"If someone makes you feel like music does, you should never let them go."
Of Chords and Dreams is the third book in the Burn to Rise series by the"If someone makes you feel like music does, you should never let them go."
Of Chords and Dreams is the third book in the Burn to Rise series by the wonderful, new-to-me author L.A. Cannon, and whilst it can totally be read as a standalone (which is exactly what I did) in retrospect, I would have liked to have read the first two books in the series first, just to get the background to the band and to Leah's story. Book 1 Behind the Lights and book 2 Beyond the Lights are MF and are pretty dark I understand, (they are both on my book shelf ready to be devoured!) but this instalment is MM, which is my favurite genre.
Be aware that this is written in the third person, which personally took me a bit of getting used to.
Of Chords and Dreams is Chris and Marc's story. They are the lead guitarist and bass player in a rockband that rises to preeminence during the course of the story and they have been best friends for over a decade. Chris is straight (or so he thinks) and a total commitment-phobe and Marc is bi, having had one or two serious relationships including one long-term with another guy. He's secretly been in love with Chris for years but has kept a lid on his feelings, not wanting to destroy their relationship or put the band in jeopardy.
Things start to change between them when they have a threesome with a consenting female, which leads to something physical happening between the two of them during the course of the liaison.........and Chris totally freaks out.
The way their relationship develops, physically first and then as the reality of their growing feelings becomes apparent, makes for a fabulous read. This is an angsty, best friends to lovers, opposites attract, bi-awakening, rockstar romance - with all the feels. And all the steam!
Merged review:
"If someone makes you feel like music does, you should never let them go."
Of Chords and Dreams is the third book in the Burn to Rise series by the wonderful, new-to-me author L.A. Cannon, and whilst it can totally be read as a standalone (which is exactly what I did) in retrospect, I would have liked to have read the first two books in the series first, just to get the background to the band and to Leah's story. Book 1 Behind the Lights and book 2 Beyond the Lights are MF and are pretty dark I understand, (they are both on my book shelf ready to be devoured!) but this instalment is MM, which is my favurite genre.
Be aware that this is written in the third person, which personally took me a bit of getting used to.
Of Chords and Dreams is Chris and Marc's story. They are the lead guitarist and bass player in a rockband that rises to preeminence during the course of the story and they have been best friends for over a decade. Chris is straight (or so he thinks) and a total commitment-phobe and Marc is bi, having had one or two serious relationships including one long-term with another guy. He's secretly been in love with Chris for years but has kept a lid on his feelings, not wanting to destroy their relationship or put the band in jeopardy.
Things start to change between them when they have a threesome with a consenting female, which leads to something physical happening between the two of them during the course of the liaison.........and Chris totally freaks out.
The way their relationship develops, physically first and then as the reality of their growing feelings becomes apparent, makes for a fabulous read. This is an angsty, best friends to lovers, opposites attract, bi-awakening, rockstar romance - with all the feels. And all the steam!...more
"Kai is such a paradox. His feisty attitude mixed with a soft innocence. Even with what he has done in the past, and what he has to do here, it fai"Kai is such a paradox. His feisty attitude mixed with a soft innocence. Even with what he has done in the past, and what he has to do here, it fails to taint him. In my eyes at least. This is all so dangerous. Another side to me has awoken, and I can’t seem to shut that part of myself down. A need to have him."
“You take up all the space,” he whispers, rubbing his nose against mine. “All the air.”
Dirty Martini is book 1 in the Miami Nights and Club Lights“You take up all the space,” he whispers, rubbing his nose against mine. “All the air.”
Dirty Martini is book 1 in the Miami Nights and Club Lights series by Addison Beck. The books are a series of interconnected standalones featuring the workers of club XO as they search for their HEAs. This is Rhys and Everest's story.
What To Expect:
❥ Dual POV ❥ MM college romance ❥ Bi-awakening ❥ Best friend's brother ❥ Enemies to lovers ❥ Found family ❥ Possessive MC ❥ Forced proximity ❥ Room-mates ❥ Steamy first times ❥ HEA
Loved all the relationships and side characters, my fave trope (enemies to lovers) and lots of spicy moments.
"We are fire and drought, destined to consume and ruin. His tongue writes secrets across the inside of my mouth, scripts of longing that have no pl"We are fire and drought, destined to consume and ruin. His tongue writes secrets across the inside of my mouth, scripts of longing that have no place in our world. And I read them all, insatiable for the narrative that could destroy us both."
Dallas is book 2 in the Light & Shadow duet by the fabulous N.N. Britt and whilst it is predominantly Dallas' book, it is written in dual POV with chapters shared between Dallas and Isaac. Natalia writes so beautifully, and creates such wonderfully complex, layered, broken characters you just lose yourself in the continuation of the story.
Again, watch out for those tough, dark themes BUT I promise there's a HEA!
What To Expect:
❥ MM mafia/cop romance ❥ dual POV ❥ opposites attract ❥ steamy ❥ angsty ❥ first times ❥ found family ❥ HEA
"When I swing the door open, Isaac stands there. Again. He's all dark hair and extra-rich chocolate eyes framed by long lashes. A storm dressed as "When I swing the door open, Isaac stands there. Again. He's all dark hair and extra-rich chocolate eyes framed by long lashes. A storm dressed as a man. Black slacks, white shirt, wrist wrapped with a Rolex."
Isaac is book 1 in the Light & Shadow duet by the fabulous N.N. Britt and whilst it is predominantly Isaac's book, it is written in dual POV chapters shared between Isaac and Dallas. Natalia writes so beautifully, and creates such wonderfully complex, layered, broken characters you just lose yourself in the story. Watch out for some tough, dark themes. Thankfully book 2 in the duet Dallas is out on 26 September, so you don't have long to wait for their conclusion!
What To Expect:
❥ MM mafia/cop romance ❥ dual POV ❥ opposites attract ❥ dark themes ❥ slow burn ❥ steamy ❥ angsty ❥ first times ❥ found family ❥ duet (cliff hanger)
"I didn’t realize it then, but that day in the pool was the first time he carved his name into my heart. He did it deeply. Deep enough to leave a f"I didn’t realize it then, but that day in the pool was the first time he carved his name into my heart. He did it deeply. Deep enough to leave a fine, silvery thread of scar tissue. I didn’t mind or complain. Not at all. Hell, I cracked my own sternum and held my ribcage wide open, giving him the time and access he needed to cut as deeply as he wanted. I didn’t wince. I didn’t flinch or pull away. I stood still. I was such a dumbass. I looked on and smiled as he did it."
Honestly, I don't have enough good things to say about the heart-wrenchingly angsty and totally divine standalone Romeo Falling by the fabulous Jesse H. Reign.
Romeo Falling is an MM, best friends-to lovers-to enemies-to lovers romance, with some achingly beautiful moments between our MCs Romeo and Jude, all the steamy first times, so much pining and alllll the angst. The writing is just perfect and the single POV keeps you wondering until the end.
What To Expect:
❣️MM romance ❣️small town ❣️co-dependency ❣️childhood best friends to lovers to enemies to.... ❣️all the firsts ❣️spicy but with love ❣️soulmates ❣️cheating (not between MCs) ❣️miscommunication ❣️single POV ❣️hard won HEA
"That was it. That was the moment I thought would set the course for the rest of my life. Even now, I could swear it was real. I could swear as I lay there beneath him, I saw Romeo falling."
One of my favourite reads this year, one of those that stays with you.
"I don’t know how to have a friend," Gage admits, finally putting me at ease. I like it when other people feel awkward because it makes me feel les"I don’t know how to have a friend," Gage admits, finally putting me at ease. I like it when other people feel awkward because it makes me feel less alone in my awkwardness. Quirks like company, I guess.
Sober Dope & Sundays is book 2 in the fabulous Nordika Night's Weekday Weirdos series. Like the first book in the series, Red Flags & Tuesdays, Sober Dope & Sundays was an unexpectedly quirky, funny and enchanting read, particularly given its dark-themed subject matter (addiction, recovery, relapse, mental health rep, amongst more).
Nordika Night handles the subject matter so beautifully, you can't help but get sucked into the journey these two amazing characters are on.
I totally adored Gage and Alexei. Gage literally WOULD NOT GIVE UP and Alexei was his brightness and strength, without giving up his own identity.
Although this book has dark themes, it's not a dark book; there's so much positivity and support to draw on, with the best parents (on both sides) and the best 'found family' support that you could wish for.
It's absolutely a romance, but it's not smutty or really spicy in any way; whilst the boys both fall quickly, they fall deeply in friendship and soulmateship first, and take baby steps with the intimacy.
"Somewhere, opposing forces raised weapons and unleashed bloodshed. And nearby, the rainforest watched us. And around us, the water flailed. This w"Somewhere, opposing forces raised weapons and unleashed bloodshed. And nearby, the rainforest watched us. And around us, the water flailed. This was how it felt to surrender and conquer. This was how it felt to kiss a villain."
Well, where to start?! I first read Dare by the sublime Natalia Jaster back in 2020 when it was the second book in the Foolish Kingdoms series and I adored it. Now 4 years later, the author is re-writing the series, making it way longer, expanding and developing all the amazing story lines, character arcs and world-building, and upping the spice rating ten-fold!
The first book Trick is now told across three books, the other two being Ruin and Burn, and all books in the series do need to be read in order, because whilst they are about different couples (Poet and Briar are across the first three books) they are all interlinked and there is one overarching story.
So back to Dare, which is Jeryn and Flare's story. Prince Jeryn is heir to the Winter Kingdom (Poet and Briar are from the Autumn court) and Flare is a 'born soul', considered 'less than' because of her inability to speak and her tendency for the dramatic; she has been imprisoned for most of her life.
They hate each other and they are obsessed with each other. Flare escapes from Summer's prison and Jeryn hunts her down. All the way to a tropical island undiscovered for centuries. Where things slowly start to change between them, as misunderstandings and revelations and life and death situations lead to lines being crossed, and the longing for things that can never be starts taking root in both of them....
What To Expect:
❣️MF fantasy romance ❣️Enemies to lovers ❣️Dark themes ❣️Forced proximity ❣️Forbidden ❣️Found family ❣️"Touch her and die" ❣️ALL THE STEAM! ❣️HFN
On the topic of steam, these are probably some of the longest spicy scenes, so be prepared!
As always, with Natalia's work, we have wonderfully diverse characters and fabulous representation. The writing is beautiful, such amazing prose, flowery and descriptive and divine. The world building is stunning and the characters sublime.
"East’s lips are as soft as I always thought they would be. He melts in my hold the way I imagined. His jaw fits in my hand with the exact perfecti"East’s lips are as soft as I always thought they would be. He melts in my hold the way I imagined. His jaw fits in my hand with the exact perfection I’d always assumed it would, and as we kiss, as my guts fill with helium and my heart feels too big to contain, I work out that there’s only one thing worse than your dream man being nothing like you thought he would be. And that’s your dream man being everything you imagined."
Forbidden Puckboy is book 7 in the linked standalone Puckboys series by Eden Finley and Saxon James. This is Knox and Easton's story and whilst it's not my fave in the series, it still has that classic Eden and Saxon feelgood factor!
What To Expect:
❥ Dual POV ❥ MM hockey romance ❥ Best friend's brother ❥ Low angst ❥ Cute, steamy times ❥ HEA
"Seconds ticked by . . . The kiss went on . . . Zee’s tail flicked. Victor rocked with the motion of their embrace. Erm. Maybe they should ge"Seconds ticked by . . . The kiss went on . . . Zee’s tail flicked. Victor rocked with the motion of their embrace. Erm. Maybe they should get a room? I shouldn’t watch, but also couldn’t look away. Zee and Victor, tongue-wrestling, hand-grabbing. There was even some hip action going on. Mercy, they were spicy hot."
Ariana Nash continues the craziness in book 5 of her SOS Hotel series. Adam's troubles continue in SOS Hotel: No Rest for the Wicked and in this instalment, we have gremlins. Gremlins and murdery pixies. Oh and did I mention the MMM action is going up a notch. Or three......
To be continued in book - SOS Hotel: Luxury to Die for- and I can't wait for more not-quite-so-human Adam Vex and his boys!
"Something about him drew me like a moth to a flame, which was only a problem because most of the time, he looked at me as if he couldn’t ever trus"Something about him drew me like a moth to a flame, which was only a problem because most of the time, he looked at me as if he couldn’t ever trust me, as if he didn’t even like me, when all I saw in him was safety. A place to lay down my head and rest, knowing that he’d have my back while I slept."
Kiss a Villain is book 1 in the No Mercy duet by debut author Mia Darling, and what a totally fabulous debut this was! I was sucked in from the very first chapter and inhaled the entire book over one (sleepless!) night. I totally adored our gorgeously innocent despite the horror, pining mafia prince Yarik, but my heart is still with that beautifully broken lonely Bratva boy, Kirill. So much angst!
"I likely should feel wary at being led along into the darkness and seclusion, out of the way of any passing eyes. Any other man would cause me no "I likely should feel wary at being led along into the darkness and seclusion, out of the way of any passing eyes. Any other man would cause me no alarm, but Hollow is a different breed. He sets something inside of me squirming and burning at the same time. I don’t like it. But I really, really, really do."
No Justice for the Damned by the fabulous Hellie Heat is a standalone MM romance, as part of the multi-author collaboration Tales from the Tarot. This book is based on the major arcana card Justice and it is Killian and Hollow's story.
Be aware that No Justice for the Damned does contain some very dark themes including child trafficking amongst more, so before you dive in you do need to check the author's warnings.
I absolutely adored Killian and Hollow, and their evolving relationship in the midst of so much evil and horror was just gorgeously written. The paranormal/magic element was beautifully woven into the story and there were some genuinely shocking moments. I loved it!
What To Expect:
❥MM romance ❥Dark themes ❥Dark fantasy/PNR ❥Enemies To Lovers ❥Slow-burn ❥All the spice ❥First times ❥HEA
No need to read any of the other books in the series first, or in any particular order, or at all, but definitely dive into No Justice for the Damned immediately!
"Where did you go?" she asked Jeremy. He looked at the boy on the ground, then at her, and his one-word answer was frightening enough that she aske"Where did you go?" she asked Jeremy. He looked at the boy on the ground, then at her, and his one-word answer was frightening enough that she asked him nothing more. "Far."
Meg Shaffer is a new-to-me author, so I was excited to take a deep dive into The Lost Story kindly provided to me by NetGalley. And I was so happy I did!
The Lost Story was an absolute palate cleanser compared to the dark, MM contemporary romance/sports romance books I usually read. Pitched as an 'adult fairytale' and very loosely based on the Narnia stories, this was an enchanting tale of lost and found, and hidden memories that somehow stay forever.
Whilst this does have a MM romance woven throughout, it is very much 'fade to black' on any romantic scenes between our fabulous MMCs, Jeremy and Rafe, with the fantasy element and overarching storyline taking priority. Nothing here for fans of smut!
There are some strong FMCs too, in Skya and Emilie, and a gorgeous fantasy world in Shanandoah to get lost in.
What to Expect
❣️Fantasy romance ❣️Alternate/parallel worlds ❣️MM best friends to lovers ❣️Strong FMCs ❣️Mental health rep ❣️Some dark themes ❣️HFN
"Luca glares at me for a moment longer, before his expression softens and his lips tilt up in a soft smile. And as I hold his gaze, I can’t help bu"Luca glares at me for a moment longer, before his expression softens and his lips tilt up in a soft smile. And as I hold his gaze, I can’t help but smile as well, and send him a silent thank you. As irritating as he can be, he’s also the only one that can really get me out of my head, and help me find my way home."
Choke Hold is the second and final book in the No Holds Barred duology by Eve Holmes and my love affair with Ty and Luca continues! Whilst I didn't lose myself in this one quite like I did with Hooks In, it was still a fabulous ending to their story.
"Yeah, I’m a team captain. I play an aggressive, full-contact sport, but I like when he makes decisions for me. I don’t want to think anymore. It’s"Yeah, I’m a team captain. I play an aggressive, full-contact sport, but I like when he makes decisions for me. I don’t want to think anymore. It’s dangerous in my head. My body reacts to him like it never has before, and I’m already desperate to see what else he can do to me."
Off Sides is book 3 in the Darby U Hockey Boys series by Andi Jaxon and this is Nick and Joey's story. We first met the boys briefly in Hidden Scars and then again in novella form, in the Worthy: A Pride Anthology. Now, finally, they get themselves a full lenth story.
Recall, Nick is the confident star player of the Darby U football team and Joey is the Darby U 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 as hot as you would expect with an AJ read. You'll never look at a cinnamon roll in the same way again!
"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?"
What to Expect:
❥ Dual POV ❥ MM sports romance ❥ One night stand turns into more ❥ Hurt/comfort ❥ Daddy vibes ❥ Steamy times ❥ Angsty themes ❥ HEA
Adam's troubles continue. Turns out the hotel definitely has a gremlin problem, Zodiac is becoming more and more irresistable, Gideon Cain is unrelenting and Reynard has a damn wife!
This is still just MM as far as the romance goes, with Adam falling for BOTH his business partners in book one, but you just know this is going to end up as MMM once the demon and the vampire sort out their differences - and who doesn't adore an enemies to lovers show-down?!
Adam's troubles continue. Turns out the hotel definitely has a gremlin problem, Zodiac is becoming more and more irresistable, Gideon Cain is unrelenting and Reynard has a damn wife!
This is still just MM as far as the romance goes, with Adam falling for BOTH his business partners in book one, but you just know this is going to end up as MMM once the demon and the vampire sort out their differences - and who doesn't adore an enemies to lovers show-down?!
Julia (bookish.jka)
>
Books:
found-family
(127)
Loading...
