Caffeinated Crystal's book reviews

Down and Dirty was stellar. The exploration of grief and survivor's guilt, carelessness mirroring self harm, family, and cowboy life - in and of itself is a lot. Then throw in loving a man you have put so high on a pedestal - Parker St John, break my heart again. Lane is running from everything, and what lies beneath the mask of a hard living bullfighter/rodeo clown is a broken man.  Denver is his own version of broken. Both mcs are paying penance for a tragedy that isn't anyone's fault. Gods y'all, this one gutted me in the best way. The grief was practically a third mc. Parker St John had me begging for Lane and Denver to go figure their shit out. So much anger and hurt, but they both deserved to be happy and LIVE. This wasn't terribly spicy, but each intimate scene felt important. The story, the exploration of grief, cracked open into a beautiful tale of acceptance and healing. I was incredibly moved by Lane and Denver's story. It was atmospheric and sprawl...

Okay, real talk. This was my first Emory Winters, and y'all I ATE THIS BOOK UP. The sweetness was off the charts. Omegaverse. The PINING and the YEARNING. Good lord, it hit the spot. • brother's best friend • pining & yearning • a/b/o dynamics • paranormal fox shifters • little age gap (not much but feels big) • heat & rut sex • sassy omega • down bad alpha Dylan was so great, a little bratty and a lot assertive. He spent his entire life in love with his brother's best friend Axel. Resigned to the fact that Axel would probably only ever see him as a little brother. I loved how this book was parsed out. We get younger Dylan's pov. Then Axel's. Then a joint pov. And truly, while I am always here for the yearning and the pining... I was LIVING gor Axel's revelations and then how big of a mess he actually became.  This was a ridiculously sweet book and I was immediately into it. Can't wait to read Cooper's book. Sweet boy, bless it. This story was a ...

Stuck With Me was a sweet little short story set in the Mount Hope universe by Annabeth Albert. 4⭐️ • stuck in an elevator • coworkers • diabetes rep • introvert/extrovert • foster care rep Rory has a crush on the new lawyer in the office. Marshall is hesitant to date a coworker. They get trapped in an elevator together.

So I just finished Blue Jay. If you like: younger mcs (both over 18), broken boys, soft boys, step brothers, and "just this once"... then Blue Jay is definitely the book for you. Pirlimpou paints a vivid picture. That's what always draws me back to her books. Roman is so tragic and sad, his background leaves you heartbroken for him. Jesse is his pastel sweet boy, his breath of fresh air, his blue jay. Roman and Jesse fall hard and fast, but when the pressure is on, Roman makes a decision both characters have to live with. • step brothers • forced proximity  • lingerie • femme/soft mmc • second chance • first times • first love • codependent/obsessive • hurt/comfort This book was sweet and full of red flags. The storytelling was great & Jesse and Roman left me feeling so damn old. They are just so young. Their obsession with each other make for a quick and entertaining read.

✨️does end on a cliffhanger✨️ I just finished Shadows Never Lie, and I will be Bella Swan in her depressive state until book 2 is graciously bestowed upon my person. Truthfully, if any other author approached me to read an unfinished duet, I would decline. But I trust Lark, and know she can deliver an HEA with plenty of pining, groveling, and yearning. Which is definitely gonna have to happen because book one leaves us wondering how the hell is this gonna be fixed? This is a brother's best friend romance, and this seriously comes to play because the twins have a terrible relationship. But the potential? The soulmate potential between Ryan and Dominic is there. And the pain just oooooooozes out of this book. The situation, the location, the relationships all come into play and it makes what happens between Ryan and Dom all the more spectacular because it SHOULDN'T happen. The entire book was great, but the last 20% took it to the next level. Knowing how and where it would end ha...

Locked In Silence is one of the books I have read but never reviewed. That has been remedied today, because I just finished this reread. Dallas and Nolan are a gut punch. Both men have spent their entire lives screaming only to never be heard. When Nolan is forced to return to his small town, he ends up in the path of his teenage crush Dallas. This story is emotional as hell, so well written, and the characters are compelling. My heart breaks for Nolan, and it breaks for Dallas too. • second chance vibes • mute mc/musician mc • wildlife sanctuary • size difference • hurt/comfort • small town I don't want to spoil the story with details. But Nolan is so strong. He just keeps getting knocked down and standing right back up. He continually does the right thing, even when I struggle with even comprehending doing the same if I were in his shoes. Dallas got knocked down, but instead of standing up, it's almost as if he were playing dead. Nolan showing up shakes him awake again. This ...

This book was INCREDIBLE. I'll post a better review when I can form real words and stop crying. UPDATE :::: It took me almost three entire days to be able to even attempt to write my thoughts down about JUSTICE. Lark DELIVERED. I went into this story with skyscraper high expectations and Lark delivered on every single one. I absolutely recommend this story, and you really should be emotionally devastated from book one, Patience, before reading Justice. Trust me, it's worth it. Justice is Matty and Sebastian's story. Sebastian is the centuries old vampire assassin committed to never opening his heart to love after [REDACTED, OH MY GOD IT WILL DESTROY YOU] - but he meets his match in the human embodiment of sunshine that is Matty. Matty is haunted by [redacted] and fights hard to not let his past dim his smile and his sunshine. He feels an almost instant pull to the grumpy, but kind to HIM, Sebastian. That is literally all of the story I will give you. You can get that from c...

Okay, so I have read this series before, I just didn't review it. But I am fixing it now! I just finished up CAULKY, the first book of the Four Bears Construction series, and it was honestly so cute packed full of sex scenes. Ren and Cole. Rebound and Caulky. Honeybee and Grizz. These two were so damned sweet. • small business owners • apiarist/contractor • hookup turned true love • anonymous texting buddies • docking! • super sex positive characters • serial monogamist/manwhore • mature (in age) mcs • friends like family • idiots to lovers I enjoyed watching Cole (a commitment-phobe) and Ren (a serial monogamist) rebound right into each other. Fate was literally giving them no choice pushing them towards each other. The contractor bingo was so fun. The confidence both mcs had was infectious. I loved Cole's ✨️not playing games✨️ vibes. He was down bad for Ren so quick. Caulky was a solid 4⭐️ for me. This was such a little snack.

I just finished this novella, IT STARTED WITH A TEXT, and 💕swoons dramatically💕 I absolutely adored this story. The vibes SCREAM romcom and it gives me that squealy giddy vibes romcoms from the 90s used to deliver. • biggest fan/rock star • textual misunderstandings • reverse catfishing • FALLING IN LOVE • NYC as a side character • rich man/poor man • mockery as a love language This was the sweetest story, truly. Nick and Anthony make this beautiful connection, right when they need it most. I laughed, I squealed, and I definitely craved some ice cream. I could have read 600 pages of their cuteness. But then I would surely ☠️. The bonus chapters you can get at the end is 100% worth it. I loved this story so much. 4 75⭐️

I guess I am in my tab○○ era. Strip Me Down was hot. Caleb and Rafe were super hot. • brothers • size difference • edging • light voyeurism/exhibitionism  • bossy & bratty bottom • giving & caretaking top • dirty talk The strip bingo, sexy book club scenes were hilarious. Caleb was such a little terror. Phillip's plus one had me cackling. Rafe's need for Caleb hit. This book was a fun, sexy, and quick read! Arcane Falls, where no one cares if you have a zest for the 'cest.

Still on my Marie Reynard kick 💕 just finished up FIVE STAR REVIEW and the bonus chapters. UGH I LOVE THIS UNIVERSE!!!! • best friends to lovers • they are roommates • wolf shifter/human • sex worker • sex toy tester/video reviewer • astronomy nerds Y'all this story was so sweet. Aiden and Zayn meet as college dorm mates freshman year. They are both into each other, but they are idiots. The pining, and the scenting? Perfection. The cameos from MateHub Legend? Amazing. The bonus chapters? So funny. This was a sweet novella and I could have happily kept reading. I would have loved to see Zayn's first trip to Aiden's pack! More scenes of Zayn's "testing" and reviewing tapings. Or more comments/scenes from the message boards. And who sent the package? This universe is SO fun and Reynard has a distinct voice that carries throughout each story. She is gonna have me going full paranormal next, I have already downloaded everything else she has available to read LOL. ...

A comfort reread, because sometimes you need • childhood best friends to lovers • mature mcs • ✨️princess✨️ • fantastic ace spectrum representation • self discovery • ✨️you're my person✨️ • EPIC ROMANCE • mini cow shenanigans • family • Cowboys • sweeping grand gestures Oakley and Lawson had me hooked from the first page. Emmy shattered the mold with this one. I will keep coming back to this for the swooning, chair fainting of it all. 💕sighs dramatically 💕 °•●•°•●●•°•○●•°•●●•° Bookstagram ● book recommendations ● mini book reviews ● book reader ● romance reader ● reread ● mm romance ● queer romance ● asexual spectrum representation ● epic swoon fest ● Emmy Sanders is my favorite author for a reason

WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME? Why did none of y'all pull me aside and say "Crystal, you dumb bitch, read MateHub: Legend. You will LOVE IT!" I feel like an idiot. I just finished MATEHUB: LEGEND and I LOVED THIS BOOK. I LOVED IT. *squeals in dolphin language* ✨️DICKHUNT FOREVER✨️ Please take this post as me pulling you aside and saying "_________, have you read MateHub Legend? No? You got to, right now. Seriously. Right now. The hype was real. I repeat, the hype was real." The idea behind this story is awesome. Supernatural/shifter world, they would need supernatural/shifter p○rn too. Makes sense. • veteran star/newbie • shifter/human • transactional bonds & true bonds • message boards • trollops and strumpets • DICKHUNT • found family • paranormal plot points • knotting • idiots to mates • primal(ish) play • scents Richard and Hunter were perfection. I loved them. 5, but also ♾️, ⭐️ °•○●•°•●○°°○●○°°•○○•° Bookstagram ● book reader ● book reviewer ● exceeded the h...

Making Time released last month, and it had been on my tbr since. Hockey player × single dad? Sounds right up my alley. This is a first time author for me, and I didn't really know what to expect. Weston is a talented storyteller though. Jamie Sullivan was immediately likeable as a larger than life but secretly a softie-disaster and Tyler was immediately loveable with his amazing style and devotion to his kiddo Rowan. • hockey player/single dad • lacy lingerie  • sex worker (dancer) • found family • low(ish) spice This book was super sweet. The concept of Making Time was really highlighted with Jamie's busy hockey schedule and Tyler working multiple jobs and being a single dad. For anything to work, they had to make time. I reiterate, this book is hella sweet. Perfect if you're wanting something on the lower side of spice but high on the sweet every day romance. Plus, the kid Rowan was adorable with his singing and drawing. Legit cute af.

✨️throws glasses across the room✨️ like that food influencer when something tastes delicious... BECAUSE HOT AXE WAS DELICIOUS chomp chomp chomp Not only is May Archer a wizard at her craft, but she goes and has the audacity to write a best friends to lovers story. Say less y'all!!!! • best friend's to lovers • IDIOTS TO LOVERS • firefighters • chief/restaurant owner • pining & yearning & denial • found family goodness • small towns • learning to set boundaries  Ames is the main idiot in this story (said lovingly of course) and Robbie is the straight, not so straight best friend. These two are peas in a pod, besties where one name is followed by the other. There was low angst, big drama, confessions, pining, a waiting room scene, family dinners, and a shower scene that had my flabbers gasted. I wanna print and frame the shower scene, and hang it on my wall. These two were perfect for each other once they got their shit together. And while I was absolutely 100% here for t...

Vigilant is book 3 in Lark Taylor & Cora Rose's series, The Firm. Wylder Buckingham is the oldest of the Buckinghams, leader of The Firm, and is definitely positively absolutely "straight." 👀☠️ Neo, a hacker introduced in book 2, is a Tasmanian devil wrapped up in a bratty twink persona. He had a hard childhood raised in the system and is always left behind.  These two poke and prod at each other for a large chunk of the book until everything changes. • age gap • dark(ish) mafia(ish) • primal play • brat/control freak • slutty little glasses • violence • lap sitting and blow jobs • found family • actual family It took me awhile to get really into this story, mainly because Neo's bratty-ness was so over the top [I could never put up with it irl, LOL]. But when I was locked in, the pages just flew by. Every family dinner scene & game night in this series is iconic, and the ones in this book didn't disappoint. Vigilant is out 03/20. I can't wait for Sam...

Oh I loved these two! Erick and Carlos were such a joy to read with their flirting and "impulsiveness." Erick gets his redemption, from book one. Carlos is a Latino dreamboat. The long distance friendship/talking stage hit the spot.  I loved how down bad these two were. They communicated and this short little novella delivered everything I could have wanted. My only complaint, if this could even be considered a complaint, is that their story was a novella. I could have read 300 more pages! 

Cowboy, take me away! ✨️💕 Something Irresistible had my attention, from the first post I saw on Instagram. @author_t.rossmaur had me with the cowboys. I don't think he planned for this to make me so sad... but something about this little novella broke my heart. • cowboy/ranch hand • first time (bi-awakening) • a little D/s • beg for it • ✨️good boy✨️ • internalized homophobia • banter • nicknames Patrick is reluctant to get part time help over the winter, and his father hires someone anyway. Nash is a smooth talking, bossy, "pretty" man. This novella DOES have an HEA, so I can't really explain why the story made me so sad. Maybe it's Pat's loneliness. Or the way everyone seems to treat him. But honestly I wanted to wrap him up in a blanket and send him to bed. Something Irresistible is out March 21st, and its only 92 pages - so it can be a little pallete cleanser between books or a little shorty to help you with your reading goals.

Need You Close is the final book in the Second Chance Ranch series and y'all, please hear me when I say this whole series is GREAT, especially if you're looking for cowboy stories or romances with mature mcs. ✨️chef's kiss✨️ • age gap (a small one) • veterinarian/ranch hand • both are military vets • TBI/and some guilt & PTSD • lonely mc • friends with benefits to... • first times • communication! • hurt/comfort • healing together Carson and Jude were great. I love reading mature mc romances & seeing Jude and Carson get their happily ever after while healing was just the absolute best. Jude is the town veterinarian and lives a very lonely and work centered life. Carson is healing from a medical discharge from the army, a TBI, and trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while working on his brother in law's ranch. These two were sweet and low drama. A lovely story taking place on ranches and homesteads and truck rides.

I am so into omegaverse right now, it is definitely having a moment. I was scrolling the other day and saw @fluffyrn_reads post Advocate Omega and I commented something along the lines of ✨️I pulled a hamstring running to ku to download✨️ and honestly, I am so glad I did. This is a new author to me, and a different take on omegaverse, and I really enjoyed this story SO MUCH. • age gap • omegaverse • a/b/o dynamics • heat sex • knotting • fated mates • independent omega • down bad alpha Lucas and Zander were such characters. While I feel like we were supposed to be enamored with Zander, Lucas really stole the show for me. A sad, depressed and hurting alpha who makes mistakes and tries to right them. A consent king! And more than anything else, sees Zander and other omegas as the jewels they are.  ✨️"Tell me what you need, my love," he murmurs. "Boss me around."✨️ Ummmm. Yes please. Looking forward to seeing where the next book goes, and I will definitely be keeping m...

Y'all I can not stress this enough - the series is INCREDIBLE. DON'T SLEEP ON THIS UNIVERSE. I read Xeni yesterday, and honestly I feel like I need 5-7 business days to recover. I apologize in advance for how scattered this review is going to be. • fated mates • monster/human • second chance • big time hurt/comfort • lingerie • insatiable for you • ✨️💕princess 💕✨️ • found family • dystopia world • cw: patricide & self harm If you have told me Xeni would become one of my favorite characters I would have told you "Liar." But damned if I didnt fall head over heels for Xeni. He and Bash were absolutely perfect and lord help me I LOVED THEM. The feelings in this one were off the charts. The love that both the characters carried was all consuming and it practically bleeds off the page. The story? Stunning. The plot? Engaging. The romance? Perfection. The angst? Angsty as hell. This story was absolutely a five-star star read for me. And this series is maybe one of my f...