[ARC REVIEW] Hard Ride by A.M. Arthur

Hard Ride
(Clean Slade Ranch #5)
by A.M. Arthur
ebook
Publication Date: February 17th 2020

Five Weddings and a Fake Boyfriend

City slicker Derrick Massey has always had a thing for cowboys. So a roll in the hay with Kendall “Slater” Stamos during a rustic weekend wedding is more than A-OK. But when Slater’s forced to hang up his saddle for the season, Derrick surprises even himself with his proposition: be my fake boyfriend and get my family off my back about finding a permanent partner.

Though unexpected, the arrangement is a win-win. Derrick gets a plus-one for a slew of summer weddings and Slater gets a place to stay while he recuperates…with lots of casual fun in between. Which is just how the sexy cowboy likes it: casual. Yet it’s obvious the chemistry between them is anything but.

With the countdown to their “breakup” on, the more time the two men spend together. And the more it becomes clear that what they have could be real, if only they let it be.

~ ARC provided by publisher in exchange for my honest opinion

When I wrote my review for the previous book of the series I promised myself I wouldn’t request another one for review… I caved. As you can see by the title I absolute caved and hit request again. But hear me out, I had a reason. My reason being that this was A.M. Arthur’s first (!) fake boyfriend book. I never realised that she never featured that trope in one of her other books. All other series by A.M. Arthur I love, this one though is a hit and miss series for me but I definitely liked Hard Ride more than the previous book in the series.

I struggled a bit with the beginning because they had sex right at the very start and I’m not really a fan of that. I like semi-slow-burners. Thankfully it turned more into friendship and than lovers after that.

I liked the story, characters and writing style but if you were hoping for an original fake boyfriend book, you won’t find it here. Hard Ride hit every criteria for a fake boyfriend clichee story in its relationship development. At least in my book. Even the “conflict” at the end. But to be fair, you can only do so much with the trope before it turns completely unbelieveable.

I liked it and I had fun reading it but I will probably stay true to my promise now and won’t request or read the next book in the series.

Rating: 3,5 stars

ARC REVIEW: Tight Quarters by Annabeth Albert

Tight Quarters
(Out Of Uniform #6)
by Annabeth Albert
ebook
Publication Date: July 9th 2018 by Carina Press
>> Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion <<

Petty Officer Bacon, a navy SEAL and ace sharpshooter, has been on the front lines of more than his fair share of dangerous ops. Yet when a minor injury relegates him to the beta team, he’s tasked with what may be his riskiest assignment yet: the silver fox journalist he’s babysitting is the hottest, most charismatic man he’s ever encountered.

Award-winning journalist Spencer Bryant may have been named one of Pride magazine’s most eligible bachelors of the year, but he’s not looking to change his relationship status. He’s a consummate professional who won’t risk his ethics or impeccable reputation by getting involved with a source. Even a sexy-as-hell military man. But while Spencer can resist his physical attraction to Bacon, he has less control over his emotions—especially when the mission goes sideways and the two men are trapped alone.

Getting out of the jungle alive turns out to be easy compared to facing the truth about their feelings for one another back in the real world. And whether or not they can build a future is a different story altogether.

Tight Quarters is the sixth book in the Out Of Uniform series and I kinda don’t know what I’m supposed to say about this series anymore. I like it! Didn’t loved it, but I liked it. I like the way its written. I like the way the characters are portrayed. I like the story. I like the romance. If I didn’t like this series or this particular book I would have abandoned it long ago, but I’m still here, so that should tell you everything.

The thing I especially liked about Tight Quarters is that the age-gap wasn’t make into a big deal. I think it was mentioned once – in a thought – and that was it. Really liked that. Normally, at least in most m/f romances I’ve read it was always made into a problem, even though in most cases it just wasn’t one. That’s one of the reasons I like m/m romances. Way less unnecessary drama in my opinion. There was some drama in Tight Quarters but not related to the age thing, just saying.

Overall I really liked it and can’t wait to read the seventh and if I’m not mistaken last (*cry*) book in this series.

Rating: 3,75 stars

ARC REVIEW: Roped In by A.M. Arthur

Roped In
(Clean Slate Ranch #2)
by A.M. Arthur
ebook
Publication Date: May 21st 2018 by Carina Press
>> Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion <<

At Clean Slate Ranch, the men are rugged, the trails are rocky and lassos aren’t only used for roping horses

For Colt Woods, Clean Slate Ranch is home. The dude ranch in Northern California helped him heal from a devastating breakup. So when his ex-Dom, the man who broke his heart, waltzes onto the ranch, Colt doesn’t know how to deal.

A research job at a nearby ghost town brings history PhD Avery Hendrix to Clean Slate. He’s not in town forever, but it doesn’t take long for him to feel the familiar draw to Colt. When they find out they’ll be sharing a cabin on the ranch, it’s all Avery can do to stop himself from bending Colt over a saddle right then and there.

In such close proximity, Colt’s and Avery’s old feelings come galloping back. Soon Colt is doing his master’s bidding again and loving every moment of it. And the pair may be in for the ride of their lives—if the dedicated professor and his rugged cowboy can learn to trust again.

Roped In is the second installment in the Clean Slate Ranch series and I have to confess to not liking it as much as I liked Wild Trail, the previous book. The main reason for that is the BDSM theme. I’m just not into the whole Dom and Sub thing, or as it is here, the Sir and pet thing.

The other parts of the story I absolutely liked. How Colt had to deal with that big secret of him that’s now out of the bag, and no, I’m not talking about him being gay. That we already knew. You know what secret I’m talking about, if you read book one. Which you absolutely don’t need to have done, before reading Roped In, just saying. The whole dynamics between the different characters I also really liked.

This would have probably been a 4,5 star read, if not for the BDSM thing… which makes me sad, because I basically like everything A.M. Arthur writes.

If you like to read about BDSM and want to have a good angsty M/M read, this is probably a good book for you. Me not so much, but I’m definitely looking forward to Miles’ and Reyes’ story. These two appear broken and I’m really curious.

Rating: 3,5 stars

ARC REVIEW: Medley by Layla Reyne

Medley
(Changing Lanes #2)
by Layla Reyne
ebook
Publication Date: April 23rd 2018 by Riptide Publishing
>> Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion <<

Sebastian Stewart was never Mr. Dependable; he was more the good-time guy who only wanted to swim, party, and ink tattoos. Until he cost his team the Olympic gold four years ago. Bas is determined to do right this time around—by his medley relay team and his rookie mentee.

Jacob Burrows is in over his head. The Olympic experience—from the hazing, to the endless practices, to the unrelenting media—makes the shy nineteen-year-old’s head spin. He’s trying to be everything to everyone while trying not to fall for his gorgeous tattooed teammate who just gets him—gets his need to fix things, his dorky pirate quips, and his bisexuality.

When Jacob falters under the stress, threatening his individual races and the medley relay gold, he needs Bas’s help to escape from drowning. Bas, however, fearing a repeat of his mistakes four years ago, pushes Jacob away, sure he’ll only let Jacob down. But the only path to salvaging gold is for Jacob to finally ask for what he needs—the heart of the man he loves—and for Bas to become the dependable one.

After reading my very first Layla Reyne book, Relay, and liking it (4 stars), her second book, Medley, had three possible ways to go. #1 It could be better than Relay, #2 it could be not as good as Relay, so it would make Relay a fluke, meaning I only liked Relay by this author and won’t like any other books by her #3 or it could be about the same as Relay.

To keep the suspense short, it was about as good as Relay, maybe a teeny-tiny bit better. Spoiler: I’m giving Medley 4,25 stars 🙂 that’s 0,25 stars more than Relay. Like I said teeny-tiny bit.

I can’t tell a specific reason why this one was slightly better than Relay, it probably was just all things combined – which doesn’t mean Relay was bad, like I said 4 stars 😉

We kind of already got a glimpse at the characters of Medley in the previous book and I really liked Bas and Jacob in the previous and in this book. Bas was this calm and collected guy who tried his damnest not to mess up and Jacob was a cute, clumpsy, way to observant guy who tried to do his best. Those two together just worked, they were like pieces of a puzzle that fit together. Their drama wasn’t overly over the top, but it was there, so if you’re not a fan of drama, back out now. I personally love drama, especially the kind of drama they had.

What I also really liked was that we got another glimpse at Dane and Alex’s relationship. I love it when previous couples are still included – in this case they had to because they were on the swimming team lol.

Also some people didn’t like in the previous book that swimming and the whole Olympia thing weren’t really that much of a deal. Guess what, in Medley it is a pretty big deal, as they are in the midst of the Olympics. So here you go, people! There is your swimming competition! Satisfied now?

Did I mention I was watching the Winterolympics on TV while reading this book? No? I was. Lol.

The writing style sucked me in as much as it already did in the first book. Also I really liked that Layla Reyne mentioned a german speaking country, in this case Austria. We germans are not enough mentioned in fiction romances. 😉

Overall I really liked Medley and can totally recommened it to anyone that wants to read a swimming related m/m romance. Also I really hope there will be a third book, not really sure if that will actually happen since I don’t have a clue what characters that could be about and what the whole setting would be, but I would definitely read it. Just saying.

Rating: 4,25 stars

 

ARC REVIEW: Relay by Layla Reyne

Relay
(Changing Lanes #1)
by Layla Reyne
ebook
Publication Date: January 8th 2018 by Riptide Publishing
>> Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion <<

Captain is not a title Alejandro “Alex” Cantu takes lightly. Elected by his teammates to helm the US Men’s Swim Team, he proudly accepts the role, despite juggling endless training, team administrative work, and helping out on the family farm. And despite his ex-lover, Dane Ellis—swimming’s biggest star—also making the Olympic Team.

Dane has been a pawn in his celebrity parents’ empire from crib to pool, flashing his camera-ready smile on demand and staying deeply in the closet. Only once did he drop the act—the summer he fell in love with Alex. Ten years later, Dane longs to cut his parents’ strings, drop his too-bright smile, and beg Alex for another chance.

Alex, though, isn’t ready to forgive and forget, and Dane is a distraction he doesn’t need on his team, until an injury forces Alex to accept Dane as his medley relay anchor. Working together, their passion reignites. When Dane’s parents threaten reprisal and Alex is accused of doping, the two must risk everything to prove Alex’s innocence, to love one another, and to win back their spots on the team, together.

When I received Relay I was in a foul mood after dnf-ing the last three books I’ve read, so I put it aside, because I was sure if I would read it with a feeling of lingering disappointment that I would not like it. That was a wise decision by me. Instead I read it after I read a book I absolutely loved. Lol.

Layla Reyne is a new-to-me author, but after reading Relay I will check out her other books as well.

Anyway Relay had all the things I love combined: m/m romance, an enemies-to-lover relationship that also included a second-chance romance and it had a sports theme. I loved the whole animosity between Dane and Alex in the beginning of the book. That was fun.

Also their whole 2nd relationship was a slowburner, which I also loved. Slowburners are more fun in my opinion and the relationship makes more sense if its built up slowly instead of over the course of just 30 pages like in some books I’ve read. We didn’t get to find out a lot of their first relationship though. Normally I’m not a big fan of flashbacks, but in this case I would have liked one or two, but that’s me nitpicking.

Dane’s parents I wanted to hurt – a lot. Poor Dane. I kinda disliked the fact though that Dane let them control his own life for that long of a time, but I’m glad he finally stood up to them.

The writing style was really good and while I read some reviews that were disappointed that the whole swimming thing wasn’t as prominent as they hoped and that we didn’t find out if they won any medals at the Olympics, I was quite glad this was the way it was. I want an incentive to read the next book – which I would have read nontheless, just saying –  to know how they did at the Olympics.

Also I’m curious about Bas and Jacob. Their book will be the second one in the Changing Lanes series and according to Riptide Publishing’s website it’s called Medley and will be released April 23. Can’t wait.

Rating: 4 stars

Mini Reviews #4

The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig (Review copy provided by NetGalley)

To be honest with you I knew the second I hit ‘request’ on NetGalley this was not a book for me, but I let myself be swayed by all the people on Twitter who hyped this book up and I wanted to be in on the hype as well. Well… it’s two years later and I finally decided to own up to my mistakes and pick this book up.

Sadly, like expected this just wasn’t for me. I really gave it a fair chance. I read till 25% in the hopes that it could change my mind, but it never did.

Also I was quite thrown by the way the book started. Normally I wouldn’t mind if the book started right in a situation, but in this book I was lost. Too many characters at once and too much happening that I couldn’t place nor understand.

This book is the very reason why I’m normally not riding the hype wave, because those books never live up to my expectation.

The writing style of this book was ok-ish, didn’t keep me hooked or anything, but maybe it’s just the content that couldn’t keep my interest and not the actual writing.

Rating: DNF

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Rachel Van Dyken – Cheater (Review copy provided by NetGalley)

I love everything written by Rachel Van Dyken, may it be NA, Paranormal Romance or something as dark as her Eagle Elite series, but I couldn’t make myself pick up this book. Simply because of the goddamn title. If this book had any other name I wouldn’t even have cared about the title, but that word ‘Cheater’ was the biggest reason I didn’t want to give it a chance.

This is an RVD book, did I really expect some type of big cheater? Apparently… yes, and I wasn’t happy with this book.

For a good part of the book I despised Lucas, because he was so… And I was so… *throws plant pot at wall* but I got over it and over time he grew on me a bit, like mold. Ok, not really, I still was annoyed by him for most of the book.

Avery I liked from the beginning, she was kinda shy, but also not afraid to speak up to Lucas.

BUT, big but, as much as I liked RVD’s writing style – as always – and as much as I found the banter funny, this will not be my favourite book by RVD, probably will be my least liked book by her, because of Lucas. I couldn’t stand him for the fact that once he started seeing Avery, he was still seeing all the other girls right in front of Avery. He was a manwhore and I did not like it.

In hindsight I probably should have trusted my gut and should have never touched this book, because than it couldn’t have ruined this picture I have of RVD’s books, like that she can’t do wrong. Sadly, she proves with Cheater that she can, at least for me

This turned out longer than I intended. So to keep thing short: not my piece of cake.

Rating: 2.5 stars

ARC REVIEW: Soul To Keep by Garrett Leigh

Soul To Keep
(Rented Heart #2)
by Garrett Leigh
ebook
Publication Date: April 2nd 2018 by Riptide Publishing
>> Review copy provided by NetGalley <<

Recovering addict Jamie Yorke has returned to England from California. With no home or family to speak of, he sticks a pin in a map and finds a small town in the Derbyshire Peak District. Matlock Bath is a quiet place—he just needs to get there, keep his head down, and stay clean. Simple, right? Until a chance meeting on the flight home alters the course of his so-called life forever.

Ex-Army medic Marc Ramsey is recovering from life-changing combat injuries while pulling nights as a trauma specialist at the local hospital. Keeping busy is a habit he can’t quit, but when Jamie—so wild and beautiful—bursts into his life, working himself into the ground isn’t as compelling as it used to be.

Marc falls hard, but chaos lurks behind Jamie’s fragile facade. He’s winning his battle against addiction, but another old foe is slowly consuming him. Both men have weathered many storms, but the path to the peace they deserve might prove the roughest ride yet.

Soul To Keep is the first book by Garrett Leigh I read and I’m quite sure it won’t be the last one. Also it is the second book in the Rented Heart series, but can perfectly be read as a stand-alone in my honest opinion, because that’s what I did. I might have missed some backstory about Jamie and Zac (main character from the previous book), but I didn’t need it to understand Soul To Keep, so no harm in not knowing the first book.

Garrett Leigh’s characters were quite broken. Marc not as much as Jamie, but he also struggles. Both, Jamie and Marc, had to fight with some sort of darkness in their life and I like, how after meeting and getting to know each other, they complemented each other. Their relationship started off as some sort of friendship and morphed into a romantical relationship. What I loved about that relationship as well was that it was quite a slowburner. The first time they really had sex was at 80% of the book. Don’t understand that wrong, they did make out a bit before that with BJs and stuff like that, but it took some time till they had the real deal. Nowadays I feel like most of the books have the first sex scene in the first 30% and sometimes it feels totally unnatural, more like it’s a requirement to have one that early. So I was glad that was not the case in Soul To Keep.

I also liked how Garrett Leigh dealed with Jamie’s addiction and other problems and didn’t totally make them disappear at the end of the book, because that’s not really the way that works. That little conflict Marc and Jamie had near the end also made perfectly sense, because of Jamie’s past.

Also this book had quite a lot of angst, mostly from Jamie’s POV. Marc was more relaxed in that manner, because he already had enough years to deal with his problems, but I liked to read from both POV’s. That’s always my favourite, because this way I can experience the feelings from both sides of the story.

I absolutely recommend this book, if you are looking for an angsty, but at the same time cute and slowburner-y book to fill some of your hours.

Rating: 4,25 stars

 

Mini Reviews #2

Max by Sawyer Bennett (Review copy provided by Netgalley)

>> Goodreads link, Genre: Romance, ice hockey, M/f

Max is the sixth book in the Cold Fury Hockey series and I can say it totally blew me away, but I love ice hockey and I absolutely loved Max, the character. He was perfect and sadly I probably will never find a guy with his character in real life. LOL. The reason I can’t give this book 4 or even 4,5 stars is the heroine, Julianne.

She was an really, really ungrateful. Whenever Max wanted to help her in any way, she said no. Also the reasons why she pushes him away were just plain, old stupid. I couldn’t deal with her. Max deserved better, even though in the end she got a bit more tolerable.

There was the tiniest bit of drama in this, otherwise it was a cute, light afternoon read.

Rating: 3,5 stars

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Going Overboard by L.A. Witt (Review copy provided by NetGalley)

>> Goodreads link, Genre: military, M/M, romance

Going Overboard is the fifth book in the Anchor Point series and the first one of it that I read.

I previously read a different series by L.A. Witt and really liked that and while I also liked the writing style in Going Overboard, I was kind of… do I dare to say it… bored by this book.

I really liked the transition of Dalton and Chris’ friendship to a romantic relationship – I’ve always been a sucker for friend-to-lover books – but that’s about it. Regarding all other aspects of the story I was utterly bored, which makes me kinda sad, because this book had promise.

So all in all this book was just average for me.

Rating: 3 stars

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Cross Check by Kelly Jamieson (Review copy provided by Netgalley)

>> Goodreads link, Genre: Romance, ice hockey, new adult, M/f

Cross Check is the second book in the Bayard Hockey series.

I really liked reading it. It had funny and light scenes, but also touched  the darker aspects of life. Also its a enemies-to-lover story, I’m totally down for those. Huge fan. The sparks between Ben and Ella were on point.

Although the big fight that Ella and Ben had near the end was kind of stupid and unnecessary in my opinion, but I get the need for it.

Overall it was a good read and who can hate books about ice hockey and romance. I know I can’t. Love me some ice hockey.

Rating: 4 stars

 

[Review] Mistletoe Games by Jaci Burton

Mistletoe Games
(Play by Play #6.5, 8.5, 10.5)
by Jaci Burton
ebook
Publication Date: October 18th 2016 by Berkley
ISBN: 045148813X

No one brings the sexy out in sports like Jaci Burton, the author of the New York Times bestselling Play-by-Play novels. Now, she puts together a holiday hat trick with three novellas featuring the hottest sports around: baseball, hockey, and surfing—because hard bodies are always in season…

Holiday Games
For the high-achieving Elizabeth and her husband, baseball player Gavin Riley, failure is not an option. So when it comes to making a baby, they’re not about to let any holiday distractions get in the way of their necessary pleasures…

Holiday on Ice
It’s the season for giving and superstar hockey player Patrick “Trick” Niemeyer is ready to give dancer Stella Slovinski his heart wrapped up in bow. But he’ll have to melt the ice surrounding her heart to keep her from walking away…

Hot Holiday Nights
Christmas in Hawaii brings sports agent Tori Baldwin two presents: a young surfer at the top of his game and his business manager. But this hot threesome has to decide if the romantic wave they’ve caught is nothing more than a vacation fling, or the kind of love that could change their lives forever…

~ Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion

Note: I haven’t read any books in the Play by Play series yet, but I’m pretty sure all these short stories can be read as stand alones.

Holiday Games:
What could I possible say to Holiday Games, except for it’s basically one giant-ass sex scene, with some bits of  story here and there – and those weren’t even interesting. If I had read the previous books in this series, I might have appreciated this story more, but as it is, I was not impressed by it.

After reading Holiday Games I just couldn’t immediately continue reading the other two short stories of this book, so I put it aside for a while.

To be quite honest, I picked it up again a few hours ago and I just can’t. I can’t finish it. The writing style didn’t keep me hooked and I’m not sure if I want to read the rest of the book, just to get disappointed by those stories as well. So I decided after a long internal battle – I hate quitting ARCs – to stop the struggle I have with this book and just call it a day. I won’t continue reading it.

Should you pick it up, I hope you enjoy it. I guess Jaci Burton and me, we don’t mix well. Maybe I should have read a book in Play By Play series first to fully be hooked to this series, but I highly doubt it.

Rating: DNF

 

[Review] At Attention by Annabeth Albert

At Attention
(Out Of Uniform #2)
by Annabeth Albert
ebook
Publication Date: April 10th 2017 by Carina Press

Lieutenant Apollo Floros can ace tactical training missions, but being a single dad to his twin daughters is more than he can handle. He needs live-in help, and he’s lucky a friend’s younger brother needs a place to stay. He’s surprised to see Dylan all grown up with a college degree…and a college athlete’s body. Apollo’s widowed heart may still be broken, but Dylan has his blood heating up.

It’s been eight years since the teenage Dylan followed Apollo around like a lovesick puppy, and it’s time he showed Lieutenant Hard-to-Please that he’s all man now—an adult who’s fully capable of choosing responsibility over lust. He can handle Apollo’s muscular sex appeal, but Apollo the caring father? Dylan can’t afford to fall for that guy. He’s determined to hold out for someone who’s able to love him back, not someone who only sees him as a kid brother.

Apollo is shocked by the intensity of his attraction to Dylan. Maybe some no-strings summer fun will bring this former SEAL back to life. But the combination of scorching desire and warm affection is more than he’d expected, and the emotion between them scares him senseless. No fling lasts forever, and Apollo will need to decide what’s more important—his past or his future—if he wants to keep Dylan in his life.

~ Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion

Truth be told after reading the synopsis I was a bit afraid – for two reasons. First because I couldn’t quite remember who Apollo was and if he even was in the previous book. I’m bad at remembering names, let me tell you that. Reason number two was that a few days ago I’ve read a book about a married guy with children, who was secretly gay, but never came out to his wife and then she died. So, because I couldn’t remember who Apollo was, I thought it would be the other book all over again. Note: I didn’t like that other book. But of course, I didn’t need to worry, everything was totally different. I really need to work at remembering names. I remembered there was a guy in the military who was gay with children, but I didn’t know anymore that that man was Apollo.

So if you made it through my little “I am stupid” paragraph, let me tell you that I love this book. I rarely give a book a full 5 star rating, but I just can’t do anything different with At Attention. I loved the character, loved the story and loved the writing.

I loved Dylan, Apollo’s love interest. He was adorable. ADORABLE. He didn’t push Apollo into starting something new after his husband’s death, but let him decide the pace. Also he was really good with the children. He was fun and at the same time everyone thought of him as a child, even though he’s long grown up.

Then there was Apollo. There were some scenes where I wanted to bash his head in, because he kept hurting my poor Dylan without knowing it, but I still also loved him.

At Attention didn’t have too much talk about the military part of Apollo’s job. There were a few scenes that dealed with that topic, but overall it only took a minor role in the book.

I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, which could be about Ben and Maddox, but I’m not quite sure it actually is. I guess I have to wait and see.

Also I told myself to wait before I start reading At Attention. I didn’t want to start till March. Joke’s on me. I already finished it and it isn’t even February yet. LOL.

Rating: 5 stars