★★★


POV - Dual 3rd person
Heat - a bit more than descriptive
Length - 88 pages

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


For this adventure, our heroes don't really have to go anywhere. Tan is determined to fix his past mistakes (The Void), but something goes wrong. He's magically depleted, left unconscious, found by other adventurers, and portalled to the dungeon of Goodwine. It's up to Devan to get him out and he has an ingenous plan to do so. I loved this issue!

Full of more shenanigans, this book showed us how close Devan and Tan had grown, not that it was ever in doubt. Devan is even more pressed to find a solution to having his cake and eating it too. He wants to spend his life with Tan, but he can't abandon his people to the whims of a mad woman. How are they going to make this work?

Well, this author hasn't disappointed me yet with this story, so book 6 is already loaded up!


How I Stole the Princess's White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy

Villainy #6


My Rating - ★★★★★


POV - Dual 3rd person
Heat - a bit more than descriptive
Length - 95 pages

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


Devan needed to find a way to protect the people from Princess Serenity while being with the love of his life. Tan just wanted whatever made Devan happy and was willing to do any and everything for his man. Somehow they made it work and I loved it!

Both men were their badass selves. The people knew who they wanted to rule and it wasn't Serenity of her father, the king. And I was giddy getting to read all about it!

Honestly, if you like stories about adventure, action, hilarious ridiculousness and tons of love, you need to grab this series up. Devan and Tan, their motley crew of allies, and everything they all experience and do, will keep you entertained!!

Review // Moth by Lily Mayne

July 18, 2023

Moth by Lily Mayne

Yeah, I was attracted to Moth,
even though he was an assh*le most of the time and in love with a raider.
And I was pretty sure that he was attracted to me too, even just a little.
I was also pretty sure that he hated it.

Moth by Lily Mayne

Moth by Lily Mayne


My Rating - ★★★★★
Standalone - Monstrous #5
Genre/Trope - Paranormal Romance / forced proximity / apocalypse
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - filthy
Source - borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 451 pages

Previous books in the series: Soul Eater * Edin * The Rycke * Gloam

When I—along with my best friend and his big purple monster boyfriend—come across a fortress-like raider camp while journeying across the monster-infested Wastes, we stop to deliver a message.

Somehow, that simple pit stop turns into a seemingly impossible quest to get this camp’s missing leader out of the prison where he’s being held and forced to fight monsters and other humans. And I know exactly where it is, because I’ve been there.

Problem is, I’m making this journey with the prickliest and most arrogant guy I’ve ever met, who seems to immediately hate me on sight. Oh, and he’s also half monster. So there’s that. And he’s in love with a raider who definitely does not love him back, and he seems determined to take it out on me. So there’s also that.

But I’m not going to rise to his childish insults and barbed words. I’m not.

I’m also going to try very hard to ignore how mindnumbingly beautiful he is, even when he’s scowling at me.

But the longer we’re out here together, the more I learn about my prickly half monster companion Moth. I realise there’s a reason he’s so closed off and angry. There’s a reason he hates everyone.

There are secrets he’s been keeping, and when I find out what they are, I want to do everything in my power to help him—even though he’s telling me he can’t be helped.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


Moth by Lily Mayne

My Two Cents

Wow! I was begging for Charlie's book.
I was yearning for Moth's book.
Getting these two together blew my f*cking mind!!

So here's the gist:
  • a virgin hero (not telling who it is)
  • the sighting of new monsters—some friendly and some not so much
  • Moth is a badass with a sword
  • a visit with all of our favorite characters (I'm looking at you, Wyn and Danny, Edin and Hunter, Aury and Ghost, Gloam and Rig)
  • hot sex. Can't have a monster book in this series without incredibly hot and imaginative sex
  • deeper insight on the Wastes, the raider network, and the cramped cities the survivors inhabit.

Okay, so the mysterious Moth is half-monster and that comes with its own baggage. That is a story you have to bust this book open to discover. Know that his story is tragic and I want to fight some fictional people on his behalf.

Full of insecurities and vulnerabilities, Moth puts on a good show. He's untouchable, he's tough, and he's fine all by himself. Except it's all a lie and Charlie seems to be the only one who sees it.
Charlie finds himself extremely attracted to this beautiful male. Once they're bound to travel together to find the elusive raider camp leader, Cat, things between them were destined to change.

At least it was obvious to me.

I loved the way the relationship developed between these characters. It had an almost enemies-to-lovers vibe and I enjoyed every moment in which Charlie got Moth to melt. I don't even want to tell you any more about it because I'm afraid of spoiling it all and I really want you to find out for yourself.

And here's some fanart for this book:


Moth by Lily Mayne

Moth by Lily Mayne

The Author

Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.

She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.

She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.

Find out more here: https://lily-mayne.com

Review // Wyn by Lily Mayne

June 28, 2023

Wyn by Lily Mayne

It made me forever grateful that he wanted to be with me, because the thought of him falling prey to anyone who would take advantage of his gentle nature made me want to murder things.
All the things.

────── ♔ ──────


Wyn by Lily Mayne

Wyn by Lily Mayne


My Rating - ★★★★★
Monstrous #3.5
Release - October 1, 2021
Genre/Trope - Paranormal MM Romance / epilogue
POV - Primarily Single 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 157 pages

Previous books in the series: Soul Eater * Edin * The Rycke

I am a monster.

A ghoul. A demon. The bogeyman. I have been called all of them. Most creatures fear me, but humans are repulsed by me. They are terrified of me. They have created legends about me, ever since they became aware of my existence when the tear between our worlds grew and we—the monsters from their nightmares—flooded through in our droves.

There is only one human who isn’t afraid of me. The only one who matters. And I will destroy anyone who tries to hurt him or take him from me. Danny is mine.

For the first time in my unfathomably long life, I know what it means to want another so much that the thought of losing him threatens to ruin me. I will do anything to keep Danny with me for as long as I can have him—for as long as he is willing to stay by the side of an ancient, scarred creature with a voice so inhuman it has sent some mad.

For some reason, Danny loves my voice. For some reason, Danny loves me. And when we both decide that his natural human life is nowhere near enough time for us to have together, we go on a journey between worlds to the one place where we can do what it takes for us to be together forever.

My Two Cents

If I didn't already absolutely love Danny and Wyn, I would now. How adorable are these two? The love between them is surreal and I couldn't be happier for what they accomplished by the end of this story.

I'm not even going to get into what happened here. Just know that the love game is very strong within Wyn and Danny is still head over heels for his favorite monster.

I learned a bit about monster society, the beauty to be found beyond the tear, and that happy endings for these human/monster partnerships are truly possible.

If you've already fallen for these two, READ THIS BOOK!

And some more fanart:

Wyn by Lily Mayne

Wyn by Lily Mayne

The Author

Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.

She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.

She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.

Find out more here: https://lily-mayne.com

Review // Gloam by Lily Mayne

June 23, 2023

Gloam by Lily Mayne

"You're not my weakness," I mumbled shakily against his mouth.
"You make me better."

────── ♔ ──────


Gloam by Lily Mayne

Gloam by Lily Mayne


My Rating - ★★★★★
Standalone - Monstrous #4
Release - December 3, 2021
Genre - Paranormal MM Romance / forced proximity
POV - Single 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 413 pages

Other books in the series: Soul Eater * Edin * The Rycke

When a strange woman shows up outside our camp in the Wastes with monsters chained up to her RV, it feels like I’m the only one who actually wants to help them.

That big, grey-skinned monster with the cage on his head and the chain hanging from his back—something is telling me I need to help him. I need to free him. But I have absolutely no idea how I’m supposed to do that, especially when he can’t even talk to me to tell me how.

Collector Mary is finally leaving our camp to head back to her monster menagerie, so I do the only thing I can think of to help him. I go with her.

Now, this big beastie and I are traveling companions for the foreseeable future. Now I just have to think of a way to get that cage off his head, which seems like an impossible task. But I’m not giving up. He has no one else, and when I start to discover who he is beneath the cage, my motivation to free him becomes far more than just a desire to help.

This is so dangerous. The military is lurking. Vicious monsters are lurking. And when Mary turns out to be even worse than we could have ever imagined, my desperate bid to save this monster turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse.

I’m pretty sure I’m going to die out here.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


>Gloam by Lily Mayne

My Two Cents

I don’t know how it happened, but this became my favorite book of the series. While I still very much love Wyn and Edin and Aury… Gloam and Adam are in a league of their own. It could be due to the purity of their hearts, the utter lengths they would go to for each other, how they just fit… Honestly, it was a mix of things that made them the most glorious couple in the monster-verse.

You are very brave, Adam.

Gloam was beholden to a terrible woman (I’m looking at you, Mary, you truly despicable woman) for reasons unknown. Rig was determined to free him, despite the misgivings of others in his camp. This young man, who was completely terrified of being “out there”, thought nothing of leaving his relatively safe life behind to help Gloam. He knew this monster was in trouble and he was just the person to fix things for him. And what grew between them, slowly but surely, became something truly beautiful.

Word of warning: this book was probably the filthiest of the bunch. It was definitely not safe to read around people. I gasped and choked quite a bit. I loved every minute of it!!

In the end, I’ve got so many questions and I hope things become much clearer in the books to come.
➤ What is up with Seraph? Dude has many eyes… I don’t know how I’m going to be able to humanize him. I won’t lie, it’s been easy to see the attraction with the monsters so far, despite them having black tipped fingers and turning into mist, being purple with horns, or having wings and birdlike feet (and being able to transform into a true monster). But for a rabid monster with a ton of eyes… I can’t see it… yet.
➤ So it seems like Edin was rolling up on the camp? Good thing or bad?
➤ Will Mary’s journals have viable information that can help Seraph? Otherwise, how are he and Lilac going to get their HEA? Yes, I’m already shipping them!
➤ Speaking of Lilac, did something happen to him to turn him into a silent killer? He seems to have deep emotions so I’m curious to see his backstory in his story to come.

Gloam by Lily Mayne

The Author

Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.

She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.

She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.

Find out more here: https://lily-mayne.com

Review // The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin by Jennifer Cody

The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin by Jennifer Cody

"In me," he demands, and can I just say that dominant bottoms
are totally my thing now?

────── ♔ ──────


The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin by Jennifer Cody

The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin by Jennifer Cody


My Rating - ★★★★★
Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees #2
Release - July 1, 2022
Genre - Paranormal MM Romance / instalove
POV - Single 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 212 pages

Other book(s) in the series: The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer

Romily:
You know what I’d like to know? Where the hell my romantic, how-we-got-engaged story is. Am I going to get it any time soon? Where is my bigass diamond?

Unfortunately, all that relationship angst gets put on hold when my beloved son, Bellamy, is abducted by a werewolf-ish person I kinda like. Am I going to get my kid back? You betcha. The question is, how many people does Fox have to kill first?

The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin is the second book in the Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees Series. It's a 60k word M/M Paranormal Romance with plenty of sass, gore, and questionable decision-making skills, and now there are tiny tables too.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


The Trouble With Trying to Save an Assassin by Jennifer Cody

My Two Cents

Could Romily get any more ridiculous? Why yes, yes he could!

My new favorite threesome were getting along quite nicely for the most part. Romily was still waiting for his engagement ring, Fox was still killing those who needed killing, and Bellamy had come to accept that these two men… this strange couple… were now his people.

Then Bellamy gets kidnapped and all hell breaks loose.

There’s a burning man, an assassin who can’t really be killed, the four dads, a messed up council, some intriguing inner workings for the paranormal world these characters are occupying, and a lot of tomfoolery going on.

Once again, I had a blast reading this. This author is a definite must-buy for me from now on. There was a delicate balance between the humor and the awesomeness and not once did it get overly ridiculous or OTT for me. I enjoyed every bit of it and I’m waiting for Romily to get his diamond!!

The Author

Jennifer Cody lives in Small Midwestern Town, USA, aka the sticks of Kansas.
She has three kids and a Beardo she loves.
Her sleep schedule is weird, so messages sent at midnight usually get answered relatively promptly.
She reads all kinds of mm romance and urban fantasy, but her favorites are gay-for-you, small-town romances and over the top urban fantasy romances.
Her own writing doesn’t always reflect her reading preferences, but mostly it does. She writes what she wants to read and reads extensively because she’s an addict. To books, obviously. And caffeine because sleep is for other people.

Visit https://www.jennifercodyauthor.com for more information

Review // The Rycke by Lily Mayne

June 20, 2023

The Rycke by Lily Mayne

One's face broke into a huge, beautiful grin, and I knew that was it.
I was utterly smitten.
Totally, one hundred percent gone for this strange, winged monster with creepy black eyes
and ghostly, green-tinged skin.

────── ♔ ──────


The Rycke by Lily Mayne

The Rycke by Lily Mayne


My Rating - ★★★★★
Standalone - Monstrous #3
Release - August 9, 2021
Genre - Paranormal MM Romance / apocalypse
POV - Single 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 317 pages

Other books in the series: Soul Eater * Edin

Life as a raider in the Wastes, where monsters roam and the military lurks, is as easy as it sounds.

I’ve been out here for a long time, and the fear that courses through my blood every time I have to step outside our camp walls to scavenge never fades. No matter how many monsters you face—and have to run for your life from—it doesn’t ever get easier.

But when I come across a bound and injured monster in an abandoned military base, I can’t leave him behind. His presence in our camp is causing tension, but I can’t bring myself to care when I get to see a different side to him—when he starts to show me who he is, beneath the pain and lingering trauma.

But despite his gentle nature, I soon discover why others are so desperate to own him. Why the military, and now this stranger lurking outside our camp, want to put him back in chains and take him away from me.

There’s something hiding under his skin. Something that threatens to upend my entire life, the one I’ve spent my years carefully protecting out here.

There’s a reason why all other monsters fear him.

Find The Rycke here: Goodreads * Amazon


The Rycke by Lily Mayne

My Two Cents

After learning bits and pieces about the rycke, I wasn’t sure how this creature could be captured in a way that would engender feelings of romance. I don’t even know why I doubted his author because she’s delivered everything I could possibly hope for with every book.

Meeting Aury was such a unique experience. Here was this monster, who was supposed to be the one beast that was feared by all other monsters, and he was the kindest, most gentlest soul of them all. The author did such a beautiful job of capturing his vulnerability, even after he had just committed a horrific act. Gosh, Aury crying grabbed me in my freaking soul!

Gage was such a sweetheart. As a real pushover, he didn’t really come into his own until he met Aury. I’m really digging all of these men in this apocalyptic world full on monster-loving the hell out of their new world!

I didn't care what he could become.
I didn't see that monstrous face when I looked at Aury.
This was my sweet, gentle, kind monster.
He was still my Aury.

With ‘The Rycke’, we get our first real glimpse of what life is like for humans living in the Wastes. It’s certainly not pretty and I found it downright terrifying. I don’t know how I would survive in similar circumstances and can’t help but marvel at the bravery of these characters.

While I’m not sure what happens next in this series, I do recognize that there are a few people who I need to see again. What happened to the guy Hunter met in the pit? Whatever happened to his best friend Charlie? And will we be finding Rig again?

I must not forget to share the fanart I fell in love with for this book:

The Rycke by Lily Mayne
Aury by Femkeneri

The Rycke by Lily Mayne
Everyone I've met (or will meet) by grandmechantlapin


The Author

Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.

She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.

She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.

Find out more here: https://lily-mayne.com

Review // The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer by Jennifer Cody

June 19, 2023

The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer by Jennifer Cody

Oh, look at my man go. With a couple of on-point hits, the love of my life manages to disarm the taller dude, grab the sword—
Aaand now there's a head joining the arm in my lap.
Gross.

────── ♔ ──────


The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer by Jennifer Cody

The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer by Jennifer Cody


My Rating - ★★★★★
Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees #1
Release - February 9, 2022
Genre - Paranormal MM Romance / instalove
POV - Single 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5 / one explicit scene near the end, but plenty of filthy talk throughout
Format - ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 188 pages

Third time’s the charm, right? At least that’s what I tell myself when I witness the same hot guy commit mass murder three times in a few days. I’m either the luckiest mute boy ever or possibly the unluckiest. Who knows, maybe him kidnapping me will turn into the greatest love story ever told? Hey, it could happen! You never know how these things will turn out. I happen to believe in love and soulmates, and if nothing else, Arlington Fox doesn’t treat my disability like a nuisance. It’s not everyday you find someone who just gets you, and I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth even if the horse in question is a man so good at killing people that I should probably introspect a bit about why that skews my moral compass and possibly my kinks. But c’mon, competence is sexy, amiright?

The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer is an MM Paranormal Romance with lots of sass, humor, a ridiculous 3000 year age-gap, and an inordinate number of tables.

My Two Cents

This is one of the best books I’ve read this year! Romily was a first-class narrator, having me chuckle and giggle when I least expected it, and I’m so grateful to have experienced his voice. This man is hilarious and ridiculous. Over-the-top, sweet, entertaining, and full of heart, I never wanted this story to end!

Romily was a have-not. While I didn’t learn very much about his past, I knew he was homeless. He knew what it was to struggle. And he viewed life just a wee bit differently than the rest of us. When he witnesses a man murdering a bunch of people, he doesn’t run, cower or hide. He becomes enamored. He found the man’s confidence in killing to be a turn-on and bemoaned the fact that they probably wouldn’t meet again. Except they do and the killer is intrigued by the little man-boy who isn’t afraid.

The dynamic between Romily and Fox was amazing. While Romily couldn’t speak (he was mute), these two had so much to say to each other, even without words. When I learned that Romily was mute, I was intensely curious about how the story would work and was pleasantly surprised by how much depth and feeling there was to a man with no voice. Both of these characters were just so incredible and understood each other so well, that I never once felt like something was missing.

With tons of shenanigans and hilarity, this story gave me so much content to love. Knowing that there are more books with these characters, you better believe I’ll be reading them!

NOTE: I also read the companion novella, Fox Recruits a Mute Boy (and Falls in Love), which was a quick peek at Fox's perspective. I loved these two characters even more. Knowing that Fox fell just as hard as Romily at first sight, which I already knew, but reading about it... *chef's kiss*

The Author

Jennifer Cody lives in Small Midwestern Town, USA, aka the sticks of Kansas.
She has three kids and a Beardo she loves.
Her sleep schedule is weird, so messages sent at midnight usually get answered relatively promptly.
She reads all kinds of mm romance and urban fantasy, but her favorites are gay-for-you, small-town romances and over the top urban fantasy romances.
Her own writing doesn’t always reflect her reading preferences, but mostly it does. She writes what she wants to read and reads extensively because she’s an addict. To books, obviously. And caffeine because sleep is for other people.

Visit https://www.jennifercodyauthor.com for more information

Review // Edin by Lily Mayne

May 06, 2023

Edin by Lily Mayne

"You're just... good, Edin. Kind. And generous, and selfless. And you..." I flushed, feeling exposed. "You make me calm. You soothe me."

────── ♔ ──────


Edin by Lily Mayne

Edin by Lily Mayne


Standalone - Monstrous #2
Release - May 19, 2021
Genre - M/M Fantasy Romance / forced proximity
POV - Single 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 410 pages

I was just a boy when the monsters rose on earth, forcing humans to flee to the coastlines and live in cramped, dirty, military-controlled cities. I enlisted as soon as I could to escape.

Now, I’ve been in the military for twelve years and have the scars—and missing body parts—to prove it. As a hardened soldier who’s spent his fair share of time out in the Wastes—the dangerous place where monsters roam free—I didn’t think anything could surprise me anymore.

But then circumstance forced me together with a big, annoying purple monster who’s arrogant and bossy and pushes all my buttons in the worst—and best—ways. I need his help, and I hate needing anyone’s help. But the more time I spend with him, the more I realise that maybe there’s more from him that I need. And that he might need things from me too.

But I’m still a soldier. I still have responsibilities. It doesn’t matter how I feel about Edin, because we can’t be together. It’s too dangerous.

That doesn’t stop me wanting him, though.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


Edin by Lily Mayne

My Two Cents

4 "I love Edin so much!!" stars

I didn’t like this one as much as I did the first book (Soul Eater). I loved Edin. I loved him from the first time he was introduced through Wyn. I knew I’d love him more in his own book and I did. He was such a happy go-lucky male, but he also had so much depth to him. A tragic past weighed heavily upon him, however, he was still able to find and inspire hope, feel deeply, and, in many ways, honor his people.

Hunter was hard to like. It took most of the book for me to change my mind about him. He was selfish and self-serving. I get that he was desperate to save his friend, but even he recognized that he wasn’t being a good person. I believe Edin deserved so much more from him, right from the start. Here’s this overgrown alien who stops to help you, puts himself in danger for you, cares for you, etc. He gave far more than what he got.

I was so happy to see Wyn and Danny again and for some more justice to be served. Bye bye Mallory lol.

Edin and his purple c*ck ruled the show and I enjoyed how Hunter found a new part of himself. He loved submitting sexually for Edin. In the end, they were well-matched and I'm actually looking forward to seeing both of them again in the books to come.

Have I mentioned how in love I am with the fan art for this series???

Edin by Lily Mayne

Edin by Lily Mayne

The Author

Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.

She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.

She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.

Find out more here: https://lily-mayne.com