kayetaz's reviews
447 reviews

The Caretaker by C.P. Harris

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

5 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5

Format: ebook

I loved this so much. Noon and Solace were so sweet and unproblematic that I’m kind of shocked that it’s in the same series as the two other books. I loved the messiness and debauchery from the first two books, but I really just loved how Noon and Solace were just so purely adorable. 

The plot had me gripped from the first chapter. Watching Noon try to get his memories back and meeting Solace and knowing that there was a huge secret he was hiding. And I adored the dual timeline and how we got to watch these boys fall in love twice: in the past through Solace’s eyes, and in the present through Noon’s eyes.

Also if you’re someone who doesn’t like cheating in books—there isn’t any in here, despite the name of the series. Noon and Solace are faithful to their exes and to each other, it’s actually the infidelity of their exes that bring them together.

The romance was definitely the standout theme, and the spice took a back seat. It’s sort of weird to read a C.P. Harris book where the smut doesn’t border on way too much, but I still enjoyed what we got. There was still plenty of spice, just not the same amount as the other books. The ingestion of cum was also a relatively normal amount here.

I really don’t know which book is my favorite of the series now. I still love the toxicity and obsession from The Fishermen, but The Caretaker was just such an all-consuming kind of romance. And I still adore Jasper and Cole. This entire series is absolutely elite.

Can’t wait to read more from this author, I always have the best time.

The Switched-Up Playbook by A.J. Kyler

funny hopeful 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

5 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Format: ebook

“Even when we could barely stand being in the same room, he was a constant in my life, a corner of my mind always reserved for him.”

The Parent Trap, but make it gay and hockey-related, and you have this fun and sexy story about identical twins swapping places and starting a crazy series of events that ends in two rivals who highly dislike each other falling in love.

Nicko and Xander have butted heads for years, and it doesn’t help that Xander is Nicko’s brother’s best friend and roommate. When Nate comes down with a stomach bug right before a super important game that will secure his place in the NHL, he convinces Nicko to take his place. This results in two weeks of Nicko having to share close quarters with the bane of his existence and pretend that they’re friends. Meanwhile, Xander is slowly losing his mind over the fact that he’s all of a sudden attracted to his best friend.

↳”I’m seeing him clearly for the first time right now, in this overcrowded room, in the middle of a Halloween party: how he tips his head back as he laughs, his pale throat a contrast to his flushed cheeks, the bright glow in his eyes as he keeps listening to whatever joke is told next.”

Their two-week break from hating each other doesn’t end their animosity, and instead fans the flames. They go between bouts of wanting to beat each other up to wanting to pin each other down. This creates the hottest sexual tension and push and pull between them.

↳”I still have the undeniable urge to roll my eyes whenever he opens his mouth. But I also want to smash our lips together before I punch him in the face.”

The relationship between Nicko and his brother was also a really cute part of the story. Nicko comes off as a selfish grump, but the truth is that he’d do anything for the people he cares about. He has this very secret soft spot and it was so endearing to watch Xander become one of the people he takes care of.

↳“I’m used to sharing my whole life—clothes, toys, friends, dreams—and in the end I wouldn’t have it any other way. But this? For the first time I feel the burning need to claim something for myself.”

This was a brilliant debut from Annie and Jay that had me glued to my Kindle from the very first word. I loved the slow progression of Nicko and Xander’s relationship—from hate to dislike to reluctant acquaintances to…well, you’ll see. There are going to be five books in this series and I am so excited for whatever comes next. I’m already crossing my fingers for certain people to get books!

”’I’ve never managed to get you out of my system.’

‘You don’t have to get me out of your system then. Not ever.’”

*I received a free, advanced copy of this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.

Test Drive by Riley Hart

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

3 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5

Format: audiobook

Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤/5

Justin and Drew were adorable.

This was a lot angstier than the other books in this series and dealt with some darker topics. Everything revolves around Justin getting ready to say goodbye to his father who is dying of cancer, and his new sister’s brother-in-law (and also the dude he got off with at a gay club) is the guy who gets him through it.

The story was sad but the relationship stayed light and adorable. The spice took a backseat to the romance aspects but it was still Riley Hart-level hot. I do really enjoy her dirty talk and overall descriptions during spice scenes.

This series was very cute, with not a whole bunch of substance really, but I enjoyed it a lot.

The Fishermen by C.P. Harris

challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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

5 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5

Format: ebook

My sweet Leelee Bear. I knew his story was going to wreck me. I loved book one so much, but I think it’s been beaten out by Leland and Franky.

They were toxic, codependent, obsessed, possessed, completely addicted to each other. I loved it so much. C.P. Harris just has this poetic way of writing that is beautiful but so devastating at the same time. The way she can make you feel so full when things are good, and so empty and aching when the tables turn is just such a talent.

Also I obviously have to address the spice. It always borders on almost too much. There is no question in my mind that they had all the bed chem. The cum consumption was taken to a completely other level in this book and honestly I felt nauseous and uncomfortable a lot of the time.  I adored it.

Loved seeing Cole and Leland’s friendship form. It hurts now to know how much he held back after their bond seemed so strong in The Good Liar. I also loved seeing more of Cole and Jasper being in love.

I don’t know what to say. I am ruined. This series so far has been so painful and yet I have loved every second of the pain. The pining and groveling is just unmatched.

And now knowing the next book is about Noon? I am so intrigued and ready to be hurt again.

Shifting Gears by Riley Hart

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

3 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Format: audiobook

Narration: 🎤🎤/5

Rod and Landon were cute, and I really liked how their friendship developed and the little bit of push and pull they had in the beginning. I will say though, I lost most of my interest once they finally hooked up. 

I really enjoyed getting more backstory for these characters than I feel we got in Crossroads. But the relationship itself felt very weak. Rod went from fiercely independent yet a bit self-deprecating to just completely blank. He didn’t seem to care about them being together one way or another. I’ll even say the relentless way he came onto Landon at some point just started to give me the ick. Landon also became relatively one-dimensional after they got together. If it wasn’t for the side characters, I feel like I would’ve been so bored with the story.

I don’t know, it just didn’t fully hit for me, but I didn’t necessarily think it was bad. I’m actually very excited for Justin’s story.

Crossroads by Riley Hart

challenging funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

3.6 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Format: audiobook

Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤/5

This was cute. Low-angst strangers to friends to lovers with a double bi-awakening.

Nick and Bryce were very sweet and fun together. I liked the natural progression of their relationship. Kind of obsessed with how Bryce just kind of stumbled and knocked his way into a relationship with a sort of hesitant Nick. I really enjoyed their banter, and the spice was spicing.

I guess I was either just kind of bored or rolling my eyes at their really annoying families. good majority of the time. Both of their mothers were insufferable. Nick’s mom is actually completely unredeemable in my eyes. Also why were his sisters not standing up for him either? I didn’t love it. Loved Christy though. She’s a real one. 

Also actually super psyched that the random funny sex shop guy is one of the mains of the next book. I have no idea what the tropes are but I just hope it gives more than we got here.

One Twisted Lie by Addison Beck

funny 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

4.0

4 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5

Format: ebook

My most anticipated couple of this series, and for sure my faves!

I love a good enemies to lovers, and this very much gave similar vibes to Addison’s other book, Hateful Love. I really enjoyed the push and pull between Carter and Oz, and watching their antagonization turn to softer and sweeter moments.

Like the other books in this series, you can’t look at the plots too closely because they’re just very silly and OTT, but I really had so much fun with all these characters over these three books and I loved how this story rounded out all their HEAs.

This book also contained some of my favorite things: oral fixation + cockwarming, princess as a pet name, a needy bottom, an angry love declaration. I just ate this whole thing up.

I always get a little disappointed when I see the third act coming from a mile away, but I did like the character development we saw here. Also the makeup sex was *chef’s kiss*.

Gonna miss this little band of friends. I really enjoyed all the dynamics between the couples and friendships.

Tough Guy by Rachel Reid

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5

Format: audiobook

Narration: 🎤🎤🎤/5

Ryan and Fabian! The literal cutest cuties!

Listen, real talk, was this as good as Heated Rivalry/The Long Game? No. But I did love this book and a couple a whole lot.

Firstly, give me a femme MC with a no-fucks-given attitude and a love of lacy underwear and I’m a goner. Pair him with a big ole anxious teddy bear who needs constant reassurance and I’m dead. Deceased. Plus add in the fact that they knew each other as teens and both secretly had crushes on one another? Ahhh!

I loved everything about them. I loved that this was relatively slow burn, just both of them dancing around each other while being super smitten. Then when they finally get together and Fabian meets all of Ryan’s hang-ups with zero judgement and only understanding and caring. How they worked up to things in the bedroom, but still kept it super spicy—like whoa.

I also actually really liked the conflict that happened. The emphasis on mental health and being safe in a sport that feeds off of pushing yourself too far, and just toxic masculinity in general. How Ryan navigated through what he wanted in life. I just really liked the character development in this book.

And I also really loved all the little pieces of my baby Ilya that we got.

I wish I moved onto the other books in this series sooner after finishing Shane and Ilya’s stories, but I’m really excited to see what’s next.

One Manic Lie by Addison Beck

2.0

2 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Format: ebook

I’m going to keep this really brief, because I really respect and commend Addison Beck for taking her experiences with mental health and writing them into a story that means a lot to her. I think that’s really brave and vulnerable, and I just love her as a writer in general.

I think if I knew this story was going to be about bipolar disorder, I probably wouldn’t have read it. I truly didn’t know that’s where the book was headed until it was revealed at the 80%-ish mark.

Because of my own experiences with this disease and because they are so widely different from this story, I just couldn’t enjoy this once I found out what was going on. 

Everyone has their own experiences, and everyone’s are 100% valid. So this is not me saying anything that was portrayed was wrong. I’m just saying that mental health is a very subjective topic and my own experiences are the reason I didn’t love this like I wanted to.

I still adore both Avery and Sebastian, and am looking forward to book three!

Game Changer by Rachel Reid

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful 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

3.75

3.8 ⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Format: audiobook

Narration: 🎤/5

This was adorable, but I do think reading this after Heated Rivalry and The Long Game did probably affect my overall feelings of this book because while I did really like Scott and Kip, it just didn’t hit the way Ilya and Shane did.

They were cute, but the foundation of their relationship was just really rocky from the start. When Kip would complain about them, I really understood his side of things. But then we’d get Scott’s POV and I also really saw his side as well. Which overall just leads me to believe they probably just weren’t very suited as a couple.

But I did have lots of fun with them. Good banter, great spice. Again, no comparison to other books in this series, but maybe if I had read this first as I should’ve, I would’ve liked it a bit more.

P.S., the narration of this is NOT. IT. The narrator’s take on Kip’s accent had me wanting to scratch my own ears out the entire book.