adrianoreads's reviews
1128 reviews

Barbarian
Jericho’s Boys
Onley James
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I really enjoyed Barbarian, but it seemed lopsided to me. The beginning was heavy on the spice and light on plot. As it progressed we finally get back to the plot and have an “Oh right, the kid” moment. If the spicy scenes were blended throughout the plot of the story more, I think I would have liked it more.

Nico, poor little Nico, his mother really screwed him up. He didn’t believe in relationships because his mother had whispered it in his ear for his entire childhood, so much so that he didn’t see what was right there. I really liked watching him realize and come to terms with his feelings.

Mal was an amazing character! He knew what Nico was, he saw him for all that he is. He was patient with him waiting for him to realize they were in a relationship the entire time. I wish we would have seen more of his personality shifts. They get mentioned often, but we don’t see them.

While this wasn’t my favorite in the series, I still enjoyed is and loved seeing the characters from Jericho’s Boys and Necessary Evils again!

#mmromance #mmromancebooks #mmromancenovel #mmromanceseries #mmromancereader #arcreader #mmromancebookstagram #mmromancebooktok #booktok #bookstagram

Forbidden Puckboy
Puckboys
TJ Klune
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I can’t express how much fun I had reading this book. As with all of James and Finley books this one has a great romance and some super spicy scenes, but there are some really funny scenes in here too. At the core of this book are great friendships not only between Knox and Connor, but also between Knox and Easton as well. I loved the relationship between the brothers as well. I really hope we see more of Lachlan.

Easton is the perpetual younger brother. He is sheltered and smothered by an overprotective older brother, but he takes that for granted too. Yes, it is annoying to be constantly contained by his brother, but Connor has also protected him from himself. I am the older brother so I may have a slight bias when Connor is concerned. Easton’s crush on Knox is just adorable and I loved the tension at the beginning of the book, the tension was palpable. He had such faith in Knox and their relationship, which really warmed the heart.

Knox was so unsure of himself and his talent. He shortchanged himself out of NHL career and almost out of his referee career. He was just as unsure of his love life. He wants Easton so badly, but he doesn’t want to lose his friendship with Connor. Their friendship was so important to him. He didn’t have any biological siblings, but Connor was his brother in everything, but blood. When he and Easton finally get together he still questions every step. He had a turning point when Easton. Walked in on him mapping out their schedules.

I would have liked to see more of the outcome of their coming out as a couple. Was it easy? Were there problems? Was there backlash from other teams claiming favoritism?

I👏🏻CAN👏🏻NOT👏🏻WAIT👏🏻For Possessive Puckboy to come out on March 27th!!

#mmromance #mmromancebooks #mmromancenovel #mmromanceseries #mmromancereader #arcreader #mmromancebookstagram #mmromancebooktok #booktok #bookstagram #forbiddenpuckboy #puckboys #saxonjames #edenfinley

Bromantic Puckboys
Puckboys
Saxon James and Eden Finley
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Another amazing book from this writing duo. Are we sure they’re two people? Have we seen them in the same place at the same time? Or is this a Batman/Bruce Wayne situation? 

The banter and playfulness between Miles and Cody was the absolute best! I’m a sucker for good banter and add the most epic bromance in there… yes please!

Cody was such a great character and I loved him in Clueless Puckboys! Guy just couldn’t catch a break! Looking for love in all the wrong places. Wait! I think that’s a country song! 🤔 After four failed marriages our guy had some serious baggage, who wouldn’t? That is until our goofy goalie enters the chat. miles rocked his world, in more ways than one. I loved the slow transition from this is just s** to oh wait, I think I have feelings. This so often gets rushed in the genre due to the usually short lengths of the books, but the pacing of this was great. I didn’t feel rushed, but it want dragged on and on.

Miles, oh sweet Miles. What can I say I have a crush. I love this quirky little weirdo! From pet rocks to talking to a goal aptly name Annette, he was just hysterical and was unabashedly himself, but his quirks were really covering some insecurities. He comes off like a man-child, but is so sweet and it seems his quirks are the way he handle some big emotions that he can’t seem to come to grips with. I loved all of the interactions with his family, especially his siblings all picking on each other. The coming out scene, what can I say, I always hold my breath hoping that the parents will be accepting, but this scene was written so well, I broke down. (Note to self: Stop reading at work so people don’t think you’re insane while staring at you ereader.) 

I’m a sucker for a good HEA, but I love that this books version wasn’t the same as most. I mean ho many epilogue proposals can you possibly get before it’s boring. Cody and Miles set the rules for their relationship at every step and didn’t allow societal norms to dictate how they lived and I was here for it! I loved this book so much and if I could give it more stars I would. Oh wait I can because it’s my page. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Well done Saxon and Eden!!! (If you really are two people 🤣)

On to Forbidden Puckboy!

#mmromance #mmromancebooks #mmromancenovel #mmromanceseries #mmromancereader #arcreader #mmromancebookstagram #mmromancebooktok #booktok #bookstagram #bromanticpuckboy #puckboys #saxonjames #edenfinley #sadenverse

Clueless Puckboys
Puckboys
Saxon James and Eden Finley
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I truly enjoyed reading Ayri and Vance’s story, even if this wasn’t my favorite of the series. They were a fun pair and James/Finley always create amazing characters layered with sweet and funny personalities.

Ayri was so freaking adorable you just want to cuddle him and at the same time smack him for being a dork. The big bad hockey player was so self conscious and couldn’t imagine Vance being interested in him. I loved watching him grow in his confidence through the book, even when others got into his head. The scene when he reveals his full name and its meaning had me dying laughing. All I could hear was Kat Williams “Poor little Tink Tink”

Vance had BDE for days. He was so hesitant about involving himself with Ayri, but had this swag about him. I really loved his supportive nature and how he held Ayri up throughout their story. Even when Ayri started getting grumbly, he supported him and the  starting fake fights was the cutest. I loved their hate sex scene I was cracking up.

Clueless Puckboys and was a great addition to the series. I’m excited to continue through all of the rest.



#mmromance #mmromancebooks #mmromancenovel #mmromanceseries #mmromancereader #arcreader #mmromancebookstagram #mmromancebooktok #booktok #bookstagram #cluelesspuckboy #puckboys #saxonjames #edenfinley #sadenverse

Handy
Four Bears Construction 
KM Neuhold
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I loved this series and I thought it was over, but surprise surprise here comes Handy!

Ledger was just an infectious ray of sunshine! I loved him from the first chapter and he has a pet raccoon!!! I’m obsessed with raccoons and want one badly!! His playfulness and teasing with Griff was so much fun to read. He was patient with him slowly pulling him out of his shell, never pushing too hard.

Griff was the perfect grump. He had been hurt at the loss of his partner and erected walls to protect himself. The gradual opening of himself to Ledger wasn’t rushed and didn’t happen overnight, which I loved because often the grump switches so quickly it pulls me out of the story. The little things that change slowly as he developed were a great way to show that development.

I’m not sure how I didn’t know Ink Slingers was a thing, but I was today years old when I found it and I’ll be reading it soon. I’m assuming that Jericho will be getting a book soon. 

I love the little mentions of Palm Island! I’d love a crossover where the Bears go on vacation together. If this exists already I need to read it ASAP!!

🚨🚨🚨SPOILER AHEAD🚨🚨🚨

Cutest proposal ever!!!!


#mmromance #mmromancebooks #mmromancenovel #mmromanceseries #mmromancereader #arcreader #mmromancebookstagram #mmromancebooktok #booktok #bookstagram #handy #fourbearsconstruction #kmneuhold

I am not a huge fantasy fan. When my bookclub baddies said they were doing a buddy read I cringed. I was so surprised at how much I loved this book. Major Six of Crows vibes!

Rebels of the Rink

Arctic Titans

Hayden Hall

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I thoroughly enjoyed this one! It was light and fairly low angst. Rebels of the Rink was the perfect friends to lovers pallet cleanser for me, after being in some dark romances lately. 

Sebastian was such a great guy, especially when you consider his upbringing. He was fully supportive of all of his teammates, and more so Tyler. He was there for Tyler after his cheating ex broke his heart. He is the kind of friend everyone needs.

Tyler is such a pure heart and it was heartbreaking to read about him walking in on his ex. She was a manipulative b****. He found consolation in his friendship with Sebastian and that friendship became more than expected.

On Thin Ice

Arctic Titans

Hayden Hall

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

On Thin Ice was the most perfect book, that kept me so enraptured, that I couldn’t put it down! I’m not a lover of the stepbrother trope-brother trope, but Hall did it right. There was animosity, tension, avoidance and it was such a smooth transition to something more. There wasn’t the quick flip I find with most enemies to lovers tropes.

Asher was so unsure of himself through the entire book, excluding the epilogue. He knew he had feelings for Jordan, but he “knew” Jordan was straight. He avoided him at all cost, except where hockey was concerned. After the discovery he spiraled, understandably so. He was consumed by guilt for something he wasn’t responsible for. His mother broke him with her reaction, placing the blame for her failed marriage on him and Jordan. You just wanted to hug him!

Jordan was a stronger, more self assured character. Once he knew Asher had feelings too, he was all in. He fought for Asher against his father and stepmother. Even when Eileen attacked him and his character, he still defended Asher and his heart. I absolutely loved Jordan and his fearlessness!

I hated Eileen, she was gaslighting and liked to blame others for her own insecurities. She was just annoying, but as the antagonist it was her job!

I’m now on to Coaching Prince Charming as Arctic Titans comes to an end! 😢

Coaching Prince Charming

Arctic Titans

Hayden Hall

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

What a ride this series has been! I have enjoyed the Arctic Titans, some more than others. Coaching Prince Charming was my favorite of the series, maybe of all of Hayden Hall’s books.

Carter was just adorable and had confidence without being cocky. I fell in love with him almost immediately. He knew what he wanted from Nate and he fought for it. As confident as he was with Nate, he was completely submissive to his father’s will. It was only after his friend and roommate, Ron, signed him up for an open mic night, that he truly found his footing. I wish we would have gotten more of a conclusion to his and his father’s relationship.

Since I brought up Ron, I love that guy. He might be my favorite character in the book, even though h me had little time on the page. He was so supportive of Carter without coming off as schmoopy. He was funny and truly cared about Carter and his feelings. I almost wanted them to get together.

Nate was an interesting character. We found out about his injury previous to this book, but his exit from hockey as a player was a major influence in his character arc. He had believed being a hockey player was all he had, but Carter helped him find his way as a coach for the Titans. As he found his way with the Titans, his personal relationship with Carter was a mess. His friendship with Dana, Carter’s father, kept him hesitant as well as his public persona. He was so worried about Walker the public would think. I get it, it’s a big age gap. I loved watching him open up as the book progressed. 

As hate that Arctic Titans ended, but I enjoyed the ride. It’s an absolute rollercoaster of a sports romance series and I loved every second of it!

The Endgame

Atlanta Lightning

Riley Hart

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I’m a broken record at this point, but Riley Freaking Hart! This was the most heart wrenching and insanely hot book that I have read recently. The first spicy scene is all talk and no contact, but it was the hottest scene I’ve ever read!

Anson is the perfect cinnamon roll. He has so much on his shoulders, hiding his sexuality, taking care of his brother and mother and the guilt of his brother’s injury. My heart was aching for him as he struggled with coming out. The scene between him and Elias were so sweet and had me in tears, remembering my coming out to my brother. I even text my brother and sent him a passage.

Weston was a cocky playboy senator or at least that’s the persona he presented. He was so sweet and patient with Anson. It’s hard after coming out to date someone in the closet, but Weston gave Anson the time to come out when he was ready and supported him every step of the way.

My favorite scenes in this book were the scenes shared between Anson and his mother and brother. They were so amazing and supportive especially Elias. 

I always love Riley’s writing. She always has the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. The Endgame was a great way to start “Operation Read Riley” My goal is to read most if not all of her books that are still on my TBR! 😬