Guest Review: It's in My Blood - Criminal Delights: Obsession by Sean Azinsalt

Death eventually comes for us all. But what if there’s a way for older people to regain their youth? To stay a step ahead of the grim reaper?

Turning 40 was the last straw for me. It’s practically 60 in gay years and I wasn’t ready for dentures yet, so I came to Youthology — a program that injects clients with blood transfusions from young, fit and healthy donors.

I chose Nick.

Handsome. Masculine. And more importantly, young.

I thought I hit the lottery, until my life started to change for the worst. Not even the top medical experts can explain what happened to me. From the moment Nick’s blood flooded into my veins, I stopped being me, and I became something new; something dangerous and deadly.

I became my donor.

His obsessions are mine now. His darkest desires, his dreams, his needs, and nightmares are all a part of me, and I don’t want to let them go.

I embrace them and the beautiful boy who haunts both of our dreams.

My blood pact was sealed the moment I entered Youthology.

I never thought I’d become a killer.

This book is part of CRIMINAL DELIGHTS. Each novel can be read as a standalone and contains a dark M/M romance.

Warning: These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurry. High heat, twisted and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted.

Reviewer: Annery

Sean Azinsalt, is a ‘new to me’ author, who also writes as Shane Morton, and this is Bk.11 in the CRIMINAL DELIGHTS series. I don’t think (I hope) the reading order matters. I haven’t read the others, but I think it’s more of a thematic link, rather than continuing or interconnected stories. The theme being love or rather lust in the dark alleys of the soul. I liked this one.

Mark Edwards is a stereotypical, but no less authentic, NYC gay man. He works as the lifestyle and fashion editor for an online magazine, and though fit and good looking, he’s on the verge of a nervous breakdown because he’s turning 40, which is like 60 in gay years. He’s not wrong, and he’s also endearingly self aware. You can’t hate him. To portray him otherwise, particularly in his line of work, would be false. Rescue, destiny, or a curse, depending on how you look at it, comes via a work assignment. Mark is the research guinea pig for a series of articles, he himself will write, about a company called Youthology which promises to reverse the effects of aging by the transfusion of blood from a young, vital, and healthy person directly into the veins of their clients. As you can imagine things take an unexpected turn.

I liked the author’s grasp on the geography and culture of the city, while also not getting super specific. I liked the interactions between Mark, his friends, and his work colleagues. It helped ground a story that, for some reason, had me both in mind of a vampiric folk tale, cannibalism, and ”Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”.

Even though he has some doubt as to the science of the treatment, Mark proceeds, and at first things are even better than he would’ve hoped for. His energy and vitality are skyrocketing, he’s become a gym rat with the body to prove it, and even his sexual proclivities have changed. Bottom to top. However there are additional, unexpected, and unwelcome changes too. It would seem that Mark is taking on, not only the physical attributes of his ‘donor’, Nick, but also his dark dreams and desires. Nick is not a nice guy. Will Mark remain a nice guy? Define nice. We all do what we deem is right or necessary. Are Mark’s decisions prompted by the alien DNA living in his bloodstream, or where these latent qualities given a nudge by Nick’s blood. Given that Mark was given a choice of picking his ‘donor’, after reading bios and seeing pictures, was his choice of Nick a reasoned one or the call of something deeper? The author doesn’t answer, or even directly ask many this questions, but reading this did prompt them in me along with a light meditation on free will, narcissism, and the different shades of right and wrong. Not a bad way to spend a few hours.

If you came for the smex, it’s here! Brutal, raw, and most of it skirting the edge of bad/wrong, but who am I to say, when it’s what the participants want? There isn’t much romance, this series isn’t about that, though you could argue that the dark roads Mark takes are prompted by love or obsession. To each their own.

***This could use a once over by an editor to fix weird switches in tense and assorted distractions.***

Review: The Werewolf's Fae Mate by Liv Rider

He never expected his mate to be fae. Now he has to choose between his heart and his pack.

When mixed-blood werewolf Mahon comes across powerful fae magic in a nightclub, dealing with the threat is a chance to prove to his new pack where his loyalties lie. But the threat turns out to be a gorgeous, wide-eyed college student who’s never heard of the supernatural world. After they're attacked by bloodsucking vampire bats, he takes Oscar and his small, angry cat home for their own protection. He’ll definitely tell his pack about Oscar...later.

Abandoned as an infant, Oscar’s always wondered where he came from—he just never expected the answer to include pointy ears, magical powers, and evil forces trying to kill him. Oscar knows he shouldn’t rely on Mahon for help, but it’s hard to resist when a six-foot-six werewolf literally sweeps you off your feet. The key to Oscar’s past might lie with the local fae court—where werewolves aren’t welcome.

Oscar and Mahon are mates—but how can they be together when it might cost them both everything?

The Werewolf’s Fae Mate is an m/m paranormal werewolf/fae romance with a HEA and no cliffhangers.

The Werewolf's Fae Mate is a short, straight forward paranormal read with heat and action.

As the blurb states, Oscar is a normal college student, until he realizes he’s anything but a normal college student. Unfortunately for Oscar, that realization happens right around the time a vampire and vampire bats come calling. Luckily for him, Mahon (a werewolf) also comes calling and Oscar is thrust into a world that he once believed was only in storybooks.

With the danger lurking around Oscar, he ends up staying with Mahon as they try to figure out the specifics about his missing past. One thing leads to another quickly and it’s all growly, mine, mates, sex, thinking about sex, and more sex. Oscar is clueless, goofy, and endearing. I wish we had more of his personality without being clouded by lust and overshadowed by the main drama of miscommunication. There is insta-love as usual in a mates situation and they ride that train all the way to an HEA.

While Mahon and Oscar are cute together, the relationship and world building is lacking IMO. I liked the premise and the characters but everything felt so rushed. Oscar has a cat named Marshmallow and I didn’t understand why there was so much emphasis placed on her. I kept waiting for *something* to happen. It didn’t. Still, I’ll definitely keep Marshmallow on the table for my future pet's name.

If you’re new to m/m paranormal, this could be a good starting point for you. Hopefully the world building comes together in the next book. I’ll give Aidan (Mahon’s brother) a shot if he gets a book. Recommended if you're looking for a quick and easy paranormal.

Review: Nine-Tenths of the Law by L.A. Witt

“I believe you have something of mine, Zach.”

The stranger’s accusation throws Zach Owens for a loop. He’s never seen this man in his life, and he’s not prepared when he finds out what they have in common—their boyfriend, Jake.

Make that ex-boyfriend. With the jerk out of the picture, Zach hurries after the stranger to apologize… which quickly leads to some sizzling hot revenge sex.

Despite starting on the wrong foot, Nathan Forrester can’t get enough of the sexy movie theater owner. Still, he’s jaded and distrustful—especially when Jake keeps materializing in Zach’s presence despite Zach insisting that relationship is over.

With a devious ex-boyfriend trying to sabotage their fledgling relationship, Zach and Nathan need to learn to trust each other, or they’ll both wind up with nothing.

This 61,000 word novel was previously published, and has been revised to include an extended ending.

This is probably the perfect book to rate 3 hearts. It wasn't bad, it wasn't good it was the perfect amount of average.

This story is told from Zach's POV, we meet him at pub having dinner with his boyfriend Jake, when a man sits at​ his boothe revealing he’s actually Jake's boyfriend. Well that turned into an awkward dinner fast! The man, Nathan, leaves​ in a flurry of fury and after breaking things off with Jake, Zach follows Nathan out in order to apologise for his unwitting role as 'mistress’. Insert hot revenge sex.

After said revenge sex both Zach and Nathan can't seem to forget each other rather than their ex boyfriend Jake. After a few more bouts of sex they decide to give the whole boyfriend thing a go.

The story from here on out is sex, paranoia and trust issues. The thing is the sex was actually really really hot! I was surprised by how much I dug it but…. from the 25-85% mark there may have been 5% of that which was in no way related to Nathan and Zach having sex.

There was sooooo much sex!

I skimmed *hangs head in shame*.

The characters were good but not memorable, the story progression was fairly realistic but slow and rather predictable and the last hurrah of the story was fine but not anything more… you get the gist by now? Average.

Some people will really like this book and some people really won’t, but I think a large portion will be stuck in the middle like me.

A review copy was provided.

Tag Team Review: Summer Heat by Jay Northcote

A summer fling is an ideal cure for a broken heart. But when it’s with your best friend, things get complicated.

When Adam is dumped by his boyfriend, a week away at a beach resort seems like a great opportunity to get over his ex. Sun, sea, and no-strings sex will be just the boost he needs to move on with his life.

Adam’s best friend, Finn, agrees to accompany him at short notice. Finn’s had a crush on Adam for years, but is determined to put his feelings aside and be the perfect wingman in Adam’s time of crisis.

A spontaneous threesome with another guy forces Adam and Finn to confront their attraction to each other. Having a holiday fling together wasn’t part of the plan, and as their trip heats up, they soon realise that one night of fun won’t be enough for either of them.

The passion might be scorching, but their hearts and friendship are on the line. If their romance is going to survive the flight home, they have to be honest about what they want.

Length: 47,000 approx
Standalone

Lost in a Book - 3.5 Hearts

That was summer vacay meets long time friends to lovers meets full on smexy pornyland.

Summer Heat is the type of book that you want to read while relaxing in a hammock on the beach with a cocktail. Well, maybe a private beach because it gets hella hot and does. Not. Stop.

Adam breaks it off with his fiancé that he has been with for 5 years because the guy couldn't keep it in his pants. Heartbroken and needing a place to stay, he heads to Finn, his best friend.

"I reeled off the address of the one place where I always knew I’d be welcome, where I knew I’d get the comfort I needed, where I would be safe to fall apart. Finn’s flat."

Finn has been crushing on Adam for years and is all too eager to be a shoulder to cry on. Some time after the Jack Daniels and bucket of ice cream, Adam remembers the week long vacation he was supposed to take with his ex to a gay beach resort in Spain. Finn, the great friend he is, agrees to go with Adam instead.

"Sun, sea, sand, and sex." Yes, please!

After drinks, dancing and meeting guys, Adam and Finn find themselves with Niall. Niall is a fellow resort guest and has been chatting it up with Adam. When the time comes for a hook up, Niall, the forward thinker he is comes up with a brilliant idea when saying goodnight to Finn.

“Unless you want to come with us?” Niall smiled suggestively at Finn. “I’m sure the three of us could have a good time."

Two becomes three and then Finn and Adam run away with the show. Don’t worry, Niall is properly taken care off too. But, the chemistry between Adam and Finn is realized from their first kiss all the way to orgasm. Let’s just say that at this point, I was totally rethinking my no-reading-m/m/m- books- rule. Ohhhh to be a fly on the wall…or an extra hand? Just sayin’, H.O.T.

Three then becomes two again. Finn and Adam aren’t sure how to navigate their new relationship dynamics and things become awkward. It seems that a little more alcohol and dancing will solve their woes. The rest of their vacation besides the insane number of orgasms is spent navigating how they will move forward in their friendship and/or relationship.

This book was sugary sweet with zero angst. There was a lot of sex in them pages… almost made me worry for the health of the MCs to be able to fit that many orgasms into such a short time frame. I ain’t complainin’, there’s worse ways to go. It’s the perfect read to relax after a stressful day and I think that was the intention. Sun, sea, sand and lotsa sex.

Adam - 3 Hearts

‘Summer Heat’ is sweet, sexy, and simple. Perfect if you’re looking for a book to relax to while soaking up the sun.

After his boyfriend leaves him for a younger man, Adam and his best friend Finn decide that a resort vacation in Spain would be a great way for Adam to get over his ex.

Finn has harboured an unrequited crush on Adam for years, but he won’t let it ruin their friendship. But as the two enjoy the sun and sea, Adam begins seeing Finn in a new light.

Both MCs are immediately likeable. They’re nice easy-going guys. There isn’t too much character development, but there’s enough to get a sense of Finn and Adam’s lives, and their friendship.

The catalyst that drives their relationship from friends to lovers is a threesome with another guest at the resort. Though Finn and Adam have found each other attractive before, this is the first time they do anything sexual together.

The threesome was hot. Though there’s a third in the mix, the focus in all on Adam and Finn. Though they start off a bit awkward, the sexual chemistry between them is undeniable.

What follows is a week of sex and fun. Adam and Finn agree to a vacation fling, and the two don’t waste any time making up for years of unresolved tension.

So yes, there is quite a lot of sex in this book. It’s hot and sweet.

But the relationship doesn’t just hinge on great sex. Finn and Adam mesh well together, with their friendship naturally transitioning into something deeper. Their relationship relies heavily on the foundation they’d already built through the years as friends.

This is a very low-drama and low-angst book. Though the two MCs fret about what’s going to happen after their vacation’s over, it doesn’t take long for them to resolve everything.

Neither denies what they want, and both are more than happy embark on their HEA.

Overall, I enjoyed ‘Summer Heat.’ If you’re looking for a sexy and low-drama read, give this book a try!

Review copies were provided.

See the release blitz of Summer Heat HERE

Review: Will & Patrick's Happy Ending (Wake Up Married #6) by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths

Follow Will & Patrick in this final installment of the romantic-comedy serial, Wake Up Married, by best-selling author Leta Blake and newcomer Alice Griffiths!

Sure, Will and Patrick are in love now, but they weren’t when they got married in Vegas. For Patrick, that’s no problem, but Will can’t shake his doubts that a relationship started through coercion can ever become the real deal.

Since the Molinaro crime family has reversed their position on divorce, Will and Patrick have a chance to rectify their drunken mistake. But is divorce the solution? Find out in this final instalment of the much-beloved Wake up Married serial.


Episode 6 of 6 in the Wake Up Married serial. 

  
It doesn't get much better than this, my Unicorn friends.

At the end of Will & Patrick Meet the Mob we were left with a bit of a cliffhanger. Will and Patrick were finally able to get what they had wanted all along... a divorce. Something they say they want, but nobody actually wants. But regardless of what they know in their heart, neither has said their feelings out loud. Will decides that a divorce might be the best thing for them. 

Of course, I was screaming curses at my kindle. What was Will thinking?! Was he thinking at all? But the further he went into his reasoning the more it all made sense. It made perfect sense because of who Will is and his experiences. That's not to say his reasoning wasn't totally wrong and crazy, but for Will, there were some things he needed to process before making a leap.

As you can tell from the title, these guys do get their happily ever after and it was every bit as amazing as I knew it would be. Puddin' Pop and HottieMcBrainSurgeon wouldn't stand for less.

As always, there was snark, there was humor and there was hotness. There were also lots of tears. Lots and lots. My goodness, this one hit my right in the gut. I was actually a little blindsided. Sad things are not supposed to happen in my romantic comedies! But that's life and it sucks sometimes.

That's my favorite thing about this series. Alice Griffiths and Leta Blake make me feel such a mix of emotions in just over 100+ pages. Books like this are the whole reason I read romance. They perfectly balance what can make real life so uncomfortably real, with a touch of fantasy we look for in romance novels. 

Is it too much to hope for more? I'm not ready to say goodbye just yet. Will & Patrick are already on my re-read list. I'm pretty sure I'll be revisiting them very soon.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads.

Review: Held Hostage (Sin City Uniforms #4) by Morticia Knight

SWAT officer, Cole, can handle just about anything, until he rescues Brett—a man who makes him question all he’s ever believed about love.

As a member of the Las Vegas Police Department's SWAT team, Cole has seen his fair share of danger, but he's never taken a chance on love. He's willing to have some fun when the mood strikes him, but he's married to the job. Called in on a hostage situation, Cole is prepared for anything and everything…except for the brave and beautiful Brett.

Brett has been burned before, most recently by Officer Parker McLean. He's hoping to settle down in Vegas, perhaps find someone he can build a life with. The last thing Brett's looking for is another man in uniform. But when he meets Cole, there's an attraction that can't be denied. Still, he hadn’t expected to fall for the chiseled alpha.

What begins as nothing more than two people experiencing a great night together spirals into something far deeper. But will Brett be able to handle the stress that comes with having a lover who constantly puts his life in jeopardy? And can Cole risk his heart on an everyday hero, or will the job he knows so well remain his top priority?

Brett was introduced in book 2 of this series when he and Parker were casually sleeping together. Well, it was casual on Parker's part, but Brett ended up with his heart broken. I had felt bad for how he was treated in Parker's book, so I was super happy that Held Hostage gave him a sweet and sexy HEA.

Cole is a Vegas cop and has a comfortable relationship with his best friend. The have sex and remain besties, with no strings attached. Just how Cole likes it. No commitment, nothing serious. 

When a hostage situation arises at a clothing store, Cole is on the scene and this is where he meets Brett. Brett is the manager of the store and has to handle the hostage from inside until the police are able come in. After it's over, Cole sees that Brett is pretty shaken up about the whole thing and encourages him to take care of himself.

Their attraction was pretty insta, but it felt genuine. I never found myself questioning why they were falling so fast because the connection was there. Cole knew what Brett needed, even if Brett didn't. He helped Brett make decisions for himself and not what would make everyone else happy. It's was Brett's time and Cole was going to make sure he took advantage of it.

Cole is bossy. Bossy in a hot as hell, sexy way. They had a BDSM-type relationship, without the roles and titles. Cole was bossy and told his good boy what to do. And then Brett did it. He did it oh so well. I loved them together, in and out of the bedroom.

The problem was Cole didn't want a relationship. *blinks* C'mon! For me, it's one of the most frustrating plot devices out there. No matter how true to life it may be, it really bugs me when this is used as an excuse. Especially when you are already in a relationship, even if that's not what you're calling it. But I'd like to give Brett a high five for how he dealt with Cole. Looks like all of Cole's encouragement for Brett to do things for himself backfired. Ha! 

Held Hostage is very enjoyable addition to the series. All of the books can be easily read as a standalone.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Homicidal Instinct (Guns 'N' Boys #2) by KA Merikan

All Seth wants is to live free with the man he loves. But escaping death at the hands of the mafia is just the beginning of an uphill struggle. When Domenico wakes up from his impromptu surgery and doesn’t even remember Seth’s name, Seth’s world falls apart. Suddenly it’s him who has to plan an escape from New York City and navigate their way to Mexico. All that without even knowing if the man of his life will ever love him again.

Domenico doesn’t know who to trust and what to believe. The man who introduces himself as his brother seems to hide dark secrets behind a cheerful smile. With the mafia breathing down their necks, there is no time to piece together the puzzle of Domenico’s life, and each time he thinks he’s solved it, a new part appears to be missing. Dom needs to find out who he really is, what he’s capable of... and what is the real story hidden behind Seth’s intense eyes.

Book 2 in KA Merikan's Guns N Boys series was equally as good as parts 1.1 and 1.2. Everything is the same - yet different. Whereas before Domenico has been the driving force of the duo, he now has amnesia and it is Seth's turn to step up to the plate.

It would be easy for a series such as this to become repetitive, but Merikan manage to keep it fresh and exciting. Something as simple as a change in the balance of power makes for an interesting storyline, full of twists and turns and doubts and sighs of relief. Book 1.2 had me not knowing quite how things would play out, and to a certain extent so did this book. With his memory loss Dom has to rely on information from Seth, but Seth isn't quite sure Dom's ready to handle the full truth. This leaves Dom susceptible to the whisperings of others, and what happens when you are unsure if you can trust the one person in the world in whom you have placed all your trust?

Despite his amnesia Dom is still very attracted to Seth, who he knows only as his brother. I love that this is still evident even through the doubts. It is the relationship between Seth and Dom that keeps me so invested in these books. I'm a sucker for true love - and a love that has to fight to be, as theirs has done, leaves me rooting for the MC's so hard. I've cried with these two, I've loved and laughed with them. I want their dreams to come true. I want Seth to open up a bakery or restaurant, I can see him so clearly in a mafia free life, it is after all what he wanted all along. Dom, I have to admit, is harder to place outside the family. It has been his life, it is what he's good at, what he has strove for...yet he's willing to change that for Seth. *I need to bandage my heart right now.*

There were moments in this book that I wasn't sure I could carry on reading. Moments when I hated the family with all my heart. How dare they stand in the way and stop these two? I'm not lying when I say there were parts in this book that were downright awful, I always hate any kind of 'collateral damage' innocent people getting caught up in the fray. It makes me sick. At one point, despite rooting for Dom and Seth, I have to say I found it really hard to forgive their actions. Even Seth with his talks of forgiveness made me squirm (and not in a good way) because, you know, don't do it. Bad decision - you can't want to be clean of this lifestyle just some of the time and then make choices that affect innocent people the rest of the time. No, that's not how it works. Despite this though I still love them and their story - even if I don't always love their choices.

Another fabulous instalment of the Guns 'n' Boys series, one I would recommend to anyone not put off by the warning tags.

Find out more at Goodreads.
A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

Possible spoiler - story warnings.
Themes: mafia, homophobia, assassin, organized crime, amnesia, road trip, chase
Genre: Dark, twisted erotic romance / crime thriller
Erotic content: Explicit gay sex
Length: ~88,000 words

WARNING: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you.
‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin.