My Top 5 M/M Reads of 2018
I've read some really awesome books this last year. It was in no way easy to pick just 5 books out of all the amazing books that released in 2018. This list is no particular order. I just put together some of the books that are close to my heart.
Why the devil stalks death by L.J Hayward
Series:Death and the Devil #2
Release date: December 9,2018
Page count: 380 pages
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
Jack Reardon uncovers secrets for a living, and the Meta-State spy is pretty good at it. Or rather he thought so until he met Ethan Blade—assassin, warrior, enigma. The unlikely pair have decided to give living together a shot, but Jack’s not entirely certain what he’s gotten himself into—or exactly who he’s in it with.
Jack’s worries are compounded when he’s assigned to a police strike force hunting a serial killer. With each new puzzle piece, Jack considers the true nature of a serial killer—and how similar it is to an assassin. To one particular assassin who’s having trouble adjusting to retirement. Jack’s unsure how to help Ethan—or if he even can.
When the killer strikes close to home, Jack must race against the clock to stop another murder, despite the price someone has put on his head. Could the matters be connected? Is a certain assassin at the centre of both? Surrounded by killers, the only one Jack wants near disappears, leaving Jack drowning in secrets. He’ll have to do what he does best—unravel the secrets, including Ethan’s—to stop the killer and save the life he and Ethan have only just begun to build.
**Content Warning**
Child abuse and child sexual abuse in a character’s history and not depicted directly on the page.
Review
This book is a rollercoaster of emotions. I love this series and this book is the best one yet. We are back to the past and present format(before and after). And it kept on the edge of my seat.
We get to know more about Ethan's background and it broke my heart when I read about his past. Jack and Ethan has a grown a lot in their relationship. But it frustrated me a lot because they still haven't talked about a lot of things. And I loved Rocco and Shorty the dog. Ethan is my cinnamon roll and I just want to hug him so bad. And Jack, there was a time when I wanted to kill him myself but then it all got sorted out. I love the how the author leaves those little cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. Also it happened. The thing that we have been waiting for. I can't wait for the next book!!! All I have to say is READ IT!
*ARC provided by the author
Amazon US
Trick Play by Eden Finley
Series: Fake boyfriend #2
Release date: June 25,2018
Page Count: 306 pages
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
Matt
Want to know the fastest way to get screwed out of a football career? Get photographed in a compromising position in a gay bar. Yep, welcome to my life.
My agent says he can fix my image. He wants me to become the poster boy for gay football players. Me? I just want back on the field. I’ll do anything to play for the NFL again, even pretend to have a steady boyfriend. If only my fake boyfriend wasn’t Noah Huntington III—the most arrogant, entitled rich guy in the world.
Noah
Pretend to be Matt Jackson’s boyfriend, my best friend said. It’ll be fun, he said. What Damon neglected to mention is Matt is surly and bitter. Being his boyfriend is a job in itself. From his paranoia over being constantly photographed to his aversion to PDA, being with Matt isn’t the care-free fake relationship I expected when I signed on to do this.
It’s supposed to be a win-win. I get to stick it to my politician dad who thinks no one is good enough for the Huntington name, and Matt’s reputation of being the bad boy of football dies.
What I don’t expect is to start caring for the guy. That’s not part of the plan. Then again, neither is fooling around with him on my private jet.
Oops.
**Trick Play is a full-length MM novel with a HEA/HEA and no cliffhanger**
Review
Eden finley continues to amaze me book by book. I loved this book even more than the first one. Matt and cute and so so hot. I devoured this book in a single sitting.
All the side characters are amazing. We get to see Matt and Damon from Fake out and also Jethro AKA Jet AKA JJ (Matt's awesome brother). I am so looking forward to read Talon and Miller's book!! I want them right now(I wish it was book 3).
Dedicated by Neve Wilder
Series: Rhythm of love #1
Release date: December 11, 2018
Page count: 340 pages
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
“Our greatest hit is a love song I wrote for my bandmate. And he has no idea.”
Messy-haired, soulful-eyed, off-kilter lyricist Les Graves holds tight to the hedonist’s credo of consumption in every avenue of life. He has trouble staying still, trouble staying sober, trouble turning down a good time—but put a pen in his hand, and he’ll set a page on fire.
Music was Evan Porter’s ticket out of the backwater mud puddle he was born in, the passion keeping him warm as he busked on street corners, fueling him through a dead-end bartending job. Every chord, every song, every ounce of sweat has been devoted to making Porter & Graves a success. He’s the level-head, the quiet maestro, the seatbelt that keeps Les from flying too far out of control. And he’s getting pretty tired of playing savior.
Their chemistry onstage is electric, but offstage it’s another story.
Angst, snark, and nuclear levels of unresolved sexual tension combust in this tale of two rockers, a handful of secrets, a bombed album, and a publicity nightmare thrown in a remote cabin with one shot at redemption. Can Evan and Les find harmony or will they—and their music career—go down in flames?
Dedicated is a 92k standalone bisexual friends-to-lovers romance that also plays on the fake relationship trope, contains a cockblocking greenhouse, really poor decisions involving social media, and a borderline over-the-top HEA.
*Please note: This book contains reference to and depiction of a MMF scene*
Review
Holy shit!!! I loved this book!! It broke me and fixed me and then shattered me and then made me fly! I loved them so much and this book was a rollercoaster. It had fake relationship, friends to lovers, pining (a whole lot of it). Obviously it was made for me!
Highly recommended
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Join the club by Charlie cochet
Series: Four kings security #3
Release date: November 19,2018
Page Count: 261 pages
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
Eduardo “Lucky” Morales is a fighter, from his childhood days in Cuba to his time as a Special Forces Green Beret. Scarred by the wars of his past, Lucky has learned nothing lasts forever. Guarding his heart is second nature, and getting emotionally involved is not an option. As co-owner of Four Kings Security, Lucky works hard alongside his former brothers-in-arms and fellow Kings, but he also plays hard. Flirting with sexy Texas cowboy and detective, Mason Cooper, is too much fun to resist, until Mason turns the tables on him.
Mason Cooper may not be a soldier, but he’s fought his share of battles as an openly gay cop and now a detective for Major Crimes. Mason has no idea when things changed between him and Lucky, but the gorgeous, fiery Cuban has turned his world upside down. When a mistake leads to his suspension from the force, Mason turns to the least likely person for help: Ward Kingston.
Determined to keep Mason at arms’ length, Lucky is surprised to find the man at Four Kings Security. The Florida nights might be getting cooler, but the heat between Lucky and Mason burns hotter with every passing moment. Working private security can be dangerous and unpredictable, but so can falling in love.
Review
💜💜I love Mason and Lucky. They are scorching hot together and this is my favourite book in this series. And the epilogue?! Holy shit!! King is a badass and I'm glad Las gets closure. I honestly can't wait for King's book. December is so far away!!
High recommendation
Amazon US
Rough terrain by Annabeth Albert
Series: Out of uniform #7
Release date: January 14,
2019
Page Count: 384 pages
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
The camping trip from hell may be the first stop on the road to happily-ever-after.
Navy SEAL Renzo Bianchi has a soft spot for Canaan Finley, and not only because the man makes a mean smoothie. He’s the first guy to get Renzo’s motor revving in a long time. But when he agrees to Canaan’s insane charade—one all-access fake boyfriend, coming right up—he never expects more than a fling.
Creating a hot Italian SEAL boyfriend to save face seemed like a good idea…until his friends called Canaan’s bluff. Now he’s setting off into the woods with the very man who inspired his deception, and Canaan is not the outdoorsy type. The sparks are already flying when a flash flood separates them from their group, leaving Renzo and Canaan very much trapped…very much alone in the wilderness.
Working together to come up with a plan for survival is sexier than either of them expects. But back in the real world, being a couple is bringing its own set of hazards…
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Review
While this book was released in Jan, I read an ARC in December. So this is going on the list.
Another one in out of uniform series that I absolutely loved. I loved seeing Renzo and Canaan grow together as couple and individually. I loved Canaan and his grandfather is simply amazing. Renzo is under a lot of pressure especially by his parents expectations. Honestly I didn't like his mother that much.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I'm a bit sad that this is the last in the series. Annabeth albert has always written stories that I don't want to put down and this one is not anydifferent.
*ARC kindly provided by a NovelTake PR via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review
