Four outstanding contemporary male/male romances from Carina Press authors Layla Reyne, Sidney Bell, Annabeth Albert, and A.R. Barley Single Malt by Layla Reyne Eight months after the car crash that changed everything, FBI agent Aidan Talley is back at work. New department, new case and a new partner. Smart, athletic and handsome, Jameson Walker is twelve years his junior. And firmly off-limits. And firmly off-limits.
But Jamie’s talents paint a target on his back, and Aidan is determined to protect him. With time running out to thwart a deadly terrorist attack, they’ll have to filter out distractions–on and off the job–to identify the real enemy, solve the case and save thousands of lives, including their own.
Loose Cannon by Sidney Bell
Released after five years in the system, Edgar-Allen Church is ready to leave the past behind. Miller Quinn–a patient, solidly masculine pillar of strength and support–has always been there for him. Except in the one way Church has wanted the most.
Miller has been playing it straight his whole life. But with Church so close again, it’s getting harder to keep his denial intact. As they fumble their way back to friendship after so many years apart, Miller struggles to find the courage to accept who he really is. What he has with Church could be more than desire–it could be love. But it could also mean trouble.
Off Base by Annabeth Albert
After trading the barracks for a fixer-upper rental, navy SEAL Zack Nelson wants peace, not a roommate–especially not Pike, whose flirting puts virgin Zack on edge. And the questions Pike’s arrival would spark from Zack’s teammates about his own sexuality? Nope. Not going there. But Zack can’t refuse.
Pike Reynolds knows he’s an acquired taste, but he needs this chance to get his life together. Also, teasing the uptight SEAL will be hella fun. Still, Pike has to tread carefully; he’s had his fill of tourists in the past, and he can’t risk his heart on another, not even one as hot and built as Zack.
On Duty by A.R. Barley
Former marine and seasoned firefighter Troy Barnes has always kept his sex life on the down low, until he takes back-to-back hits: physically injured in a suspicious warehouse explosion and emotionally blindsided when he’s ditched by his boyfriend. When a flirty young paramedic offers him a place to crash, Troy’s not so willing to give in. He’s never needed help before. But if anyone can break through his tough-guy act, it’s Alex Tate.
Alex has crushed on Troy since the minute he saw him. Now here he is, stripped of his turnout gear and recuperating in Alex’s bed. The tattooed hero may be a fantasy-come-true, but Alex wants more than rebound sex–and he’s not sure Troy’s ex is gone or forgotten.
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What a great and varied collection of m/m romances from a few of my favorite authors and a new to me author. Certainly if you’ve been waiting to try more than one of these books/series, this is a great way to see if they’re for you.
Off Base by Annabeth Albert
4 stars-
Off Base is an out-for-you romance pairing a Navy Seal with a college professor. Zack and Pike start as acquaintances linked by mutual friends. This existing connection ended up being really nice because it made their living situation and eventual relationship more believable, especially considering how patient Pike had to be while Zack decided if he wanted to be out. There was a lot of back and forth as Pike and Zack worked through their issues, and though that would normally wear on me, the steady character growth and relationship development kept me from getting too frustrated.
The writing in Off Base was smooth, the pacing steady, and the dialogue fit the characters well and developed Zack and Pike’s personalities, making it easy to picture the scenes playing out. I put off starting this series longer than I should have, despite hearing lots of praise for it and knowing I liked this author’s writing style. The release of this set finally spurred me into action, and I know I’ll be returning for more from the Out of Uniform series.
Loose Cannon by Sidney Bell
4.5 stars- Loose Cannon was an emotionally taxing book for me. Clearly it resonated because I felt EVERYTHING, but not in a way I anticipated. This was very much along the lines of a hurt-comfort book, but kicked up a notch. The writing is fantastic- the plot flows, the pacing steady, the characters are flushed out and developed, the conflicts believable, and the resolutions satisfying.
Filled with flawed but likable characters whom I found interesting and complex, Loose Cannon had my full attention from start to finish. While some of the behavior and responses didn’t sit well with me, Miss Bell does a stellar job explaining the emotions fueling those moments. Even when I was frustrated, I couldn’t be irritated because I understood. I don’t think I’ve ever read a coming-out romance that explained those emotions quite so well. If you’re a fan of the emotional journeys that leave you feeling wrung out and characters overcoming their pasts, this is a must read.
Single Malt by Layla Reyne
4.5 stars- Single Malt is a fast paced story that never stops moving. It follows a new FBI partnership tasked with investigating the hacking of a contagious disease laboratory. As expected with a plot involving new partners, there’s tension as Jamie and Aiden learn more about one another and adjust to working together and eventually a strong romantic connection emerges. While the romance is certainly central to the story, it isn’t the star of the plot for me and really doesn’t develop much until the latter part of the book. When it does catch fire, the chemistry and tension that simmers throughout the story combusts, so there’s certainly no disappointment there. I loved this entire series and recommend it to anyone who likes law enforcement romances starring vibrant characters and complete with snappy dialogue.
On Duty by A.R. Barley
3 stars- This was the first time I’ve read a book by the author and I found the characters of On Duty pretty well developed and the writing to flow well. For the most part, I enjoyed the book, though it was a little up and down for me. On Duty features an interesting dynamic between Troy and Alex, with them having different careers but working in the same station. I also thought the way their friendship and relationship began to be fairly unique, and it definitely captured my attention right away. Unfortunately, the relationship evolved a little too quickly for my taste and I ended up feeling that the romance lost some of its power. There’s a lot going on in the latter part of On Duty and, while I remained engaged and invested in the characters, the execution felt a little rushed and overly simplified and it just didn’t live up to my initial expectations.
*eARC received via Layla Reyne. The authors and publisher had no influence over this review*