Labyrinth🦦

I read books and write reviews

[literary-labyrinth]

SLEW FOOT by @brighamvaughn

“The problem was, he was pretty sure he was in love with Mickey Krause.

Fuuuck.”

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🏒friends to lovers

🏒and they were roommates!

🏒hurt/comfort

🏒found family

🏒demi/bi rep

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🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐ 5

💧 3

🔥 3

Honestly, everytime I read one of Brigham’s books I think it can’t get better than this, and then the next one comes. Slew Foot definetly became my favourite of the bunch. I felt so many emotions reading it, I laughed, I cried, I pined with Mickey and felt all of their anxieties and worries, and I’m lowkey kinda glad I opted to sleep on the bus last week instead of reading this book becasue I’m not too sure I would have been able to contain all of my reactions. I think I liked this book so much becasue for once I could actually relate to a character. Being so close age-wise to Mickey, his inner dialogues were super relatable, and I definetly could relate to the struggles of his pain (i only get migraines so i can’t imagine adding ringing and dizyness to the mix, but theirs debilitating enough) and especially the linguistic struggles (tho on the other way around becasue I’m mocha more comfortable expressing myself in English rather than my forest language). Honestly, a 10/10 read.

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“I want to be everything you need and not push you for anything more but Rafe … I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t stop wanting you. And you’re sending me all these mixed messages and I can’t …”

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[literary-labyrinth]

GIFT OF YOU by Melody Claire

Gift Of You by @melody.claire.author

“Then a half-naked man crashed into my life four days ago and shook everything up all over again.”

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🎁 holiday romance

🎁 small town

🎁 late in life bi-awakening

🎁 maure MCs

🎁 grumpy/sunshine

🎁 grief

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🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐ 5

💧 2

🔥 3.5

Honestly, it had been a hell of long time it took me this little to finish a book, honestly I couldn’t put it down and it kept me up at 3 am to finish it but I have no regrets. I really liked the premise of the story, it had all of the cuteness of a Hallmark Christmas movie with the insanely fast slow burn and all but it also had a reasonable ending and that was cute as hell. Also the characters are impeccable, their thought snandfheir personalities are so incredibly written and Matthew has all of my heart, I want to hug that grumpy mountain man!!

(Also, I was very happy to see Hayden and Jonathan again!)

I received an ARC copy from the author in exchnage for my honest review.

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“But I think that if I don’t take the opportunity to explore this with you, I’ll regret it. Maybe for the rest of my life.”

[literary-labyrinth]

BODY CHECK by @brighamvaughn

“I’ve gotta admit, it was nice to come home and see you in my bed though.”

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🏒age gap

🏒dislike to lovers

🏒forbidden relationship

🏒boss/employee

🏒opposite attract

🏒not-so-mild exibitionism

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🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐4.5

💧 1

🔥 3.5

Honestly? Body Check was quite a bit different from the other books in the univers as far as settings go, and I appreciate the POV outside of the ice and team dynamic. I like that even the representation of team workers and management as well the support staff, it’s a POV that it’s not typically explored in hockey romance and was quite a breath of fresh air.

Dakota and Gavin have an incredibile chemistry from the very first meeting and tbh you could read the sexual tension even in Goaltender Interference, it was so strong. And omg this chemestry was all on display in the spicy scenes. I’m not scared to say that they were filthy hot and never once boring (especially the bonus scene😏) but the book doesn’t lack cute and wholesome scenes too.

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“Gavin was a man who thrived on risk taking. Wasn’t falling in love the biggest, wildest risk of all?”

[literary-labyrinth]

GOALTENDER INTERFERENCE by @brighamvaughn

🏒Goaltender Interference by @brighamvaughn

“Whether Connor was ready to admit it to anyone else or not, heìd kissed a man and he hadn’t stopped because he’d hated it. He’d stopped because it had felt right.”

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🏒…and they were roommates!

🏒age gap

🏒grumpy/sunshine

🏒f*ckboy/single dad

🏒first time bi exploration

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🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐5

💧 1.5

🔥 3

This book finally made it out of my TBR, and I couldn’t be happier that I finally managed to commit fully to it! I feel like this book (and upon reading Body Check too, stay tuned, this series too) explores with more depth very serious topics, and it does so beautifully and in a way that’s very relatable at least for me (religious subplot, I’m looking at you). The characters are simply incredibly written, and Jesse has all of my heart since chapter 1. And Connor, oh Connor, you stubborn, beautiful Irishman, he’s an incredible character, and my heart broke for him several times, but also he filled me with joy; his love for his children bled through the words on the pages. He’s an incredible dad, willing to question every value he was raised with for his son (and yes, I’ll admit it, I creid). Honestly, Jesse and Coonr fit into each other's lives so well, like they’re two pieces of a puzzle. They are the missing pieces of each other's lives. They were made to be together, and it brought me so much joy to read the Christmas scene. 

Also, so many kudos to Brigham because this universe is just so incredibly written, omg. I never quite understood the “cohesion” prompt in the rating system I use, but thinking about it now, it makes sense; this is a universe made of three different series, like sixteen different books and at least sixteen different couples, and lord knows how many secondary characters, and everything makes sense and comes back around in every series without contradiction. Literally, it’s a masterpiece.

And now, to play devil’s advocate for a second, kudos to Viv too because hers was one of the best character growths I read in a while, she went from raging bitch to an actual loving mother in the span of a book. 

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“Because choosing Jesse meant loving more than just him. It was also choosing to love his family. To love Kelly and Nolan. To love himself.”

[chimaeracrew]

I'm sorry, I didn't know this was a WHORE HOUSE

[literary-labyrinth]

WRANGLING A GROOM by DJ Jamieson

🤠WRANGLING A GROOM by @aithor_dj_jamieson

“I, Wyatt Jones make a pact to marry you, Diego Flores, when we’re twenty five years old”

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🤠second chance

🤠“enemies” to lovers

🤠childhood friend to lovers

🤠marriage pact

🤠looooong burn

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🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐4.5

💧 1

🔥 4

To be honest, cowboy romance it’s not my jam and I picked up this book because I needed to complete a reading challenge and I saw this book in my homepage and I thought, hey, DJ Jamieson hasn’t missed yet, so it’s gonna be a safe choice, right? And what did I know? I was right. At first I wasn’t convinced because see above, but the more I read the more I enjoyed it. Oh this was everything a second chance should be. The angst bled through the pages and it was amazing, they really transmitted their resentment and they will to get back together. Every chapter I was  like, mh Wyatt is right! And then two pages later I was like, oh but Diego has a point too, and it was so entertaining to keep up with it! Tho I kept repeating to Diego that he can’t have the barrel full and the drunk wife (husband) too. (And oh. my. god. It was oh so hot. Their chemistry was unmatched).

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 “Whether Diego accepted it or not, they loved each other. Wyatt reckoned they always would.”

[literary-labyrinth]

THE HOME GAME by Brigham Vaughn

🏒THE HOME GAME by @brighamvaughn 

“So you’re probably going to think I’m crazy, but I think you and the kids should move in here with me.”

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🏒fake relationship

🏒marriage of convenience

🏒custody battle

🏒forced proximity

🏒 tw: homophobia and bigotry

🏒instant family

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🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐5

💧 1

🔥 2.5

I could have written this review before reading the books and it wouldn't have changed much. I don’t know how she does it, but every book in this series I think it’s going to be my favourite, but then the next one comes out and says “hi, i’m your new favourite book” and what can I do if not accept it with open arms? But seriously, I knew I would love Matty since he made his way into Dustin and Charlie’s bed, but I didn’t expect to love him this much. He and Antoni are a perfect match, they’re sweet and cute and lovely and they make up a really lovely family. I love how sweet and protective Matty is towards the kids, especially how everyone (Fisher Cats included) are so supportive of Eli. On that note, I don’t condone violence, especially on the elderly, but I will fight the grandparents if it comes to it (and I love how Martty did). The story was sweet and hot, and the tension between Matty and Antoni was amazing and I can’t wait for the next one, it’s gonna be an interesting one!

I received an ARC copy from @neonrainbowarcreviews and this is my honest review. 

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“He and Antoni had only been married for a few weeks but he was no longer hoping he and Antoni would fall in love with each other. Now he was hoping that Antoni would love him back.”

[literary-labyrinth]

THE HOOKUP MIX-UP bu Riley Hart

🐶THE HOOKUP MIX-UP by @rileyhartwrites

“Perry has been hitting on me! How can I be so clueless?”

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🐶hookup gone wrong

🐶bi-awakening

🐶strangers to friends to lovers

🐶more like idiots to lovers

🐶friends with benefits

🐶miscommunication

🐶but not THAT one

🐶no third-act-breakup

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🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐5

🔥 3

Oh this was everything. Funny, hot, sweet. 10/10. Perry and Theo are amazing characters and I loved them together. Theo is a certified golden retriever, he’s so clueless yet so smart and funny. And Perry. Oh Perry is so cynic yet lovable and in need of love. Perry and Theo were amazing as friends and even more so as a couple. I loved how supportive they were of each other in everything and oh my god, the epilogue set 10 years in the future was an amazing addition. (Also, yay for no third-act breakup.!!)

I received a copy from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review. 

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“I wanted to kiss him, and I only had one Screaming Orgasm hours before, so I couldn’t use that as an excuse.” 

[literary-labyrinth]

COACHING PRINCE CHARMING by Hayden Hall

🏒COACHING PRINCE CHARMING by @authorhaydenhall

“He would also remain an unattainable wish that I would carry to my grave.” 

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🏒inappropriate relationship

🏒age gap

🏒father’s best friend 

🏒forbidden relationship

🏒coach/player

🏒seize difference

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🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐4

💧 2

🔥 3

Ok, this was a perfect closure to an amazing series and it would have totally gotten 5 stars if I hadn't had to bleach my brain and force myself to forget that Carter used to call Nate “Uncle Nate”. That was a big nope for me. But overall it was a very sweet book, with very sweet characters. I liked that it focused less on hockey and more on Carter’s life outside of it and hìon his developing relationship with Nate. However, since it was the last chapter of the Arctic Titan, I wish we could have had a hit more of the boys’ shenanigans, I’m really gonna miss them. The hot scenes always hit just right, 10/10 in that department. Overall a really perfect ending to this really great series. 

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“He was the beautiful one, the vulnerable one, the one in need of protection. And I had failed him.”

[literary-labyrinth]

SUMMER OF YOU by Joelle Lynne

🌊 SUMMER OF YOU by @authorjoellelynne

“There was a rightness to this. We were meant to be together like this. We should have never been apart, but like a damn fool, I’d gone and fuck it up.”

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🌊 friends to strangers to lovers

🌊childhood friends

🌊second chance

🌊small town

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🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐4

💧 2

🔥 3

Nathan and Chase are really cute together. I loved the chemistry between them. Sparks were flying since the first moment they re-met in Nathan’s uncle’s living room. Chase tried to keep his walls up (which btw, it did make me cry. A lot) but he was always so attracted in the magnetic sense to Nathan that every hookup took a little brick away. This book screamed summer, it smelled like the salty air at the beach late at night. It was the perfect atmosphere to rediscover the beauty of falling in love again. Well done!

I received a copy from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review. 

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“Something primals triggered in my mind. Chase was mine. All fucking mine. I marked him. In all ways possible.”

[literary-labyrinth]

TOTALLY GEEKED by Becca Jackson

🍌TOTALLY GEEKED by @beccajacksonauthor

“If you want my input, Arlo is exactly the kind of guy I need.”

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🍌 banana ball

🍌 geek/jock 

🍌secret relationship

🍌 best friend’s brother

🍌age gap

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🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐4.5

💧 1

🔥 3

I had so much fun reading this book. The characters are great, Arlo was so sweet and kinda dorky? I loved him, I want one of him in my life. His and Harry’s relationship was so good and positive and healthy? Are you kidding me? Harry is such a good character, he’s sweet and definitely spicy, and even as a friend he’s great, none of those sportsman macho bullcrap. He and Arlo are truly made to be together. And I kinda want to read Arlo’s children's book (I definitely wasn’t expecting an R-rated version of it, my mind went places!)

I received a copy from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review. 

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 “Can confidence be a sexually transmitted disease? If it is, I don't ever want to be cured because it feels amazing.” 

[literary-labyrinth]

YOU'VE GOT MALE by DJ Jamieson

YOU’VE GOT MALE by @author_dj_jamison

“Maybe fate did have a sense of humor, but I wasn’t laughing. I was too damn busy loving my man.”

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💿rom-com reboot

💿business rivals to lovers

💿bi-awakening

💿mistaken identity

💿online love 

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🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐5

🔥 3

As always, DJ Jamieson did not disappoint. You’ve Got Male is an easy, lighthearted read and it has it all. It’s a bit angsty, there’s sexual tension thick enough to cut through it with a knife (yes, also and foremost when Austin was being angsty), there’s self discovery, there’s a cute dog, there’s hot, steamy scenes. Austin is such a nice character (seriously, I want his music shop, like asap) and his connection with Chase is instant, both through messages and in person (the matchmaking niece, a 10/10 touch). Their chemistry is incredible and the angsty atmosphere makes the tension between them 100 times better. 

I’ve received an ARC copy from @neonrainbowarcreviews and this is my honest review.

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“I smiled at his response but there was an odd parallel to his life and mine. We both had a business rivalry. He’d taken my advice and gotten tough, just like Austin had…

I sat up, heart skipping. Could it be?”

[literary-labyrinth]

DUKE FOR THE SUMMER by Emily Spady

🏰DUKE FOR THE SUMMER by @emilyspadybooks

“Even before he’d fallen, he’d known it was inevitable.”

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🏰age gap

🏰forced proximity

🏰pining

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🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐5

💧 1

🔥 2

I loved this book. It was so…Italian, and as an Italian, trust me, it was amazing. This book felt like summer. The vibes were immaculate, even with the thunderstorm outside, I felt on a small Sicilian island along with Jacopo and Nate. As far as I am aware, the traditions and small folklore pieces scattered throughout the book are pretty accurate and the Italian is quite correct (there are a few things I would have written a bit differently, but don’t mind me, I’m a language student, I can’t turn it off). It was so fun to see Jacopo swear in Italian, especially at a very specific point (tho it’s really offensive to most and I can assure you that even non-religious kids of religious families don’t go thoiring that around, me being one of them, but it brought a nice long loud laugh out of me because I did not expect that). The plot is so well developed, it feels like the plot of a fairy tale or at least of a Princess diaries spin off or something, and the characters are so nice and well write, and I’m not talking only about the protagonists, but overall all of them are very well written (especially Gracie and Thea, they're a bomb duo, I kinda wanted to read more about them!)

(Also, hello Dublin, my beloved city, it was nice meeting you here!)

I received an ARC copy from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.

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“Why wouldn’t we be? Come on, Jacopo. Wash your face and put on a nice shirt and let’s go get your duke.” 

[literary-labyrinth]

TELL ME AGAIN by Becca Neil

TELL ME AGAIN by @beccaneilauthor

“I loved him ten years ago, and I still do now. And it’s overwhelming and wonderful and also…just more than a little scary.”

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🥧small town 🥧best friends to stranger to lovers 🥧second chance(ish) 🥧virgin MCs 🥧found family

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🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐4 💧 2 🔥 1

Oh this was good. The first part of the book was 10/10. The storytelling, the angst, the pain the characters were carrying, the characterisation not only of the protagonists but of all of the characters. Coop’s resentment and Josh’ shame bled through the pages and it was so rough and real that it damn near broke my heart. Coop is very much set on hating Josh and on not giving him the time of day (mostly) and Josh very much hates himself. However, in the span of a week everything changes and the resentment and hatred kind of evaporate into thin air and we’re left with a Coop with abandonment issues that are maybe a bit blown out of proportion and very awkward steamy scenes (which makes sense since it was their first time ever.) While not being a fan of the second half of the book the first half was just so well written that I felt all of the emotions and pain of the characters.

I received an ARC copy from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.

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“And as soon as I turn towards him, his arms wrap around me, and he pulls me up against him. And god, it feels like coming home.”

[literary-labyrinth]

GOALIE TANDEM by Tierney Rose

GOALIE TANDEM by Tierney Rose (@halliewriteshockey)

“Theo’s grumpy when you’re not here. “

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🏒age gap

🏒grumpy/sunshine

🏒hero worship 

🏒roommates to lovers

🏒 “““rivals””” to lovers 

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🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐4

🔥 2.5

The storytelling is good as always, good plot and there was a good characterisation of the characters. But the characters is where it gets tricky for me.

Nikla is incredible. He’s sunshiny, he sees the best in people and he always wants to be true to himself, all characteristics that made me love him quite a lot. Overall, Nikla is a character that is SOO easy to love. Theo, however, is not. He is a very complex character, who I loved at times but I was mostly annoyed with. He’s the grump of the relationship but that’s not what’s wrong with him. Theo carries around so much shame that makes him pass as a coward, and at times he is. And that would also be ok if we (and Nikla) were given some context about that. Yes, we learnt that there was a reason behind his being reserved about his sexuality but we never learnt the whole story, which could have helped to understand the shame he was carrying. The other thing I didn't like about him was that all throughout the book he tried to make decisions for Nikla and pass onto him the shame that he himself was carrying.

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“He’d had his sexual epiphany about Theo fucking Wallin, for fuck’s sake- he was never, ever going to be normal around him.”

[literary-labyrinth]

OFF THE ICE by Tierney Rose

OFF THE ICE by Tierney Rose (@halliewriteshockey)

“He would never skate again. Never strap on the pads and get between the pipes and play the game he loved more than anything in the world.” 

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🏒rivals to lovers 🏒forced proximity 🏒hurt/comfort

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🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐5 💧 2 🔥 2

The first time I read this book, I loved it. The second time I read it, I loved it even more. Tanner and Ethan are so perfect together. Their chemistry is off the charts, seriously. There’s so much angst between them (and for good reasons), but I loved seeing how they both let go of that anger and welcomed each other into their lives. And it was fun. Tanner is a fun character and his and Ethan’s interactions, especially at the beginning, were fun to read in the best possible way. I loved how they both were always there for each other. I’m sorry but Ethan and Tanner raised my expectations for men. 

————————————  “Since when have you cared what I thought?” “Since you made me chicken soup.”

[literary-labyrinth]

THE AMAZING ALPHA TAU PLEDGE PROJECT by Sarah Honey and Lisa Henry

THE AMAZING ALPHA TAU PLEDGE PROJECT by @sarahhoneywriting @lisa_henry_author

“I told myself I was mentally prepared for the sight of Briar in a skirt. I was not, in fact, prepared.”

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💙frat bros 💙femboy frat bro 💙mutual pining

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🦦Labyrinth’s rating

⭐4.5

💧 1 🔥 2

Seriously, the storytelling in this series is just spot on. I loved Casey’s character and his POV was oh, just so perfect. I loved every time he broke the fourth wall, I felt like I was one of his kids listening to him tell his and Briar’s story or something. Briar is…complicated. It took me a while to grow to like him but oh in the end he was so amazing, and I’m all here for a femboy frat bro. I love how at Alpha Tau they’re just so unbothered and accepting when a brother comes out (which is how it should be tbh). Marty is 100% my favourite character of the series. He’s incredible, I love him but I really can’t wait to read Charlie’s story!

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“As the poet said, “Fuck that noise!””