ARC Review : Evolved by N.R. Walker

Title : Evolved

Author : N.R. Walker

Genre(s) : Contemporary gay romance, M/M romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Publication Date : April 23rd 2018

My Rating(s) : 5/5 Stars
Buy links : Amazon

In 2068, androids are an integrated part of human life. Big Brother no longer just watches from the shadows. It’s in every household.

Lloyd Salter has OCD issues with noise, mess, and he’s uncomfortable with human interaction. When his ex claimed the only thing perfect enough to live up to his standards was an android, Lloyd dismissed it. But two years later, after much self-assessment, Lloyd thinks he may have been right.

SATinc is the largest manufacturer of androids in Australia, including the Fully Compatible Units known as an A-Class 10. Their latest design is the Synthetic Human Android UNit, otherwise known as SHAUN.

Shaun is compatible with Lloyd’s every need; the perfect fit on an intellectual and physical basis. But Lloyd soon realises Shaun’s not like other A-Class androids. He learns. He adapts. Sure that SATinc is aware Shaun functions outside of his programmed parameters, Lloyd must find a way to keep Shaun safe.

No one can know how special Shaun is. No one can know he’s evolved.

“I am acutely aware of my existentialism. I know why I am here. I know I am not human and I know the differences between us are more than simply physical . But Lloyd, I feel these things. Synthetic or not, I feel them. And if love is everything you say it is, that it is not logical or even reasonable, then I can only conclude that what I feel for you, when I think of you , when I am with you, is love.”

🌿🌿🌿 

N.R. Walker did it again!

I'm blushing, giggling, swooning and crying because of Shaun!

Read it in one sit and that was the best 6 hours in my life!

If I can only use one word to describe this book, It would be  pluperfect!

I don't know where the inspiration came from or what was actually 'possessed' the author when she decided to write this story, but I definitely bless the day when that plot bunny spirit came to her mind and feels so grateful when the author let the characters 'speak' to her and finally write a story that way beyond her usual types and out of her comfort zone. Because this book is definitely another epic write from the author and I Floved it!

Shaun's child-like innocence side made him look adorably cute, but at the same time, his eagerness for sex and pleasures and his constants naughty flirting at Lloyd and his need to be loved, wanted and belong has made the story also fun and heartwarming at the same time. Both Lloyd and Shaun are really adorkable and all wrapped in very interesting and beautiful story that will give you constant swooning and will melted your heart.

Oh I wish this book will made into movie someday...

Definitely A MUST read book from N.R. Walker!!!!

Goodreads

N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance.

She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

She is many things: a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don’t let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things… but likes it even more when they fall in love.

She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She’s been writing ever since…

Website

Facebook

Facebook Author Page

Twitter

Instagram

Amazon Page

Google +

Email

Review : Captain Merric by Rebecca Cohen

Title : Captain Merric

Author : Rebecca Cohen

Genre(s) : Historical gay romance

Publication Date : April 6th 2018 (2nd Edition)

My Rating(s) : 3/5 Stars

A tale of pirates, lost love, and the fight for a happy ending.

After he’s set adrift and left to die by his mutinous crew, the last person Royal Navy officer Daniel Horton expects to come to his rescue is Captain Merric. An infamous pirate, Merric is known as much for stealing his victims’ hearts as their jewels. Daniel’s world is about to be turned upside down when he recognises Captain Merric as none other than Edward Merriston, someone he thought he'd never see again.
Edward can’t believe Daniel Horton is aboard his ship. While Edward is willing to do anything he can to get a second chance at their happy ending, Daniel isn’t interested in digging up the past. But Daniel is one priceless treasure Captain Merric isn’t about to let go of without a fight.

Captain Merric first appeared as short story in a pirate-themed anthology. Now completely rewritten and extended he is ready to set sail again.

No one has ever come close to replacing you, no one ever will... 

I completely intrigued by the cover when I decided to read this book. The blurb also interesting enough to lure my curiosity.

The first few chapters was really intriguing, but later I found that I have sense of déjà vu feeling with some scenes from the book that reminds me of another historical book I've read years ago also about pirate but it's straight romance. I was trying to remember the book almost the entire reading but cannot picturing the title until I finished the book (but I do remember the pirate name was Tristan!). The pond and waterfall scenes, the mansion, the housekeeper and the first bath scene on the bath tube feels so familiar to me. But maybe it's all just a coincidence, right?

The story itself actually quite interesting about second chance love with some hot scenes here and there mix with a bit misunderstanding from the past that need to be clarifies, oh and I do like the ending when they finally have their HEA after the long journey, but  in the end the story still not strong enough to impress me. 

Review : The Problem with Grady (Off Limits #2) by Cin Forrester

Title : The Problem With Grady

Author : Cin Forrester

Series : Off Limits book 2

Genre(s) : Contemporary gay romance, May-December

Publication Date : April 20th 2017

My Rating(s) : 3.5/5 Stars

Everything he wants. Nothing he can have. But now their secrets are out.

Trevor’s parents gave him a choice. Either live with his Marine vet godfather instead of in the dorms, or don’t go to college at all. Trevor’s resentment quickly shifted to interest when he saw his godfather for the first time in five years. Grady is a walking wet dream, hard muscles and a mouth-watering package. The strict rules Grady set only helped Trevor indulge a kink for corporal punishment until Grady caught on to his game.

Cards are on the table now. Grady knows how easy it would be to take his oldest friend’s son to bed, and Trevor is constantly reminding him of that. Grady’s made a lot of mistakes by grabbing life by the balls and he’s trying to do the right thing by Trevor, even if that means nailing every ass but the one he wants the most.

If Grady won’t relieve Trevor of his pesky v-card, he’s pretty sure he can find a guy on campus who will. The problem is none of them understand Trevor’s love of a hard spanking and bruises that last for days. None of them are Grady.

Trevor is smart and determined, and Grady is running out of reasons to say no.

Something’s gotta give.

Warning: Contains obnoxious bratting, hard spanking, and much will-they-or-won’t-they yearning. This is book two in a series.

“I’m not going to fuck you, Trevor. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to.”

Well....well....well....

I know that this book gonna be something!!!! 

Trevor who has his own 'trauma' for losing his brother and being 'haunted' by his brother shadow... (ghost... or whatever!) - finally find his peace (or maybe distraction?) in his interaction with Grady.

On the other hand, Grady who can't resist his attraction to Trevor start to feel jealous when Trevor finally meet someone his own age to fuck. Grady's possessiveness can't stand with Trevor closeness with another guy because he know for sure that only him who know exactly how to satisfied Trevor who crave for some kink in bed and that include spanking and some bruises.

Things getting way more intense when Trevor's father finally have suspicion on what actually happen between his son and Grady. And that was another problem they must face....

And again, the book ended with a cliffy ending that leave the reader in (a bit) frustration because there's still no news about when the next book will be release!! Awfully annoying!!!

ARC Review : Second Chance by Jay Northcote

Title: Second Chance

Author: Jay Northcote

Publisher: Jaybird Press (self published)

Length: 67,000 words approx

Genre(s): contemporary m/m romance, transgender

Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh

Release Date: Friday 20th April 2018

Series info: This book is a standalone

My Rating(s): 4 out of 5 Stars

Everyone deserves a second chance.

Nate and his teenage daughter need a fresh start, so they move back to the village where he grew up. Nate’s transgender, and not used to disclosing his history, so it’s hard living where people knew him before. When Nate reconnects with Jack—his best friend from school and unrequited crush—his feelings return as strong as ever.

Jack’s returned home to get his life in order after an addiction to alcohol caused him to lose everything: his job, his driver’s license, and nearly his life. He’s living with his parents, which is less than ideal, but rekindling his friendship with Nate—or Nat as Jack once knew him—is an unexpected benefit of being back home. Jack is amazed by Nate’s transformation, and can’t deny his attraction. Trying for more than friendship might ruin what they already have, but the chemistry between them is undeniable.

Doubting his feelings are reciprocated, Nate fears he’s risking heartbreak. Jack’s reluctance to tell his parents about their relationship only reinforces Nate’s misgivings. With both their hearts on the line and their happiness at stake, Jack needs to make things right, and Nate has to be prepared to give him a second chance.

First of all I want to say that I like the cover. The guy model on the cover successfully caught my full attention since the first time the author shared it. 

The second things that caught my attention is definitely the blurb. I must admit that the blurb is interesting enough to made me put aside all the worries I felt about the book at first since I'm not used to read a book with older MCs.

But when I start read the book, it changed instantly and all my worries gone right away. The next thing I knew, the book had consumed me deep enough and totally hard to put down.

Everyone deserves a second chance in their life...

Nate had loved Jack since they become inseparable best friends at school when he was still a tomboy girl back then. But Jack only attract to boys and Nate had to buried deep his feeling and put himself as a good best friend to Jack even jealousy had hurt him so many times. Nate then cut the friendship and never have contact Jack since they entered different university. For years Jack questioning on the way his bestfriend cut him out.

Fate then put them meet again years later but in different conditions. 

Losing his job with a depression and serious addiction to alcohol, Jack then returned to his parents house and trying to fix and start new life again. While on the other hand, Nat now Nate also moved back to his mother house with his daughter, Cass after a tragedy that almost caused his daughter's life in London.

The author smoothly made their 'reunion' after years being separated and lost contact into a slow and perfect pace complete with all the awkward and strange moments between the two. The emotions played perfectly well when they start to reconcile their friendship before move into 'a friend with benefits' terms and a move more farther when they both start to feel something with each other. A bit drama was put in the middle of their fragile relationship before both Nate and Jack realized that they need to clear their mind and fight for what they want and give them both a second chance to their own happiness.

It's really surprise me that I ended with deeply in love with the story and all the characters in this book.

Reading this book is like reading the author life journal for as we know that Jay always completely very open with his personal life as a transgender man. And it's hard for me not to 'see' Jay's shadows in Nate character. The struggles, the worriers also the hope were portrait perfectly in the writing. This book also help reader to understand the trans people life very well without even feels so patronizing.

And that what's made this book become another highly recommended read from Jay Northcote. Don't miss it!

Amazon US  | Amazon UK | Amazon Universal

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. Jay has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and he also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as Audiobooks.

Jay is transgender and was formerly known as she/her.

www.jaynorthcote.com

Twitter

Facebook Profile

Facebook Author Page

Newsletter

Jay's Books

ARC Review : Sinister Hunger (Bloodstream #1) by Katze Snow

Title : Sinister Hunger (Bloodstream #1)

Author : Katze Snow

Genre(s) : Gay Romance, Sci-fi, paranormals, vampire

Publication Date : April 19th 2018

My Rating(s) : 4 out of 5 Stars

A world of intrigue. A life of lies. A future of sacrifice.

Vincent Hudson is a vampire hunter, and his life is about to be ruined.

When a hunting trip ends in tragedy, he is forced to do the unthinkable—seek refuge in Sanctuary Hope, where each family must nominate a member to the city council. But there is a catch.

In exchange for refuge, the nominees are turned into bloodslaves for an elite chain of vampires, and unaware of the gut-wrenching reality, Vincent nominates himself. He only wanted to save his group.

Now, a life of captivity and war await him. . . 

When the one you thought as your worst evil enemy turned out to be the one who saved your life...

🌿🌿🌿

There wasn’t a sacrifice he wasn’t willing to make…He had thrown his future to the wind, and now , there was truly no going back.

The blurb really caught my attention and the next thing I know, without even think twice, I asked the ARC to review.

I have this huge expectations about this book, and the fact that this is also my first Katze Snow book has completely added the expectations even higher.

When I start the book, the first few chapters feels so freaking slow with ambiguous feels that playing in my head. Until 30% of reading I keep questioning myself about the book I read, because for a book that labeled as 'a gay romance', I didn't feel it like one after few chapters has passed. 

But when it reach 45%, suddenly everything changed. The pace went from almost boring-slow-pace then move so fast and the story suddenly changed into a very intriguing and captivating! And before I even realize, the story come to almost cliffy end! And now I WANT the next book like NOW!!!!

I will not give any spoiler about the story, but I can assure you that if you like a dark vampire story that also come with a bit  slavery things, I think you should give this book a try. Because trust me, you don't wanna miss this one!

And now dear author, I NEED the second book like NOW!!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED with WARNING!!

ARC Review : Rhoades - Undeniable (Man Up #2) by Felice Stevens

Title : Rhoades—Undeniable

Author : Felice Stevens Felice Stevens

Part of series : Man Up book 2

Publication Date : April 16th 2018

My Rating(s) : 5/5 Stars

Rhoades

Loneliness. The pain doesn’t simply go away with time. It’s been years, and they tell me I need to move on. But I can’t.
Blame and regret are my constant companions. Until I see him in the spotlight and everything changes. Night after night, I watch him dance. Thinking about him.
What he’d feel like.
What he’d taste like.
And now that I know, I want him even more.
And maybe…just maybe, he might want me too.
But not yet.
Not before he knows he’s more than a pretty face. Not before he knows what he means to me. I need him by my side.
The two of us.
Together.

Austin

Why can’t I forget him? His hands touching me. His mouth on mine. Kissing me. Rendering me mindless.
Breathless.
Every night I lay awake burning for him. Dreaming. Thinking. Needing him.
No—I don’t. I don’t need anyone.
I lie.
I want him.
I want more. I am more. He’s seen that, and now here I stand with my dream on the horizon. All I need to do is take that first step. Trust him.
Trust myself.

Rhoades begins where Austin, the prequel story left off.

He made it hard for me to love him, but that’s how I knew I had to love him harder. With everything I had.

The story begin right after what happen in Austin's book and I must admit, with all the giddy feeling that left from the high tensions that happen in Austin's book, Rhoades story didn't need lots 'warm up' to start because the vibes still there...

With dual POV, now we can also know what's in Rhoades minds, and that's what makes the story become MORE interesting and no doubt hot and high sexual innuendo that come from both characters push and pull is another things that made this book very consuming to the last page!

Rhoades patience and his persistent in luring Austin into his arms by playing smooth cat and mouse game are amazing. His push and pull seduction and at the same time also give Austin space to support and enhance him to pursue his dream had made Austin slowly lower his guards. But Austin with his serious trust issues and tortured past wasn't that easy to touch or...conquered. And if Rhoades didn't play his cards very well, he'll lose Austin forever...

Both characters have their traumas and secrets, and they also have to deal with their own ghost from the past. And fate made them meet to heal each other in uniquely amazing way.

Definitely another a MUST and highly recommended from Felice Stevens. Make sure you don't miss it!

And NOW I'm completely READY for Frankie's story!!!

Amazon US | Amazon UK

I have always been a romantic at heart. I believe that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending around the corner, My characters have to work for it, however. Like life in NYC, nothing comes easy and that includes love, but getting there is oh so fun and oh so sexy.

I live in New York City with my husband and two children. My day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass (or two of red wine). I practice law but daydream of a time when I can sit by a beach somewhere and write beautiful stories of men falling in love. Although there are bound to be a few bumps along the way, a Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.

If you join my newsletter: LINK HERE you'll get exclusive content, sneak peeks at new books and contests. I feature favorite authors, recipes and free short stories!

Newsletter

Facebook

Facebook Reader Group

Tumblr

Pinterest

Twitter

Instagram

Review : The Trouble with Trevor (Off Limits #1) by Cin Forrester

Title : The Trouble with Trevor

Author : Cin Forrester Cin Forrester

Series : Off Limits book 1

Genre(s) : Contemporary gay romance, May-December

Publication Date : November 7th 2016

My Rating(s) : 3/5 Stars

Like most other guys his age, Trevor Nash just wants to escape his small town, go to college and get laid. It’s not his fault his parents are freaked out because his older brother went to college and binge drank himself to death. Trevor’s not going to do that, but they won’t let him go unless he stays with his godfather, Marine vet Grady McKinnon.

Grady’s come to appreciate a quiet life in Boston since an IED tore off his foot and forced his discharge, but he owes his oldest friend a lot. He agrees to the babysitting, provided Trevor sticks to a few basic rules.

It’s been five years since Trevor’s seen Grady, a long time in a teen’s life. Now Trevor is stunned to find out his muscled temporary guardian is a walking wet dream. Trevor has a new plan: get Grady’s attention, no matter how many rules he has to break to do it.

Warning: This book contains a pushy brat, a loner learning to like company, lots of spanking, and some desperate longing. 

“You’ll still spank me?” The last two words barely make it out. “I’ll do what I have to do to keep you safe.” His mouth curves, just a little. 

🌿🌿🌿

Trevor who has this huge crush to his father's friend for years finally have 'the chance' to stay under the same roof with Grady when his protective parents insisted Grady to look after him while he's in college. 

Trevor then 'seductively' trying to get Grady attention by breaking the rules Grady's set to 'discipline' him so he can have 'the rewards' he'd been craving for....

Will Trevor hopeless crush on his godfather and an epic kink for getting spanked finally fulfilled?

Will Grady fall to Trevor's tricks?

I must admit that this book is kinda ridiculous and a bit creepy, but at the same time it interesting too. The 'anticipation' each time Trevor purposely breaking the rules so he can be platonically be at Grady's 'mercy' were so intriguing even sometimes I must admit that it also made me cringed, but still.....it made me curious even more about what will happen next....

I'll find out soon because The Problem with Grady already on my next read!