ashbellareadsmm's reviews
254 reviews

Genre: M/M Romance
Format: eBook 
Series: Love Sync Mates - Season Two - 6
Can be read as standalone. Multi-author series

 
Character Development: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Spice Level: 1.5/5
Overall Rating: 3.5/5

A very quick easy read. Poor Jinn is being stalked and is saved by Lyric. They were so sweet together. 

Tropes:
• Alpha x Omega
• Dragon Shifters
• Omegaverse
• MPreg
• Size Difference
• Forced Proximity
• HEA


Cheating:

No

Third-act breakup:

No

POV: Dual POV (First Person POV)
KU: Yes 

♾️⭐

Genre: M/M Romance
Format: eBook
This book is heavy. There can be some extremely triggering scenes. HOWEVER, if you can read this blind, it will be worth it. It will make the story that much more painful and sweet. C.S. Autumn has a very detailed list of trigger warnings at the back of the book, they do contain spoilers for the story. If you need to read them, please do. 🖤

Character Development: 4.5/5 • Caiden, sweet broken boy. My heart hurts for the love you deserved but didn't receive. I break for the man who grew up and never felt like enough. Add in Jamie, a hopeless romantic who get's in his own way more than not. He just wants to love and be loved. They were both so sweet, hiding behind their pain with harsh words and inability to voice their pain.

Plot: 4/5• The plot was engaging and well written. The first part of the book, I felt a bit of anxiety. I was just waiting for the pain to start, and boy did it get me. I had to take a break after part two. Walk away, collect myself and hope Jamie & Caiden got their happy ending.

Writing Style: 4/5• The book was well written, with no grammatical or spelling errors. I felt like I was in the heads of Jamie & Caiden each time it was their POV. I felt their pain, their torment and I felt their unfiltered happiness.

Spice Level: 3.5/5 • 🥵 Jamie & Caiden, omfg.... SO good. The tenderness Jamie had for Caiden and then total domination of him had me every time. They were so perfectly broken together. I loved every filthy interaction.

Overall Rating: 5/5 ♾️⭐ • This book is pure pining, heartbreaking perfection. Jamie and Caiden, omg they were marvelous. It has been a long long time for a book to break me so hard, I needed a break. Only to yearn to keep going just so my heart can stop the dull ache from the pure heartbreak. I wanted to yank them both from the pages and wrap them in a hug. Neither of them deserved the torment and pain they went through. But finding each other through all of it was so pure, so sweet, so devastatingly good. I want to forget that I read this, only to read it again for the first time. One of the best books I have ever read. 

C.S. Autumn knows how to write a book that tears you up and puts you back together. I cannot wait to read more from her. 🖤

Tropes:
• Stepbrothers 
• Brother's Ex 
• Hurt/Comfort 
• Mental Health Rep 
• Praise 
• HEA

Cheating:

No

Third-act breakup:

No

POV: Dual POV (First Person POV)
KU: Yes 

 Genre: M/M Romance
Format: eBook
‼️Check your triggers prior to reading‼️

Character Development: 3.5/5
Plot: 4/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Spice Level: 3.5/5
Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Elijah & Tobias ♥ My heart broke for them together and individually. The were so sweet. While the book does start out in their senior year of high school both MC are 18 at the time. This book has a little bit of everything that you might want, childhood friends, enemies to lovers, banter, and sweet first times.

I wish we got more of their childhood together, how their friendship built but it was still good without it. Some of the scenes did feel rushed but I wasn't overly frustrated by that.

This does end in a happy for now, with the duet coming this summer.

Tropes:
• Childhood Friends to Enemies to Lovers
• Hurt/Comfort
• Forced Proximity
• Second Chance
• Found Family
• First Times
• Forbidden Love (Brothers by Circumstance)
• HFN

Trigger Warnings

• Child Abuse (Happens to one MC, discussed after the fact)
• Child Sexual Assault (Happens to one MC, discussed after the fact)
• Bullying
• Cancer
• Homophobic Slurs
• Suicide

Cheating:

No

Third-act breakup:

No

POV: Dual POV (First Person POV)
I received an advance review copy, and this is my honest review.
 

Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance
Format: eBook
Series: Hopeless Blessed - 2


Character Development: 3.5/5
Plot: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Spice Level: 3/5
Overall Rating: 4/5

Sam & Zeke were so sweet together. Sam's struggles were so heartbreaking. I will never understand why some of us are born with brains that just don't want us to exist peacefully. As someone with OCD, severe anxiety and sensory issues, I related to Sam so much. Watching Zeke care for him was so heartwarming. The devotion that the Seraphim unit has for each other is one of the best family units I have read. They have each others backs no matter what. They brought Sam into their fold as if he was always one of them.

I absolutely cannot wait for Noah's story, my heart broke for him.


Tropes:
🪽 Angel x Human
🩵 Online Friends to Lovers
🪽 OCD/Mental Health Rep
🩵 Found Family
🪽 Protective MC
🩵 Touch him and ☠️
🪽 Fated Mates
🩵 HEA

POV: Dual POV (First Person POV)
KU: Yes 

Genre: M/M Romance
Format: eBook
Series: Bitches with Stitches - 1
 This series has characters from the Scars and Stripes Trilogy. In my opinion it is best if read after to get the full Mac & Stiles affect

Proof of Life - West & Brandt ♥ 5.0 ⭐
The Darkness Within - Nash & Brewer ♥ 5.0 ⭐
Warrior's Walk - Riggs & Rhett ♥ 5.0 ⭐

Character Development: 4/5 • While this book was lighter than the Scars and Stripes Trilogy it was still very impactful. Both Mac & Stiles have trauma they are dealing with. They might have come to terms with it but it still affects their daily lives. Mac's obsession with hot dogs, while eyebrow raising was absolutely hilarious.

Plot: 4/5 • The plot was well written and engaging. I loved watching these two fall in love.

Writing Style: 4/5 • The book was well written, with no grammatical or spelling errors.

Spice Level: 2/5 • Their intimacy developed naturally which I loved. They didn't push each other, they took their time and it made their moments together that much sweeter. What Mac was hiding in his drawer was on brand for him, but had be giggling.

Overall Rating: 5/5 • While this book was lighter than the Scars and Stripes Trilogy it was still very impactful. Both Mac & Stiles have trauma they are dealing with. They might have come to terms with it but it still affects their daily lives. The BALLS gang definitely come together for their own and I love seeing it. I loved the little insights in to how the couples from the trilogy were doing. Mandy, oh my heart broke for him. I really need his HEA. These characters Raquel Riley have created feel like apart of my family, they leave a last effect on you. I cannot wait to see what the rest of the Bitches in Stitches have in store. ❤️

Tropes:
🌭 Best Friends to Lovers 
❤️ Double Bi-Awakening
🌭 Forced Proximity
❤️ One Bed
🌭 Hurt/Comfort
❤️ Amputee/PTSD 
🌭 Knitting Circle
❤️ BALLS cameos! 
🌭 HEA


Cheating:

No

Third-act breakup:

No

POV: Dual POV (First Person POV)

Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance
Format: eBook

Character Development: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Spice Level: 2/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Wren & Theo, so good! ♥

The book blurb had me from the jump. I couldn't wait to read this and I was not disappointed. Wren was a cynical cupid, hating on love but was forced to give the soulmate bond to unsuspecting humans. Throw in the most precious man, Theo and I was hooked. Two beings that should be mortal enemies turn to the sweetest of lovers. 

The graveyard scene had me in tears, they were so beautiful together. 

I truly hope that this turns into a series. I need more answers. 

Tropes:
• Murder Cupid
• Forced Proximity 
• Wing Kink
• Enemies to Lovers
• Forbidden Relationship
• Reluctant Soulmates 
• HEA

Cheating:

No

Third-act breakup:

No

POV: Dual POV (First Person POV)
Releasing 02/14/2025 

Genre: M/M Romance
Format: eBook
Series: Pippen Creek -- 1
 
Character Development: 3/5
Plot: 2.5/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Spice Level: 2/5
Overall Rating: 3.5/5

This was my first book by Lynn Burke. I am interested to see where she takes the Pippen Creek series. Forewarning -- this book is the slowest of slow burns. Jamie and Chaz don't get together until around 80 percent of the book is over.

There were times I was extremely frustrated with the events that happened. Chaz was a hard character for me to read. He just never seemed to get over himself and the things that happened to let happiness in. When he finally got it together the book was almost over. I feel like I didn't really get to enjoy their HEA because it was over so quick once they finally got their shit together.

Overall, this is an okay read. My absolute favorite trope is Childhood BFF's to Lovers but this one didn't give me the feels the trope usually gives me.

Tropes:
• Childhood Best Friend's to Lovers
• Slowest of Slow Burns
• Pining
• Hurt/Comfort
• Cheating (not between MC)
• HEA

Cheating:

No

Third-act breakup:

No

POV: Dual POV (First Person POV)
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review. 

Genre: M/M Romance
Format: eBook
Series: No So Series - 2
 
Character Development: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Spice Level: 3/5
Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Parker let his anxiety get the best of him and lose out on the best relationship he ever had. With some meddling from his best friend, he is forced to share a hotel room with Marcus, his ex. The book takes place in beautiful Aruba. It was a sweet romance, with all the pining and second chance feel goods.

Tropes:
• BFF's Brother
• Second Chance
• Anxiety Rep
• Slow Burn
• Forced Proximity
• One Bed
• Interracial Couple
• HEA


Cheating:

No

Third-act breakup:

No

POV: Dual POV (First Person POV)
KU: Yes
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review. 

5.0 ⭐

Genre: M/M Romance Short Story 
Format: eBook 

Jon is the an adorable teddy bear and Shane melts my heart. They were so gooey  sweet together I was sad it ended. This was a sweet & spicy short that you could read on your lunch break. Do not sleep on Jon & Shane ♥ 


Tropes:
• Rugby Player & Nurse 
• Ex Boyfriend's Friend 
• Bi-Awakening 
• Steamy
• HEA


Cheating:

No

Third-act breakup:

No

POV: Dual POV (First Person POV)
KU: Yes 

4.25⭐

Genre: M/M Romance
Format: E-Book
Series: Inevitably You # 2

Check your triggers prior to reading
This can be read as a standalone however has spoilers to the first book in the series, Someone Like You.

Character Development: 3.5/5
Plot: 3.75/5
Writing Style: 3.75/5
Spice Level: 3/5
Overall Rating: 4.25/5

Now, this is a redemption arc. I wanted to hate Gavin, he wants the readers to hate him. Yet, there is no denying how absolutely broken he is. All he needs/wants is Beck to keep him whole. Beck and Gavin were so dang sweet together once you get past Gavin's whole feral animal act in the beginning. This was extremely high angst, if you are someone that needs the romance almost instantly, this is not it. It was a struggle for these two throughout most of the book, but once the romance starts, it's absolutely swoon-worthy. I am in love these two. ♥

"You're the sky and I'm the stars, Becky. You're stuck with me."

Tropes:
• Best Friends x Enemies to Lovers
• High Angst
• Slow Burn
• Hurt/Comfort
• Villain
• Mental Health Rep
• Wrestling/Jiu-Jitsu
• HEA

Someone Like You ♥ Isaac & Brody ♥ 5/5

Cheating:

No

Third-act breakup:

No

POV: Dual POV (First Person POV)
KU: Yes (Once released on 01/28/2025)