hot_chocolate__bibliophile's reviews
445 reviews

Cherry Picking by Rikki Leighton

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Cherry Picking by Rikki Leighton

5/5 ✨🌟

* * * SPOILERS * *

This book was super sweet and just so emotional. Griffin and Riley were everything and everything else above all. I’ve never read a book where a m/m was just so sweet and affectionate like these two were.

From the moment they laid eyes on one another, I knew they were going to be adorable. From the sweet kisses to the hugs and just their conversations, I was all in. Don’t get me started on the emotional spicy scenes because it was so well written!

Riley was so closeted to an extent I never knew was possible to let himself fall in love. He was so scared to be open and when he finally came out to his friends, teammates and his family, I thought he was good. I was so wrong. When he finally had that conversation with Matty, he was able to finally open up to Griff.

I only wanted more of these two and Riley’s parents and his brother were so kind to Griff. I love how his parents adopted Griff in a way and his sister. God, this story was perfect. I cannot say it enough. The way that Parker found out his brother was gay was very, interesting.

I love how Griffin was able to show Riley that he deserves everything even when Riley is struggling to see that he does.

I really love the side characters and Rory is probably my new favorite. I need a book for him because he’s just so sweet and fun. Rikki Leighton is a new favorite author of mine that I only want more of.

Stray Awakening by F.A. Ray

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Stray Awakening by F.A. Ray

Arc Review

5/5 ✨🌟

* * * SPOILERS * *

I get so hesitant when it comes to reading new authors because I never know if it’s going to be my cup of tea or not. But holy cow, I was not prepared by how amazing this story was. I now need to read the other series because I was hooked.

First off, the cat cafe was super cute! The way the book started was so sweet from how the cats followed Henry. I did hate that all the work was always being put up on Henry but he was just so sweet.

Alex and Henry were everything for me and only wanted more from those two. I knew from the beginning when Poppy is introduced that they were going to adopt her. There was just no way that they wouldn’t.

I felt like Henry’s parents just didn’t appreciate him at all and were just trying to control his life now that he was home. Even when he was helping his parents, they only wanted more. I really didn’t like the mom more than the dad because I felt like she was the ringleader. In the end, I’m so glad that Alex stood his ground.

I was a mess when Alex left because Henry had fallen for his not so straight friend. It’s hard not to. But it worked out for the two when Henry popped up before he could get on the train. Just like you see in the movies - sort of!

I loved that Alex was able to make a huge career choice that was for him. 

I cannot wait to read book two where Sebastian gets his happily ever after because he deserves it.

When We Meet Again by Hayden Hall

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

When We Meet Again by Hayden Hall
4/5 ✨🌟

* * * SPOILERS * *
** Release Day**

So, I wasn’t so sure about this book, but I should have know that Hayden never ceases to amaze me. To me, this was a very slow burn but gosh, it was so worth it in the end!

It starts with Luke’s 18th birthday where he’s hauling so many books in the bookstore where he meets Rafael. And man, what a meet it is. He gives Luke the best birthday ever by taking him for ice cream and such.

Their story is so beautiful and it’s just never the right time for the two of them. It does take them years to finally get together and what a way Rafael does it. I about squeaked when he asked those words that totally surprised me. You’ll have to read it as I don’t want to give too much away.

I love the little dates and the travel that they go through. I even love how we got to witness parts of the lockdown because it made this story so true and so real in this time.

I love the relationship that Luke has with his sister but feel bad that he feels like their mother truly never saw them.

And I love how protective they are for one another because it was perfect, especially when Luke saw the marks on Rafael’s face.

Honey Cut by Sierra Simone

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring relaxing tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Honey Cut by Sierra Simone

Narrated by Oscar Reyes & Isabelle Ruther

5/5 ✨🌟

* * * SPOILERS * *

Noooo I cannot wait for Bitter Burn and it doesn’t come out until 2025! Miss Simone, what did you do to me?!

This book was everything and it made it so much better to listen to the audiobook instead of reading it so I can really feel the emotions!

I feel so bad for Isolde because she fell for the man she wasn’t supposed to fall for - her husband.

And Tristan! He’s just everything! He was truly my reason for wanting to read the next part of this book.

When Mark found out about his bodyguard and his wife, whew, I was scared for the two of them. I also loved how later Mark realized he needed them both in his life.

And the spicy scenes… my goodness, could it get any dirtier and hotter? I was here for the steamy scenes!

And my god, the ending just shook me. To end it like that nearly killed me! I hope the next book we get Mark’s POV because I want to see what really goes through his mind especially when he catches the two people that truly matter the most in his world.

Felix by Emmy Sanders

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Emmy Sanders has done it again with this amazing series! This is my favorite book of the entire series and I only want more.

When exhibitionist meets voyeur…

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the first scene or Emil aka Felix giving a show to Christian aka Vixen.  This had to be the best connection out of all the books. I should have known it was going to be so amazing!

I loved the whole brainiac/femboy dynamic because it was perfect. Emil got turned on by Christian’s skirts and chains and Christian got hot and bother r by Emil’s hot and sexy words.

I’m so glad that Emil finally told his parents how he felt about Henry and finally down the road, him, when he didn’t feel loved or wanted. That was such a heartfelt scene.

And the crabs… ugh, such cuteness, especially the names. And when Emil named the second crab after Christian and his grandmother, that was just too sweet!

I loved how we get all the side characters and Alex is back with his meddling. And I about cried when they all got together and rescued Noel. And Max and Noel finally succumbed to their hidden feelings.

And poor Emil about flipping out when he said those three special words and not listening to Christian and pretty much ruining their set. Poor Jerome just can’t get a break! Haha. He definitely wasn’t expecting Felix and Vixen to fall in love.

I loved Rebecca’s story that she told Emil about himself. It was so sweet because he was always the one telling stories to her. I’m glad that he understood that Henry and Rebecca really valued how much they cherished him and his love.

When they all found out that Trevor was the one that started elite studios, it was priceless, especially Alex because he always knows EVERYTHING!

From the respectable public scene that Christian gave to Felix to the proposal, this story was top notch. I hope we don’t wait too long for the next book in this amazing series because each book gets better and better. Thanks for letting me be an arc reviewer. Super grateful for this amazing opportunity 💜

For the Fans by Nyla K.

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’ve been listening to a lot of audiobooks a lot lately but this has to be my favorite narration ever! Corbin and Javi did Avi and Kyran roles so good and I only wanted more. I did not want this book but it was the perfect way.

From the moment we met both guys, I only ached for these two so much. I went through so many emotions from distraught to happiness to sadness to just shocked emotions.

And what happened to Kyran made me want to hug him so much. It explained why he was the way he was or even the why his relationship with his parents had crumbled the way it had. I’m so glad that he finally had a chat with them and I absolutely love that Daddy dearest had a redemption in his character. It actually made me love him so much in the end when I saw that he was trying. What really got me was when the dad came outside and the two of them hugged, and I literally almost started crying because it was a scene that needed to happen.

The comments from their OnlyFans account made me love these two so much because they gave people hope for love. From their first scene to their last scene was perfect. I love how Kyran was trying to deny his attraction to Avi but how could he not fall for him?

I love that their first time together was of Kyran being the he bottom because you wouldn’t have thought that especially to how the two had been.

And oh my god, when Kyran gave him his first dance and the drive in movie theater scene, ugh, I never knew I could love a book so much. The smut scenes were so steamy but they were so emotional that you could feel every raw and intentional feeling the two had for one another.

I also loved Avi’s relationship with his mother because it never changed even after she got mattered. They’re so close. The scene when he comes out to his mother was just so utter sweet.

Poor Avi went through a lot when Ky upped and left him and he was a hot mess. I’m so glad that Kyran made it up to him. After that scene was when I was swooning for every moment after that. I’m so happy that Kyran was able to seek out the help he needed because he didn’t want to put that on his man.

Lastly, I need a book for Theo and Guty because he’ll, why not?! I mean, I need a book for all of the side characters because this book was everything and then some.

I want to put so much more in this review but my god, it would be much longer than it is. This is definitely in my list for my top 5 books of the year!

Dirt Road Secrets by Ashley James

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Ashley James does not disappoint with the Copper Lake books. This is the second book of hers that I’ve read and now I need to read every book that she has.

From the moment that Xander and Copeland meet when Xander’s vehicle broke down, I knew this was going to be the best love story between these two. I loved how Xander wasn’t used to people wanting to help him because from where he was from, it wasn’t known for people to be helpful like that.

And I loved how Cope was so sweet by being him breakfast anymore or even how he made food for him and his aunt when they came back from the hospital. Super sweet!

And I looooove Shooter. He’s so awesome when he’s with Copeland. He has not changed and he’s so unhinged and I absolutely love it.

The way that Ashley really went into Cope’s sexual was perfect because not a lot of writers can do what she did like that. To justify why he feels the way he does for Xander made me feel for him and it made me feel like I was there in that moment.

Don’t get me started on how spicy the scenes were and the scene where Shooter and Sterling were going at it when they were… just wow! I needed - no, I needed more.

And the ending with the birthday presents was the best way to end the book. I’ve never laughed so much because it was so perfect.

Choke Hold by Eve Holmes

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Ty Roscoe and Luca Mitchell were absolutely everything in this book. When I read Hooks In the beginning of the month because this book was coming out, I knew the second book of their story was going to be just as amazing and then some. Eve Holmes certainly proved me right 100% tenfold.

First off, I loved the tiger facts that Luca would always tell his TIGER! It gave Ty the confidence that he needed. I loved the growth that the guys went through as fighters to the people they were and their relationship. The cuddling part was just super sweet and I only ached more of their cuteness together.

Every fear that Ty and Luca both had, I loved that they were both there for one another. Poor Ty was so afraid that it simply broke my heart because this was so new to him. But when Ty stood up for him when it mattered the most, I was all for it because it was right then and there that I knew how much Ty truly loved his stressed out baker.

Ty and Luca’s story was the best duology that I’ve ever read and I only wanted more. Luca was my favorite from his over the top personality that was so perfect for his tiger. Such an amazing read. I definitely didn’t want to finish it because that meant it was over. The best banter from rivals to lovers in my book that will not leave you disappointed!

Fire and Moonlight by C.J. Ravenna

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Arc Review 

5/5 ✨🌟

* * * SPOILERS * *

This was my first time reading anything by C.J. Ravenna and it was so impressive. From the moment the book was revealed to me, I was simply captivated. It starts off intense, which just drew me in. I’m now going to have to read the first 5 books now because this was just SO GOOD!

There’s a lot of angst in this book. I loved how this a friends to lovers to enemies to lovers. Learning about the other characters from the other books makes me want to start these books.

From the villains in this story especially one on particular, I was so happy Eddie and Vico got their happily ever after. I loved the parts where the pack surrounded themselves around these two, especially the part when Eddie woke up to be surrounded by his pack. Best moment ever.

And the spicy scenes were so on point. I just loved how they were in the scenes and I love that this book wasn’t just smut. I wasn’t expecting the angst to tear me up so much like this book did to me but goodness, every part was so worth it. From the time jumps to seeing both broken guys go through what they went through, I went through way too many emotions and I was not expecting this!

Now, I need to read the whole series now to learn about each each couple.

Eight Seconds to Ride by Ashley James

challenging emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Eight Seconds to Ride by Ashley James 

5/5 ✨🌟

Audiobook by Alex Kydd & Aaron Shedlock 

* * * SPOILERS * *

I have to say, best audiobook ever! Alex and Aaron narrated both Shooter and Sterling perfectly. This was my first Ashley James book and it did not disappoint at all!

Gosh, I loved these two so much. I wanted more when the book was over but also read the bonus scene was just soooo sweet.

From one night stand in the bathroom after a win to these two being just the cutest couple ever.

Shooter was the perfect grumpy character. He went from grumpy to just breaking my heart when he was going through so much. From his dad’s pressure to being the ultimate best and not getting his dad to say how proud of him was all that Shooter wanted. It was horrible that his sister, Daisy, got all the praise that he always wanted. And I absolutely loved how his sister stood up for him to their dad in the perfect way.

And when Shooter found out that Sterling had been a virgin from Daisy and Sterling talking, which he was eavesdropping on, he was baffled. I knew right then and there that this man wanted to give the world to him. And the re-do, my god, that was the perfect first time for Sterling. Shooter sure did make up for Sterling giving his virginity in a public shower stall.

And the side characters were so great and how his best friend found out about his feelings or even how everyone started to find out about them. Even with Shooter’s cocky attitude, he wanted to give all the firsts to Sterling and certainly preened when he realized he was getting all of Sterling’s firsts.

I cannot wait to read the next installment in this amazing series!