Perfect Score (Easton U Pirates #3) [Morgan & Elliot] by Christina Lee

While usually I'm a HUGE fan of Christina, a definite auto-buy / auto-read, this one didn't work for me. I don't know exactly why. I thought maybe it was them being rather young (this IS New Adult), but I think it's mostly the way they circled each other didn't get me excited, rather frustrated by their redundant thoughts, trying to justify every little step they made outside of their friendship as "not a big deal" while it CLEARLY was for both of them. 

Elliot and Morgan have been best friends for years. They love each other dearly and couldn't see themselves living without one another (which is another justification for NEVER changing their bestfriends dynamics). Morgan has a certain disability. I like the way Christina finds unique yet genuine characters, flawed like we all are, even if we don't share exactly what the MCs are dealing with. For Morgan, this is who he is but he IS frustrated people - guys - think less of him or are not interested in him (sexually) due to his disability. Another reason to love Elliot who sees FAR past Morgan's daily difficulties. 

Moon Spell (Fated, #2) [Bellamy & Ashwood] by Christina Lee

This one was different then what I expected. Maybe my feelings towards it has something to do with just how SAD the whole story was. Both guys' life were pretty miserable. Well, Bellamy's life SEEMS happy at "Moon Flower", and yet he still kept a HUGE part of himself wraped in as many layers as he could but he couldn't really hide his true feelings, they were still there, always. While his pain was obvious as our sole POV, Ashwood's feelings were in a way even more evident. Every gesture, every word spoken - his love for Bellamy has no end. 

We've met Bellamy in the previous installment, it was more than hinted he might be a werewolf with a lover someone out there. It's all true but it's far more complicated than either guy at the establishment could have guessed. I'm not going to go into a lot of details about Bellamy's past decisions or what exactly happened between him and Ashwood. I'll just say they were everything to one another when Ashwood betrayed his trust. With everything they shared it broke his heart and ability to fully trust (himself and what he was becoming). Now, 2 years later, they have an oportunity to speak again and put everything that happened on the table. It might not be the best time as Bellamy is dying of the the Violet Fever. The cure Madam Langley found doesn't work for him, it might even make him worse and so Ashwood takes it upon himself to try and heal him. 

Moon Flower (Fated, #1) [Galen & Azriel] by Christina Lee

Beautiful, heartfelt and sexy. I'm not sure what I expected this one to be.. Especially with how Christina described it. It's mostly Historical Romance though it does have a little dab of Paranormal - a bit of "magic" sprinkled in. Galen and Azriel haven't been very fortunate growing up, also being gay in the times they were born is dangerous. They might have found a way of earning a living, at least for now, but it's not a real future. Seeing each other, feeling the attraction, the pull towards one another, makes them wish for something more. 

Galen had to leave the small town he grew up in after he was caught stealing. Ashamed of himself, and not wanting to cause any problems to his aunt who raised him he moves to the next town, earning a living (barely) by selling his body. He has a certain gift that helps his make a better decision when guys approach him, but he made a mistake which almost cost him his life. 

When the twins (Wren and Sparrow) came to his rescue he is unsure of the whole situation. They look like two angels. When he arrives at their home he is grateful for sure, but he also doesn't want what the lady of the house - Madam Langley - is offering anyone who stays there. He will pay his debt and go. What he didn't expect is Azriel.

Pretty Wild (Boys in Makeup #3) [Skyler & Clark] by Christina Lee & Riley Hart

If there is a theme in this series I'd say it's how FREAKING ADORABLE all these couples are. This one was a DELICOUS slow burn best friends to lovers which is my absolute favorite trope. I read it in one sitting not wanting to put it down (also why I timed it on the weekend ;)). Skyler and Clark might seem to be polar opposites but I don't think they are and if they are they totally and absolutely complete each other. 

Skyler and Clark first met when they were 12 years old at gymnastics. Though they come from VERY different backgrounds they hit it off from the start. They might have not realized it at the time but they were each other's first crush. When Clark's parents saw the class brought somethings they weren't so pleased with they pull him out of the class and that's the last they see of one another until a very familiar face pops up on Skyler's Instagram. 

Home Plate (Easton U Pirates #2) [Mason & Dominic] by Christina Lee

This book! I have NO WORDS to describe how much I enjoyed it. Honestly can't remember the last time I wasn't just "sniffling" a bit, but down right crying, not being able to continue until my vision is cleared. Mason KILLED me and Dominic being all sweet and caring towards him only made it worse (for my tears). I finally understand why we need the new waterproof e-readers.

While this novel can be read as a standalone I think you'll get both characters a bit better if you start with "Bat Boy". Maybe I think this way because I could see a start of a change in Mason and couldn't wait to get my hands on this one! Dominic and Mason have been "circling" each other for a while now and not even as friends. They need to be able to work together on the team but grumpy Mason is making it VERY difficult. 

If you've read the first book you might be wondering who are these guys.. Well, I feel entitled to use their first names now that I've finished the book (and miss these guys already!) Mason Maclain is no other than Donovan and Hollister's roommate. While he sometimes acts like a douche he is just pessimistic and reserved and he has good reasons. He likes to play confident but it's easy to see it's all a façade. 

Bat Boy (Easton U Pirates #1) [Brady & Kellan] by Christina Lee

In one word this book was ADORABLE. Kellan and Brady have been circling around each other and wanting each other for a few months before we get into the story. They are both unsure about anything possible between them for more than one reason. Seeing them becoming friends and progressing into lovers was such a heartfelt journey. Their innocence was refreshing. I don't remember when was my previous New Adult and I liked that though their had their sexy times together it wasn't at all focused about that but about finding  something special in each other, in their companionship. 

Brady Donovan is the captain of the Easton U Pirates Baseball team. Things are going pretty great for him on his first year of college working hard on his studies and having fun on the field with his new team. He is living with two of his teammates - his best friend from childhood Trent Hollister and Maclain (who has his issues for sure) and is working his way to building some sort of friendship with the team's "Bat Boy" - the coach's son - Kellan. While they have fun teasing each other, Kellan always keeps a distance which frustrates Brady but he is persistent! There is something MORE about Kellan. Something he has never felt before.  Makes him question what he assumed about himself.. 

Have Mercy by Christina Lee

This book is EVERYTHING.  I don't know how and if I can review it, or rather if I can give it the justice it deserves. This book spoke to something so deep inside me. A whisper of the past, of who I used to be, of what I've been through and the horse that stood by my side, silent, observing, offering comfort. "Only takes one horse to get their hooks in you" That's the truth. His name was Comet. I made a sad and conscious decision years ago to put my love for horses aside. It's no wonder I chose the closest thing I could have inside my home - a Great Dane. This breed own my heart, for sure. But my horses are not and will never not be forgotten.

Julian North is lost. He used to have a "job", a purpose, but after his honorary discharge from the military he is left with a bad knee and nightmares (not only during the nights). He is having a hard time adjusting to life, especially in the big city. Yet when his mother suggests spending the summer in cousin's farm in Wyoming he isn't sure it's a good idea. He always liked Sienna and she needs his help in something he is good at and would enjoy doing - converting a silo into a small store - still he isn't sure about it. Once he gets there it doesn't take him long to fall in love with the place, and a certain person...

Pretty Sweet (Boys in Makeup #2) [Seth & Jake] by Christina Lee & Riley Hart

When I say this book was ADORABLE I mean it. It was the sweetest thing ever. Truth being told, I'm having a hard time lately committing to a whole length novel yet once I started this one I couldn't put it down and I was reminded how happy I get when I immerse myself in a beautiful heartfelt book. Jake and Seth's story was vulnerable and tender. they were both exploring parts of themselves they haven't before and that's without mentioning the sexual part that was rather new to both of them. 

We've met Seth in the previous installment. He is Jesse's best friend. They used to live together in Seth's apartment before Jesse found his own HEA with Dane (If you haven't read "Pretty Perfect" it's simply a MUST). Jake has lived a rather sheltered life. He comes from a wealthy family but a cold one. It used to be different when his father was alive, but after his death his mother became WAY too controlling, trying to build a perfect life for her only son, not seeing for a second it's never what he wanted for himself. He didn't know how to stand up to her, how to pursue his real interests which is a big part of the reason he has left home to study (what she wants - and he dislikes), in the university his father went to, and more importantly far from home. 

A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies by Christina Lee

What can I say besides the obvious - I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. Loved Emerson and Rhys, the interaction between the two, the family connection. The tenderness, the love. Best Friends to Lovers is one of my absolute favorite tropes and there is also something to be said about dealing with amnesia that always appealed to me in these kind of romance novels. It's the chance to re-get to know yourself, the people around you and make different decisions than you did before.

Emerson and Rhys have known each other their entire lives, besides being neighbors the two families completed one another for years and though as teenagers they slightly pulled apart from each having different interests - Emerson being the quiet reserved guy and Rhys outgoing and adventurous - the connection never failed. When a devastating car accident take the lives of Emerson and his two siblings parents the heart broken Emerson takes charge of the younger kids, putting aside his own dreams and aspirations. Rhys feels like he has lost a set of parents himself and he tries his best to be by Emerson's side to comfort and reassure he is there for him and always will be.

4 years have past by and though not a lot of changed something sort of did in the last year, at least for Emerson Rose. He has started questioning his sexuality. Not only because he has NO time to date these past few years but because his feeling towards Rhys confuse him. Can he be attracted to his best friend? When did THAT happen? His search leads him to the realization he is Demisexual. It's not about the sexual identity of the person it's about the connection they share. With everything Rhys and him went through together it's only natural that at a certain point Emerson would realize THIS is the person he wants on his side. The guy who has always been there.

Pretty Perfect (Boys in Makeup #1) [Jesse & Dane] by Christina Lee & Riley Hart

I gotta say, Christina and Riley are pretty perfect together ;) LOVED this book. I could not and would not put this book down. Jesse and Dane were FIRE together or even when they were just looking at each other across the room. It's not that they "didn't mix like oil and water" they were simply explosive!

Jesse and Dane work together at a bar-club. Jesse being a dancer and Dane a bartender. They don't always work in the same part of the club but one disagreement made the owner realize there is something about these two and so he made them share two dances on Friday night and the response of the audience was to be expected - they LOVED the simmering fire. That means one happy owner and though Jesse and Dane weren't THAT happy dancing together the tips were kinda worth 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.

Science & Jockstraps (Ace's Wild #1) [Liam & Isaiah] by Christina Lee & Riley Hart

This novella was HOT ~fanning myself~. Though there's quite a lot of sexy-times in this one I gotta say I still feel like the romance part, the buildup of the relationship - friends to lovers - was done BEAUTIFULLY. Not that I expected any less from Christina and Riley and as usual I wasn't disappointed. I got EXACTLY what I bargained for.

Liam and Isaiah have been roommates and somewhat "secret friends" for the past year. They enjoy spending time together even if on the outside they couldn't be more different - The science-y Liam and Isaiah the jock. But they somehow do fit. Only problem is, outside of their dorm they don't mesh. It feels wrong, to both of them. The gap is simply too much.

When Isaiah find out (by mistake) a kinky side to Liam he realizes he can't let him experiment if he's not going to have someone SAFE to do it with and so he offers himself. Liam is stunned but as Isaiah confessed to being bi and REALLY being into it (and Liam) - Liam accepts (a dream come true if he cam be honest..).

Kickflip by Christina Lee

This is SUCH a beautiful tender love story. I didn't know what exactly to expect, I actually read the synopsis now.. meaning JUST before writing this review and only so I"ll know how much can I say without spoilering ;) I LOVED it, loved everything about it. It was emotional without being over emotional, it was angsty yet it didn't feel angsty at all because every emotion expressed was placed just right. The only thing I can somehow complain about is we only got Cory's POV and I would have loved getting Jude's POV especially since all the mystery was from his end, not only his past but what and how he felt toward Cory. 

Note - This book was actually published a few years back as "There You Stand" (5th in the "Between Breaths" Series). Now that's Christina's rights are hers again she is re-releasing this amazing book under a new title. It's also a prequel to "Roadmap to Your Heart" series but still can be read as a total stand alone. I'm doing a bit of "cheating" today with a re-visit to my review from back then.

A Breath Apart by Christina Lee

I had a busy few weeks so this is actually the first book I've read in July! and though I was REALLY anxious to read it I didn't want to do it a disservice by reading it when I'm not mentally available so I waited a bit and BOY am I happy I did. It's been a while since I found myself shamelessly shedding tears while reading a book. Brennan and Josh simply BROKE MY HEART. Luckily Christina managed to patch it back together in the end...

I actually really like the way this book was constructed. We only get Brennan's POV telling us the story but at the end of each chapter we get Josh's diary entry giving us his side of the story. It was so unique! It gave another layer to the story with Josh speaking his heart openly.

Forever Moore (Forbidden Love #2) [Ansil & Orien] by Riley Hart & Christina Lee

OUTSTANDING! Christina and Riley DEFINITELY did it again! I LOVED Ansil and Orien in this retelling of "Snow White". It's a fantasy world, but unlike the original story, there is no magic - yet all the elements are there, entwined in a beautiful heart felt story of two men who couldn't be more suited for one another. Meeting each other, spending time together, Ansil and Orien both change for the better. They learn more about themselves than they knew before and with all the complications they manage to plan a future together so different than they would have imagined for themselves.

Lord Ansil Eirwin is 20 years old, in less than a year he will be proclaimed the Duke of Ravenswood. His life up until now have been quite sheltered. His mother have been the regent for the past few years even since his father died and so he was mostly free to pursue his interests. Ansil's mother didn't stay single, she married Reginald Moore hoping to bring more balance into their lives. Yet Reginald isn't who she thought and he has his own plans..

Redeem (Under My Skin #4) [Michael & Stewart] by Christina Lee

This was everything I hoped for. Christina did it again for sure in this OUTSTANDING book were the villains of the world unite and we see they are a bit misunderstood mostly by themselves. Everyone deserves a second chance, don't you think? I loved the way this book progressed, both Michael and Stewart's hangups and how little by little a friendship and then love made them realize they are allowed to have happiness even if their past isn't spotless. I also enjoyed seeing all the other guys and especially their reactions throughout the book.

We've met Michael Walsh, aka V, aka Voldemort, in the 2nd installment. He was in a strange and not happy at all relationship with West (the MC there). Michael was overbearing, high handed and controlling but also keeping West his "dirty little secret", not being able to come out or even acknowledge to himself he is bi. Their relationship was a disaster! and though they had good years in the beginning when Michael took care of West after his family were killed in a fire, they came to an impasse when West took all his staff and left. Michael was left on his own, in his big, spacious apartment looking over the river with only his two pugs for company. He realized he's done wrong, realized he is becoming into the man he hates the most - his father. Now it's time to make things right. But it's not easy.

Beautiful Dreamer (So This is Christmas #1) [Garrett & Rory] by Christina Lee

ADORABLE! This novella was so sweet! I LOVED IT! First, before the romance, I really enjoyed the holiday vibes and nostalgia around it. I don't celebrate Christmas but I loved the whole feeling of this novella. I was a bit like Kate (Rory's girlfriend) getting to know these two families and their traditions, ones they perfected over a lifetime of friendship between them. They might have been apart for the past 6 years but it made no difference once they got together again for the holidays. 

Garrett Coleman and Rory Sweeney have been best friends since they were little, as their mothers are best friends it worked wonderfully. They spend their days playing and having fun together, at times with Rory's older brother Finn. Growing up Garrett idolized Finn and even before he realized he was gay, he was simply fascinated with the guy. His self assurance, charisma, good looks. Yet everything fell apart after his mother was diagnosed with cancer.  Feeling like his whole world was shattered he went partying where he shouldn't have and the guy who came to his rescue - and total embarrassment - was Finn. Being drunk only made thins worse. Ever since then he made his best to ignore Finn. It wasn't difficult. Being in college and helping his family as much as he can during his mother's recovery made it hard to look beyond his personal bubble. Yet now, 6 years later, he is driving to the one place he knows he won't be able to ignore Finn - their family cabin where they spent so many Christmases together.

First Light (Heartsville #2) [Aubrey & Oliver] by Christina Lee & Felice Stevens

PERFECTION. I"ll write a review though I think I can sum it up in two words MUST READ, or in three words GRAB IT NOW. I knew this book is going to be awesome not only because I trust Christina, but also because I loved "Last Call", the previous book in this series, together with Felice. It was different, yet the most important things stayed the same - wonderful writing, beautiful and tender story, and characters who are here not only to get their HEA but to evolve and grow in the process. It was almost a "slow burn" in the way the friendship between Aubrey and Oliver progressed and I loved it to pieces. So let's make a deal, okay? Scroll down, order it, then come back here and I'll tell you my thoughts in more than 2 or 3 words.

Are you back yet? you're here? Great! Let's start at the beginning...

Of Sunlight and Stardust by Christina Lee & Riley Hart

Heart warming and heart breaking all together. With every sweet moment we have of Tanner and Cole we have a heart breaking moment between Tom and Charlie entwined together. Though they never met these two couples share so much together. I loved this book SO MUCH. I read most of it in one sitting with a constant clench in my stomach. I thought I knew how Tom and Charlie's story ended but in a way I totally didn't. Thank you Christina and Riley for this beautiful book 💝

If I got you all confused let's start with the present before we delve into the past..

Tanner Rowe's life was shattered a year ago when he lost his beloved wife Emma. Reluctantly he does at least a part of what she asked him and buys this house with a burned down barn. She never stepped foot in the house (or the barn) but while on vocation when they kept seeing it all she wanted to do was claim it as their own. Now that she is gone and he is a shadow of the man he was by her side he finally does her bidding and buys it. But renovating it isn't something he is up to. He mostly stays at the house by his own. Not interacting with anyone around him. When he meets Cole he sees a kindred spirit though he doesn't even know how and why. He finds himself offering him a place to stay in turn of fixing the barn.

Love Me Louder by Christina Lee

It's not like I had any doubt I'm going to LOVE this one. My only problem was, lack of time prevented me from reading the whole thing in one day. This story broke my heart and pieced it up together. Will and Noah were MADE for each other. What they saw in one another is exactly what love stories is made of and made for. The story is told from both Noah and Will which I really enjoyed. They both had their issues and so seeing it from each ones perspective gave this book a really beautifully sensitive feel.