Mini Reviews: M/M books #1

Hello, panda shippers! Hope everyone is on the beautiful path for the new year and having a good time =) Today I’d like to talk about those 83479303203902 late reviews I own you all.

I know, it’s bad, but thanks to Cait, from The Paper Fury, I FINALLY found a perfect solution to speed things up with my reviews, especially regarding books that were good, but not remarkable: MINI REVIEWS!

I know what you’re thinking. But Annelise, the whole internet and the galaxies know about your George R. R. Martin syndrome, so how are you planning to write mini reviews?!

Thankfully, I have another awesome friend that helped me solving this problem: Lindsey, from @thepagemistress ❤ A looong time ago, she asked how I organized my ideas for a review and we chatted about this for hours until she finally came up with her own method for Goodreads reviews and I’m graciously using them as well for the Mini Reviews posts =)

As this is the first one, I apologize for it being so long, but explanation is necessary! I’ll try to stick to a theme when doing mini reviews, so you know what you’ll find here =) Feedback is always welcome and needed, but in this section especially, PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO IN THE COMMENTS LATER, PLEASE?!

Now, let’s do this, haha!

In this post, you’ll find mini reviews for:

• Andrew Grey – Eyes Only For Me
• Aria Grace – More Than Friends (More Than Friends #1)
• Aria Grace – Drunk In Love (More Than Friends #2)
• Chad Lane – Only For You (Only For You #1)
• Holley Trent – Winterball (Den of Sin #10)
• Jack Woolf – Police Force

*~.Eyes Only For Me.~*

From Andrew Grey

Rating: 5 stars

Reading period: June 18^th to 19^th, 2016

Format: ebook

Source: a gift from @shut.up.im.trying.to.read

For years, Clayton Potter’s been friends and workout partners with Ronnie. Though Clay is attracted, he’s never come on to Ronnie because, let’s face it, Ronnie only dates women.

When Clay’s father suffers a heart attack, Ronnie, having recently lost his dad, springs into action, driving Clay to the hospital over a hundred miles away. To stay close to Clay’s father, the men share a hotel room near the hospital, but after an emotional day, one thing leads to another, and straight-as-an-arrow Ronnie make a proposal that knocks Clay’s socks off! Just a little something to take the edge off.

Clay responds in a way he’s never considered. After an amazing night together, Clay expects Ronnie to ignore what happened between them and go back to his old life. Ronnie surprises him and seems interested in additional exploration. Though they’re friends, Clay suddenly finds it hard to accept the new Ronnie and suspects that Ronnie will return to his old ways. Maybe they both have a thing or two to learn.

PROS

Friends to lovers is one of my favorite themes, so I was wildly cheering for Clay and Ronnie. Also, no instalove, good and steamy hot sex scenes, real and emotional characters with a neat plot and a winning cover. Oh, and did I mention that there is a metaphor made around My Fair Lady? ❤ Oh, oh, and nicely done first person narrator!

CONS

I truly feel like the author skipped a vital scene for the couple’s total acceptance of each other towards the end and, for me, the story remains incomplete without such scene =( I’m sorry I can’t say more, but, ugh, bad spoilers!

QUOTES

“I swear, get any four guys together and they instantly reverted to the age of the youngest guy minus a decade.” – Clay’s thoughts

~*~

“I’m high maintenance, no doubt about it. But maybe I’m your kind of high maintenance.” – Ronnie

RECOMMENDED FOR

Fans of M/M and friends-to-lovers.

*~.More Than Friends.~*

From Aria Grace

More Than Friends #1

Rating: 4 stars

Reading period: Sept. 23^th

Format: ebook

Source: freebie at Amazon

Tired of moping around after the breakup of his long term girlfriend, Ryan knew he needed a hookup to get him out of his funk. When he met Drea, he hoped she might be the one. But when he felt more chemistry with her gay cousin Zach, Ryan felt more confused and terrified than he had in his life. He wasn’t gay but he wanted to be with Zach. How could it possibly work?

PROS

Enchanting writing, complex characters despite the book being a novella, delightful cover, realistic plot line and ALL THE FEELS. Steamy sex also included =)

CONS

Despite being an awesome novella, this plot had so much potential that it made me sad to see it over so soon =( Also, I’ve ran into quite some editing problems, oops!

QUOTES

“Zach still wasn’t sure Ryan was ready to come out publicly but he didn’t care. He’d keep him tucked in the closet forever… as long as it was his closet.”

RECOMMENDED FOR

Fans of M/M and friends-to-lovers.

*~.Drunk in Love.~*

From Aria Grace

More Than Friends #2

Rating: 5 stars

Reading period: Sept. 23^th to 24^th

Format: ebook

Source: freebie at Amazon

Zach and Ryan have a good thing going. After eight blissful months together, they’re both ready to take their relationship to the next level. When a romantic weekend away turns into a wild night with Zach’s ex, things change forever. An experience they thought they could handle could break them up for good.

PROS

THIS BOOK WAS SO ROMANTIC ❤ ❤ I loved seeing the development of Ryan and Zach’s relationship and, to be honest, Zach is just so perfect as a boyfriend that I kind of want to steal him from Ryan. #justsaying

CONS

There is a particular scene involving a threesome in this book that made me a little eerie. It’s not clear for me if preservatives were used when the third guy came in and, due to their long and faithful commitment, Zach and Ryan don’t use protection with each other anymore, so I had a several case of turn off as I worried for Ryan and Zach’s safety .-. I actually have to refrain my practical thoughts a lot during sex scenes, if you guys care to know LMAO

QUOTES

“It was pretty easy to be asexual when you were single and depressed.” – Ryan’s thoughts

RECOMMENDED FOR

Fans of M/M and friends-to-lovers.

*~.Only For You.~*

From Chad Lane

Only For You #1

Rating: 5 stars

Reading period: Sept. 22th

Format: ebook

Source: freebie at Amazon

When genius college student David and jock ex-rugby player Matt are put together as college roommates, they’re both in for a education that will change their lives. David’s sheltered upbringing has left him socially awkward, a 80s fashion sense and a stick-thin physique. Matt decides to look out for the daydreaming student and teaches about some of the things he has missed out on. They quickly become best friends.

However, David’s feelings for Matt grow deeper than just friendship. After a awkward encounter with a girl Matt sets him up with, David knows he only wants on thing.

But will David convince Matt to succumb to their desires? Or will it all end in disaster?

PROS

Despite the shortness of the book, I loved the character’s construction and that the author didn’t include instalove. Matt is really cute and David is just like us socially awkward people that really would like to have friends ❤ Mildly hot sex scenes, btw!

CONS

This book involves physical transformation in order to impress or to be included in a determinate social group and I think no one, regardless of their genre, should change their bodies for someone else. If you want to change, change for you, for your own entertainment and empowering, not to win the hot guy. #justsaying Also, this cover is kind of bad, sorry =(

QUOTES

“ (…) new rule: don’t ever let a bad kisser next to your dick. If they don’t know how to use their mouth up top, they sure as hell won’t know how to use it down there.” – Matt

~*~

“I was perfectly happy being friendless before I knew how incredible that bond can be.” – David’s thoughts

RECOMMENDED FOR

Fans of M/M, friends-to-lovers, New Adult and College settings.

*~.Winterball.~*

From Holley Trent

Den of Sin #10

Rating: 5 stars

Reading period: Sept. 18^th

Format: ebook

Source: freebie at Amazon

When teammates Barton Lock and Evan Boswell arrive separately at the Hotel Beaudelaire’s exclusive Den of Sin Winterball, neither expects the staff matchmaker to pair them with the other. Evan is minor league baseball’s biggest ladies’ man, and Bart has spent way too many nights bearing witness to Evan’s conquests.

Evan came to the Den to play, but knowing Bart is the other party in his secret weekend rendezvous changes the game. Evan’s used to Bart calling the shots on the field, and wouldn’t mind so much if Bart did the same in his personal life, too. Unfortunately, Bart thinks Evan’s attempted seduction has more to do with changing his mind about retiring from their sport than hitting a relationship home run.

PROS

I loved the resistance at the romance on Bart’s end, as he isn’t interested on having anything to do with a straight guy, especially if it is a team colleague. The settings are amazing and Evan’s determination to prove Bart wrong is awesome, haha! Plus, this cover got me drooling a bit and the sex scenes were a delight ❤

CONS

 While I did love this book with all my heart, I don’t feel it was a memorable read. It’s a shame, because I don’t even know what I am missing here!! =(

QUOTES

Bart: You want to punch me, Evan? Go ahead and try. You better make damn sure it knocks me out, too.

Evan: Or else, what? You’ll break my face?

Bart: Face. Fingers. I believe in being spontaneous.

RECOMMENDED FOR

Fans of M/M, sports related books, baseball related books, forbidden relationships, frenemies to lovers.

*~.Police Force.~*

From Jackie Woolf

Rating: 4 stars

Reading period: Sept. 19^th

Format: ebook

Source: freebie at Amazon

Straight and sexy William is a police officer in training. He wants nothing more than to protect and serve his fellow citizens. A night of celebration takes a steamy turn when William’s very rich and very cocky stepbrother, Jack, reveals his true feelings for William. Their night together turns both of their lives upside down. William is about to enter a world of crime and intrigue darker than he ever imagined—even as Jack and William explore their deepest, most forbidden passions for one another.

PROS

The plot is actually awesome, as the author mixes action, mystery and gay romance all in one book. I didn’t see the twist coming near the end and it was refreshing – hence my high rating, haha! Also, the cover is kind of hot?

CONS

 The writing style killed me a little. Seriously, the story has so much potential, but the execution was generally poorly made =/ Characters also are weirdly developed.

QUOTES

“He [William] shook his head and looked away before he could write poems out of his brother.”

RECOMMENDED FOR

Fans of M/M, frenemies to lovers, action, stepbrothers’ love.

~*~

AND WE ARE DONE! I know, this is huge, but I’m feeling ridiculously productive now? Thank you if you had the patience to read all of this and I hope I was useful with those mini reviews! Please, don’t forget to tell me what you think of this new sections on the comments ❤

With love,