4.75 ⭐️

🌶 Hot, hot, hot!! This book definitely has spice in it!

✨ I normally don’t really enjoy tennis but I do love sport gay stories, and the tennis part differentiated the whole story from the usual one about hockey or baseball.

💭 I really loved both characters and the plot. The simpleness of the story made them feel genuine and close to reality, making it easier to sympathize with the characters and to love them.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kit Haley and Redamance Books for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 ⭐️

This book absolutely falls into the category of "the second book is better than the first one." Auggie and Thomas's story was cute, but I think Theodor and Stefanos' one was a lot better. The way their story and the feelings of the two protagonists evolve throughout the book seemed much more natural and less rushed than in the first book.

However, I think some topics, such as the father's sudden death or the resulting nightmares, could have been given a little more depth and analysis. I would also have liked more details on James and Frankie's relationship, but since the third book is supposed to focus on James, I understand why the author decided to overlook it a little. I also feel like not only the ending but various parts of the book are not very well developed, and the pace is too fast.

Side note: I was personally really interested in Edward's character, and I was really hoping to get the third book all for him, but my hopes were quickly dashed with the announcement of the main character of the third book. I get that he isn't a prince, but I would love to read the story of a fifty-three-year-old gay duke trying to find the love of his life.

Overall , though, the book is a cute story, and I would absolutely recommend it to those who are in search of a quick and spicy MM read about princes.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hayden Stone and Xpresso Book Tours for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 ⭐️

WHAT A START!! I really love sports bls and this one starts off in a great way!! It introduces the characters and the possible love triangle between them and I really don’t know who I should root for… can’t wait for volume 2!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Dondon, and Kodansha Comics for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

5 ⭐️

I was laughing and crying through more than half of this book, which is always the sign of a great read. 🤣 Brandon and Ryan now hold a special place in my heart, right next to Scott and Kip! ❤️

📚 Brandon has been in love with Ryan Christianson since he was fourteen, back when Ryan was his brother’s teammate and billeted at the Bouchards’ house. Now that Brandon has been called up to the NHL, Ryan is his linemate. Those childhood feelings are stronger than ever, and the constant proximity is definitely not helping.

💭 Reading The Kennedy Rule was a very pleasant experience, but this second book was so much better. The found family trope felt so heartwarming and cozy, with the Mules reminding me of the Centaurs from The Long Game. Cap Danton and Coach Chris are what every hockey team should have, and my girl Michelle is living her best life helping every gay couple in the NHL. Coach Chris at this point feels just like Ilya from Heated Rivalry: wherever he goes, gays ****find him and his wife. I can't wait to see how the series will continue, and I want to see what's up with Ander and Ivanov, because I smell something between them?? Who knows…

✨ I would totally recommend this book to anyone who loved the Game Changers series, since it delivers everything that made that series amazing, but packed into a single book.

Thank you to NetGalley, K.C. Carmichael and Storm Publishing for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

5 ⭐️

Voices in the Sea Foam is a heartwarming and soft retelling of the story of the little mermaid with a young queer setting. Not only is the story beautifully written, with a nostalgic and almost melancholic feeling to it, but one thing that really captivated me were the drawings and illustrations, especially the ones related to the sea and the marine aspect of the story. I completely recommend it to people that love BLs and want a quick but meaningful reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kotaro and Kodansha Comics for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 ⭐️ A very good start for what looks like a promising story.

Luca wants to follow in the footsteps of her deceased father as a dragon vet; alongside her new friends, Chloe and Jira, the adventure has just begun. This first volume of the series was a well done introduction to the protagonist, all of the main characters and sets a great foundation for the story that has yet to come. I can't wait to see where this journey will take us.

Thank you to NetGalley, Yuna Hirasawa and Kodansha Comics for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I first read Fence several years ago, and I already loved the story and the art. I think the idea of collecting all 12 volumes of the novel into a three-book series is excellent, as it makes it much easier for everyone to read this fantastic story. Compared to C. S. Pacat's other works, this story is much lighter than others and suitable for a wider audience.

Thank you to NetGalley, C.S. Pacat, Johanna The Mad, and BOOM! Studios for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4.25 ⭐️ After months of slumping reading, this book kept me hooked. I liked the cover as soon as I saw it, and I hoped to like this story, and fortunately I did.

A Weave of Lies is a romantic fantasy set in a world where war and persecution have led to a truce between the Inquisition and witches, but modernity is upon us, bringing with it the decline of both factions. Semras, our protagonist, is a wood witch and potions expert who is called upon by Inquisitor Estevan Velten to prove the innocence of a witch from her own coven on charges of murder. But the more the Inquisitor's lies are exposed, the more complicated Semras's situation becomes. Someone must pay for the murder of a powerful man, but who will it be? And with their worlds in decline and ever closer to conflict, will Semras and Estevan be able to prevent a future war and the end of their realities?

If you're looking for a true enemies-to-lovers story, here we are. I loved Semras and Estevan's relationship. Although marked by lies here and there, their bickering and the alternation between hatred and attraction created a tension that kept me glued to this book.

One of the aspects I appreciated most about this book was the unpredictability of the plot. Although some details were predictable, I was never able to truly understand where the story was taking me, keeping the mystery solid and coherent until the end. The setting is another of my favorite aspects of the book: I love a world balanced between religion and magic, faith and rationality. This conflict is one of my favorite themes, and there's room for reflection as well as pure narrative pleasure. Finally, I really liked how, towards the end, the figures of power are shown in a human light. People who, despite being symbols of authority, simply become father, brother, and mother—and it is precisely this normality that, from my point of view, brings a sense of peace and lightness to the conclusion of this story.

One of the negatives I found was the slow pace of the first chapters; the first half seemed never-ending. Fortunately, once you get past the 45-50% mark, the story intensifies, and the pace increases accordingly. I would also have liked more exploration of the secondary characters, and I will therefore eagerly await future books set in this world. I'm very curious to see how the author develops the other characters. The pacing of the first half could also have been more dynamic, but overall, it doesn't compromise the read. I recommend this novel to romance lovers, especially those looking for an enemies to lovers story that isn't limited to just romance, but interweaves mystery, intrigue, and a reflection on power and change.

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing Publisher and E.M. Riedl for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.