For Sam, times infinity by Suki Fleet

~sigh~ Beautiful. If you haven't read anything by Suki it's simply a must. There is something raw in her writing there is no way I'll be able to explain. But if you've read one of her books you'll know what I'm talking about. This feeling in your stomach he/they have been SO wronged and yet he/they are still here, trying, struggling, looking for a glimpse of happiness wherever it could be found. The is no fame and riches, no Prince or Princess, there isn't even a true promise of the kind of fairy-tale Happily Ever After, it's all about finding what's truly important in life - love, connection - and with those in hand finding their own happiness. It's so simply and exactly because of that - genuine. Money and fame won't ever make anyone happy but what Suki offers her characters will, even if their lives aren't "picture perfect" it's enough. It's a true lesson in humility.

This story is told from both our MCs - Sam and Evra, working together in a Balloon factory they somehow attract one another. Two quiet shy guys who wish for a little bit more than the simple life they are currently living - even if it seems impossible they'll be able to keep it. For Sam it's because he doesn't plan on staying for long and for Evra, well, you'll have to read this one to get his story... I won't spoiler it.

Beautiful Temptation (So This is Christmas #2) [Blair & Caden] by Christina Lee

Beautiful heart-felt story. I adored both Blair and Caden. They were both in a difficult situation in life and sometimes holidays' cheer isn't what's needed, it's the peace and quiet and sometimes the RIGHT company even if an unexpected one.

Caden Bell needs to figure some things out and though he loves his family he needs the time alone which is why when everyone is away he decides to go to his brother Christopher's beach house saying nothing to anyone. Yet Blair Anderson, Christopher's best friend, has already given Blair the okay to said beach house and when they stumble upon each other they are both reluctant to leave yet not sure about staying together. They might have gotten along great when they were kids (or rather when Caden was a kid) but as teenagers things have changed a bit and though both have secretly kept tubs on one another it's totally different spending this time together when both are in need of solace.

It doesn't take long for them to realize they actually DO get along pretty great. Even if the overly vibrant extroverted life-of-the-party model couldn't be more different than the muscled jock who liked to keep to himself. Yet the compassion Caden shows right from the start towards Blair makes him reluctant to leave even if he would rather stay on his own. After having a heart to heart things change. They both see there is more to each other than they thought or saw before. Blair have been living a very stressful life including drugs and an eating disorder and Caden have broken up with his high-school sweetheart to figure out his own bisexual sexuality.

Mr. Right Now by Annabeth Albert

I simply ADORED this one. I loved everything about this sweet and endearing couple! I read this book on a flight, enjoying myself and couldn't believe half the flight was over and so is this novella.

Russ and Esteban have been neighbors for a while now. But besides Esteban asking forgivness for his naughty cat visiting Russ's apartment, they have very to little interaction. But actually Esteban is one of the reason Russ decided to rent the place, learining it's gay friendly. He's about a year out of his service as a marine as well as out and he still needs time to get used to it - civilian but also having a boyfriend.

Esteban have always admired Russ from the side, but he worried he's one of those ex-military who isn't that gay friendly.. Yet when he meets Russ throwing away a very unfortunate looking skilet he somehow finds himself connecting with the guy and realizing he's basically a big blond teddy bear - the best kind for sure! And that's how he finds himself offering to help Russ with cooking a dinner for his family.

The Art of Possession by Cari Z.

I can't really say why but this book just didn't work for me. I think there was somehow not enough of the adventure - action or the romance. The premise of this one was quite different, a bit like Indiana Johns yet unlike him our MCs were not about STEALING treasures but rather making it available to the world to enjoy, especially the country of origin which is a hot debate at the moment and I really appreciated Cari bringing us a modern approach to artifacts and how they should be treated.

Malcolm Armstrong used to work for the British Museum before his name got tainted. He alluded to an artifact being fake only to find himself out of a job, his name shattered and also sans boyfriend - Gerard Thorburn who also works for the British Museum and in fact has donated a lot of artifacts from his personal collection.  Gerard found it very easy to move on from Mal but now he needs him and he has no problem calling him back to retrieve a stolen artifact that was suppose to be donated to the Museum and later on be moved to it's country of origin.

Mal isn't thrilled by Gerard offer, but after speaking to the guy who up until recently have owned the artifact - Specter - believes it could be genuine. What he isn't sure about is the guy with the gun - Alex Tucker, an american working for a private security company who is hired to be the muscle of the operation (him being there just to verify the item's authenticity).

Lumber Jacked (Rainbow Cove, #2.5) [Johnny & Cam] by Annabeth Albert

Oh, I LOVED this one. What a sweet kinky little novella. Though frankly it felt like so much more somehow. I also really appreciated the bonus chapter we get in the newer version. This started out as a free read and now it's up on Amazon for 99 cents with a real bonus treat! Highly recommend you get this newer version even if - like me - you already got the free shorter one.

We've met Johnny briefly in the previous installment. Curtis "warned" Logan he wouldn't be his type and hinted to bondage. As it seems that's exactly Johnny''s thing, and he has made a sexy hobby out of it, one new in town vlogger Cam is intrigued to try.

Tender with a Twist (Rainbow Cove #2) [Curtis & Logan] by Annabeth Albert

This book was special. It's not my go-to read, and I had my issues with it because I wasn't sure Logan's need to dominate "worked" for me, but in the end, it didn't really matter, because a relationship isn't built solely on the sexual interaction. Sure, it's important but it's not everything. Curtis and Logan, on the outside, seem total opposite yet somehow they each brought into the other's life exactly what they needed. Not because they were perfect, no, it was their imperfection and their need to be there for the other even when their future didn't feel like possible. So even if you're not into kink (pain\bondage) there is SO MUCH more to this story and I ask you to give it a go.

We've already met both Curtis and Logan in the previous installment. Logan Rosner is one of the three owners of the new tavern in Rainbow Cove. Logan had a comfortable life in Portland, but he wanted something different. He wanted freedom, a place to express the person he really is, and not the one people expect him to be. Being the Chef of the tavern, getting to make and decide on the menu makes him happy like nothing in the past did. Yeah they might be struggling but he hopes and believes they can overcome it. This town has totally captured his heart and he doesn't want just the tavern to succeed he wants the town itself to do better as well.

The few times Curtis Hunt came to the tavern with his long time friend Nash (the MC in the previous installment) he was his usual self - grumpy. He has changed the last two years after losing the love of his life. He had it all, a partner he adored, a future together, true happiness. But he lost it all and now, besides his work as a chainsaw wood carver, nothing truly brings him joy, including the shy kid who makes THE best vegan food (even though he won't admit that to ANYONE). 

Trust with a Chaser (Rainbow Cove #1) [Mason & Nash] by Annabeth Albert

OUTSTANDING. This book was simply a TREAT to read. I loved everything about this book. My only complaint would be - life getting in the way of my reading and it's HARDLY Annabeth's fault now is it? Clearly when I plan on reading one of her books I should know better than read it in a busy weekend ;) Mason and Nash have very complicated lives even if on paper they are basically doing great. Yet they are both lonely and have a hard time dealing with what life and mostly other people expect them to do or even BE.

Nash Flint is the chief of Police in Rainbow Cove like his deceased father and though he is proud of his work and is basically married to the job he is grumpy and lonely. It's hard being gay and not allowing yourself to even be in a relationship because he doesn't want the gossip but mostly because he doesn't want to disappoint said dead father and mother (who isn't even living in Rainbow Cove anymore..). He knows what to do about his job but he sure doesn't know what to do with his personal life, especially when Mason Hanks returns to town. Exactly the WRONG guy to be tangled with. He might be the white sheep in the VERY black sheep family of Hanks but it's still not a good idea.

Break the Day (Midnight Breed #16) [Rafe & Devony] by Lara Adrian

It's been a while since my last visit to the "Midnight Breed" universe and I gotta say - I missed it! It's hard for me reading one book a year- remembering all the details, but once I'm immersed in the story it hardly matters. On the contrary, it only makes me wish I could read them ALL again! Rafe and Devony's story was captivating. They were both after the same things but while Devony was honest with Rafe from the moment he realized she isn't human, he has been keeping his undercover work for The Order a secret which is the exact thing that holds their relationship in a constant question mark. It worked out in the end - naturally. But it almost cost both of their lives.

Though the details are a bit fuzzy for me, I do remember Rafe (Xander Raphael Malebranche) being tricked by one of Opus Nostrum's agents in the previous installment. He more than felt bad for what he conceived to be a HUGE f*kup on his part. He put A LOT of people in danger including his own parents - Dante and Tess. It's not something he can easily put aside which is why he gladly agreed to become undercover to find more information about Opus Nostrum after being "kicked" from The Order for his actions. Barely no one knows about his undercover work which makes it hard on him, seeing his friends pulling away from him. Yeah he was helping that happen on his end, yet it still hurts. His first group to be embedded in is Cruz's - exactly where he finds "Bricks". She isn't really part of the gang, but she works for Cruz and she is VERY reluctant to accept a Breed as an accomplice. It doesn't take him long to realize why THAT is.. She is actually Breed as well - a daywalker and she has her own reasons for playing human in Cruz's gang.