"Tennebrose at night always had a different vibe. A darker vibe. During the day, the historic buildings and flagstone walkways lent the university "Tennebrose at night always had a different vibe. A darker vibe. During the day, the historic buildings and flagstone walkways lent the university an old-world air of sophistication. It was quaint. Charming. Picturesque. But in the dark, you’d swear things watched you from the shadows and ghosts whispered your name as you passed by."
Secrets, lies, past horror, trauma, ghosts, witches, fear of Halloween, best friends to lovers, bi-awakening, dark, twisty themes and a HEA all wrapped up into a novella! Seriously Ashlyn Drewek, how do you do it?!
Mortem Obire is book 2.5 in the amazing Tennebrose universe and is also one of 12 short stories in the Phobia anthology.
This is Jamie and Larkin's story and it's a DOOZY! Do check the author's website if you have any concerns about dark themes, because this beauty has a few. For me personally, it was an absolute delight to return to the Tennebrose universe and I inhaled this instalment as quickly as I have its predecessors. My only complaint - it was too short!
Oh and did I mention that despite its length, Ashlyn manages to fit some steamy times into Mortem Obire.....?
"Wordlessly, he slipped his hands around my waist and hauled me into his lap. Before I could ask what the hell he was doing, he wrapped one hand around the back of my neck and brought my mouth down to his, kissing me hard."
"Loving him is listening to a song so good, you get full-body chills and hot tears sting your eyes, but you don’t know why because it’s just that g"Loving him is listening to a song so good, you get full-body chills and hot tears sting your eyes, but you don’t know why because it’s just that good.
Wounded by Ashley James book 2 in the standalone, multi-author, MM, Unlucky 13 series, which is set around an all inclusive, private resort built exclusively for the troubled elite. This is Caspian and Rowan's story.
Caspian is the grumpy, misunderstood, broken drummer in the rock band Wild Hearts and Rowan is the chatty, sunshiny socialite who is desperately lonely and looking for love.
"Maybe I am to the world who my dad was to my mom. Toxic. Wounded. Self-destructive. Maybe there’s no hope for me, and all of this will be for nothing."
Wounded has all the angst, a twist of k!nk and of course the trademark Ashley James high steam that we all know and love ...more
We are also blessed with a couple of new additions, including some more background on Orlith and his brother (and yes, one of the shorts features Wyn!) plus a fabulous novella about a new monster called Ruke and their human, Jamie. They are divine.
I have chosen to read and review just the MM novellas in the Phobia anthology, which is a collection of stories from 12 different authors but all withI have chosen to read and review just the MM novellas in the Phobia anthology, which is a collection of stories from 12 different authors but all with the common theme of phobia - one of the main characters in each book has a fear of SOMETHING.
"Tennebrose at night always had a different vibe. A darker vibe. During the day, the historic buildings and flagstone walkways lent the university an old-world air of sophistication. It was quaint. Charming. Picturesque. But in the dark, you’d swear things watched you from the shadows and ghosts whispered your name as you passed by."
Secrets, lies, past horror, trauma, ghosts, witches, fear of Halloween, MM best friends to lovers, bi-awakening, dark, twisty themes and a HEA all wrapped up into a novella! Seriously Ashlyn Drewek, how do you do it?!
Mortem Obire is book 2.5 in the amazing Tennebrose universe and it comes as a highly recommended read. Can be read as a standalone in this anthology, but would encourage you to read Malum Discordiae, Igni Ferroque and the novella Caligo too!
2. Pockets Deep in Darker Waters by Fae Quin 5 stars
"I should’ve known things could always get worse. If being caught kissing a boy behind the kitchens was my fall from grace, this was surely Hell."
This was my first time reading a Fae Quin novel and I loved it! This was Henry and Oliver's story - trapped on a row boat for a night in the middle of the ocean - and it was a steamy one! It felt like it should be the first chapter in a full length book and honestly Fae, I need you to write the rest!
"I feel the warmth of a mouth against my throat, a wet tongue caressing my Adam’s apple. Two sharp points graze my flesh, and I don’t even have time to panic before I succumb to darkness, to the deepest sleep."
Hellie Heat is one of my favourite new (to me) writers and I am currently adoring her Vampyre Dominium series (highly recommended). The Taste of Crimson is a vampire/human/PNR novella, Silas and Adrien's story - dark themes and a fear of blood!
"Just as I’m shoved through the opening, I glance back to find a pair of white eyes pinned on me and even whiter, sharp teeth splayed wide, black lips stretched, and that god-awful, wicked tongue flicking outward. I shiver, then whimper as I’m cast in darkness."
A haunted house of horror with a twist - sometimes the scary clowns don't just scare you, they arouse you horrifyingly too! Another slice of glorious, dark AF, steamy mayhem from Marie Ann.
"He took his sweet time, pressing kisses over my jaw, my neck, and my shoulders. His kisses trailed down my stomach, to my hips, and toward where I really needed those hot lips of his to land."
This is a twisty, steamy, angsty little read and you will totally fall in love with Graysin and Kellan. Another novella that needs to be a full novel please Michaela!
"Grabbing his face, I pull his lips to mine, kissing him hard, rough, fast. It’s so unexpected that he moans into my mouth, and I return it with a jagged grunt, sucking that piercing like a fiend."
Nyla K. does it again! This is an angsty, dark themes, steamy, first times, emotional roller-coaster of a read. You will fall in love with Asa and Jules, but have a box of tissues ready because there are some tough times ahead. A fear of sleep with a Nyla K. twist.
"I wake up with a start. Horror grips me immediately as the first thing I see are the bright yellow and orange colors of the sunset. I’m all alone and the darkness is coming to claim me. A whimper escapes my trembling lips as I scatter away from the bed and run down the stairs."
Wow, what a fabulously twisty, quirky, effed up little novella the wonderful S.M. Landon has produced for us! Delorean is such a morally grey character, with dark AF undertones but he adores his angel, Anthony, who is so messed up and so vulnerable, yet also as tough as nails!
Prepare to be shocked and confused as the story unfolds....
Another one that will need a full book please Stefka! Loved it.
Worthy: A Pride Anthology is a 13 author anthology with each story touching on the common theme of LGBTQI+ acceptance. It's crammed full of lots of myWorthy: A Pride Anthology is a 13 author anthology with each story touching on the common theme of LGBTQI+ acceptance. It's crammed full of lots of my favourite MM authors, though not all necessarily writing MM novellas this time. Novellas aren't really my "thing" but but damn, do I need to read all of these as complete books!
I have reviewed the ARCs I read in this anthology, starting with:
"He’s so needy for me. What the hell kind of partners has he been with that couldn’t figure him out? Did they not care, or did he just not tell them what he needed?"
This spicy little read is Nick and Joey's story and is part of the Derby U universe. We first meet the boys briefly in Hidden Scars and I loved the link to that story. Here, Nick is the confident star soccer player and Joey is the Hockey captain, strong on the field but oh, so submissive in the bedroom. I loved how accepting Nick was of Joey's insecurities and their steamy times together were hot AF, as you would expect with an AJ read. You'll never look at a cinnamon roll in the same way again!
"Owen is my boss. My very straight boss. Two things that make him completely unavailable to me."
Who doesn't love an MM employee/boss dilemma, not to mention a hot bi-awakening and all the steamy first times?! This little gem is Lance and Owen's story and it's going to leave you wanting more!
"Separately, we’re unfinished, but together we can walk forward, whole and free and bathed in light."
This is so beautifully written; it's angsty, it's compassionate, it's sensitive, it's so full of grief in parts but yet it's also so uplifting and confirming too. Age gap, trans male MC and best friend's father, yes there are some smexy times but this novella is all about the journey to love....more
Anti-Valentine: An MM Romance Anthology is such an amazing anthology, crammed full of all my favourite MM authors, and with the best kind of dark romaAnti-Valentine: An MM Romance Anthology is such an amazing anthology, crammed full of all my favourite MM authors, and with the best kind of dark romance novellas. I don't think I've ever read so many 5 star books in one go (and this from someone who hates novellas!) but damn, do I need to read all of these as complete books!
I will be reviewing the ARCs I have read in this fabulous anthology, which are:
"It was hot and wrong. He was my step-brother for starters, and he was drunk. But if he didn't care, why should I?"
Ashlyn Drewek is a one-click author for me every time and she doesn't disappoint here. Ex-step brothers, first-times, love-to-hate-to-lovers, forbidden vibes, pleasure/pain AND I AM TOTALLY HERE FOR IT.
"A change in the air. A shift in the course of my future. Those eyes… Dark and fathomless. Watchful, and yet somehow blank even after all these years. I couldn’t believe it. Vale DuPont. The boy who saved me. The boy who wrecked my life. The boy I never thought I’d see again."
Aston and Vale. Foster brothers. A dark, secret, blood-filled past. A reunion 6 years later. Forbidden, opposites attract, hate-to-something-else. SOOO DARK AND DIVINE.
"That’s the thing about Rome. He wants me to rough him up, control him, force him, yet somehow, I’m the one perpetually trapped in his snare. He has me by the throat, even when my hand is wrapped around his."
Valentine's Day, Rome and Devin (His Revelry) style. Dark AF. Pushing the limits. Pleasure and pain. Consensual sharing. ALL. THE. STEAM.
"That guy is a disaster waiting to happen. And not the ‘oh, I’m going to get you benched’ kind either. He has self-destruction written all over him. Like a catastrophic hurricane preparing to destroy everything in its way.”
Silas and Blaine. High school (but of age) MM romance. Small town. Opposites attract. Bi-awakening/first times. Enemies-to-enemies-with-benefits. SO. DAMN. HOT.
“Look at you.” I pull him against me, my hands caressing the muscles of his bare back. “You are a perfect disaster.”
Riley Nash takes us back to the pool, this time with with Darius and Tate, in Wet. And these boys are hot AF together. I've gotta say my heart was breaking for Dare. Hurt/comfort, age gap, first times, bi-awakening, rivals to lovers. Just perfection.
"I drag my fingers down his chest and bite at his neck, leaving marks on skin that already have them."
A Jonah and Roman short at their high school prom night. All the Roman darkness, and forbidden, growly fake-hate sex. If you loved Bully King you NEED to read this one!
7. The Race Between The Pretty Boy and the Bad Boy by Nicole Dykes - 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Axel doesn't say anything as he makes his way across the room. He doesn't have to. We've done this dance so many times before."
Racings cars, rivals to lovers, forbidden relationships and steamy times between two dominant males. Love it!
"With my grin wide, I bring my mouth right by his ear, feeling a shiver rack through him in the process. Keeping my voice low, I ask, “But what if I want to tell you what to do, baby?"
Travis and Mateo are next level hot AF. Forced proximity, cheating ex's hook-up, mild BDSM, "submit to me". You are going to fall hard for these boys.
"I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but I’m too drunk to think twice about it. I want him beneath me and I’m done pretending otherwise. At least for right now."
Love, love, love this oh so dark and angsty, slow-burn, hate-to-something-else, MM novella. Adore Xavi and Nate. Killer of a cliffy....more
Julia (bookish.jka)
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