caffeinatedcrystal's reviews
256 reviews

ALL I WANT IS YOU by Rye Cox 4⭐️ Oh, this was a CUTE premise for a valentines-esque anthology. The trouble is telling you how cute it is and NOT giving away the plot. It IS only a short story with 6 chapters.

Kevin is besties with Bernie. Bernie is in a frat and always cojoles Kevin into being his buddy/wingman. Through the frat activities, Kevin meets Lance, one of Bernie's frat brothers.

Kevin secretly likes Lance.
Lance not so secretly likes Kevin. Everyone knows, but Lance and Kevin.

When a singing telegram fundraiser mission goes wrong... 👀
•••••
SILVER (FOX) LINING by Anna Sparrows 5⭐️ My only complaint is that it was a novella and not a full-length story. I'm not kidding or exaggerating. I would have happily read 300 pages of these two.

Cody is Mike's son. Mike is Ken's high school & current bff. Cody has always had a bit of a crush on Ken.

The story pops off when Cody mistakenly texts Ken for help. Ken thinks he's helping a stranger, and they have a re-meet-awkward in a grimy club bathroom while Ken plays the  white knight.

Ken and Cody spark up a friendship over their favorite tv show, and that slowly & organically evolves into texts, memes, calls, dinners, and then after a conversation -> friends with benefits.

It can't ever be more because Ken is Cody's dad's best friend.

But they can't stop their feelings.

I LOVED THESE TWO. They had chemistry, and I just loved their friendship. I also loved the great DEMI representation. Cody is a virgin because he needs that emotional connection - that spark. Their conversation about that and Cody's demisexuality overall was SO GREAT.

There were sweet moments, light spice, and big grand gestures. I was so here for it. Again, my only complaint was that it wasn't a full-length story. Your honor, I loved them.

This anthology is available now, but not forever. The proceeds go to an LGBTQIA+ charity, too. So treat yourself & do good at the same time!

Ugh. I wanted to like this more than I did. I probably would have dnfed, but I have already dnfed two other books today and tried to stick it out. Especially since it's a daddy book, and those are usually my favorites.

Love Me, Daddy was a great idea for a story, and it just sort of fell flat.

Nathan, a homeless sex worker, gets hurt by a John. Loren stumbles upon him and helps.

Loren just takes him home. Of course, he's a daddy, and of course, Nathan is a boy looking for a daddy. I don't know. It was too quick, and there weren't any real conversations and ... like I said, this one fell flat for me.

Just finished A STABLE DADDY 🧡 a daddy k!nk romance set in Australia between a widowed vet and a Texas cowboy.

What starts as a rescue turned one night ✨️moment✨️ turns into more - months later when both mcs realize they've moved across the country separately. When they reconnect, almost like fate, both mcs are happy to jump into a relationship with a heavy dose of daddying.

I liked Ryan. He was a bit of a mess. His realization that maybe he needed a daddy the entire time was such a sweet moment. Maddy, his late husband, also felt like an active character in the story. I like how Oscar never tried to take Maddy's place.

I WANTED to like Oscar. And most of the time, I did. But a couple of times, he came off condescending as hell, and that irritated me a bit. But he saved Ryan at the Vault, and he genuinely loved him. I think my issues with Oscar may be down to the way the author wrote the character and less about the actual character.

Overall, I liked Ryan and Oscar's HEA. The author left the door wide open to write more in this universe, and I would definitely read another book set on the station. Australian cowboys, am I right?

Other things I enjoyed from their story: the daddy kink, of course. my favorite. the older boy/younger daddy dynamic. The discipline: the spanking and the choking/breath play. The focus on honesty and communication.

All that being said, read the content warnings.  ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️ Especially if you have triggers. ✨️I hope the warning emojis que you into the seriousness of the request✨️

I am... UNWELL. And I can't stop crying. I can't believe the Bertha Boys series, not its real name, is finally over 😭😭😭 I've loved the Accidental Love series so much, and they've all partnered up and moved out of Bertha. 

I seriously can't stop crying. 

NOT CATCHING LOVE is out on January 30th. Xander gets his happily ever after with nurse Derek. 

How do I write a review without any spoilers? 

Xander suffers with anxiety and medical anxiety and panic attacks. All his brothers help as much as they can, but the nurse at the pharmacy, Derek, seems to be the best help when Xander has convinced himself that the latest medical issue has befallen him. <---- upon editing, I've realized this is the chuckles sentence ever, but I am emotionally devastated by the ending of this series, so just let me live. 

But nurses can't date patients. And Xander really needs therapy. 

Oh, this book. Xander is very unwell and very resistant to get help. Watching him struggle is hard, AND he is often unlikeable. But I was rooting so hard for him. Derek is perfect for him. 

We get cameos from the other Bertha boys, Kismet, and Aggie. 

I can't believe the series is over.
 Your honor, I loved them so much. 

I'm off to cry a while.
 Remember, January 30th. 

•••
 The Accidental Love series features: 

✨️Rylan & Kai: The Anti Wingman (availible only on the authors' website) 

✨️Christian & Emile: The Husband Hoax 

✨️Seven & Molly: Not Dating Material 

✨️Rush & Hunter: The Revenge Agenda 

✨️Madden & Penn: Just Bromantically Invested 

✨️Xander & Derek: Not Catching Love 

---> tbr: Friend For Hire, Elle's ✨️Emile's sister✨️ Sapphic novella ---> available on the author's website

🧡🍑 it's release day for BENJI, book one of the Wylde Street Boys series. I'll be honest, I read this because it was marketed to be a daddy book, but alas, it was not. That kink was mentioned for side characters, but not the main pairing. Just a little public service announcement for you.

This series will feature books for each of the three rent boys who work Wylde Street. They're besties, and it seems like their stories will be full of adventures.

Benji & Nolan were basically a reimagining of Pretty Woman with crime family vibes.

Nolan hits Benji with his car, takes him home to look after him, and the plot starts to roll.

The two mcs have great chemistry. Nolan is likened to a Disney prince, lol, and Benji is all floppy curls and pouty lips.

The smut smutted once it kicked off. I probably would have enjoyed this book WAY MORE if I wasn't waiting the entire time for Benji to throw a "daddy" out at Nolan. ✨️sighs dramatically✨️ It's fine. I'm fine, really.

This was a quick read with good storytelling. Books two & three: Fitch & Ky's respective stories seem to be daddy books, so I'll definitely be adding them to the tbr. You'll probably enjoy Benji & Nolan's story if you like age gaps and sex positive mcs and a little bit of secret identity & not really forced proximity 🧡

I've loved the Accidental Love series so much 💛💛💛 I'm a complete sucker for the found family trope AND best friends to lovers and JUST BROMANTICALLY INVESTED has both. 

I'll be honest, I put off reading it because Not Catching Love felt so far away, but now that its release date is at the end of this month, I figured it was time. 

"I never thought ... this, us, was a possibility, but now that I'm with you, it feels like the only possibility." His hands roam from my hair and over my shoulders. "I need this." ••••• "Yeah,"' I croak. "'Me too." 

Madden, Bertha's resident nudist, and his best friend Penn FINALLY get their act together and realize they're head over heels for each other. 

Of course, it's way more than that. While Madden was absolutely pining away for his bestie - Penn really stole the show for me. There was just something so sad and lonely about him. It definitely gets brought up and resolved in their story, but god. I was reading before going into work today, and he just had me feeling ALL the feels. He was wonderful and so very self-aware. 

There was, of course, a straight to not so straight realization as well, and it felt so REAL. Like, Penn thought this one thing was true, and it absolutely was not true. Seeing how he navigated it with denial first and then action... I honestly can't love him more. Bless his heart. 

Madden and his naturist lifestyle was interesting, too. His feelings and reasons were so lovely, and I just wanted to give him a hug. 

The side characters are, as always, a treat. The Bertha boys and Kismet. Lana, the neighbor, and Lisa, the not so southern belle. 

Again, I love this series, and I can't recommend it enough. Each book is different and there are tropes galore! 

I just finished up Loving Leo, the latest camboy trying to get on Carter's site. Leo does ✨️solo✨️ work in places he shouldn't. The fans & subscribers like the thrill of it all. He meets Heath, the other mc, when Heath walks in on Leo filming... in Heath's office chair 👀 after hours.

I won't spoil any of it. Needless to say: Heath was an interesting character. Too much for money to have much sense, but wanting to be a good person. And lord was he SAD. Like, give the guy an SSRI and a hug. Leo was the sunshine, bringing laughter and candy and sweetness and LIFE into Heath's day to day.

Leo seemed like the kind of character who I'd want to be friends with. Absolutely ridiculous, sparking with vitality and shenanigans. And boy, did he fall for Heath.

These two had to navigate a CEO/camboy•janitor situation. They had the whole financial disparity thing going on, and Leo refused to let Heath "save him." They also had Heath's whole "I'm straight" added to the mix. But you can tell it's all in his head, Heath's parents really did a number on him.

Since this was a Cora/Nicole story, there was some FUNNY shit happening, too. Leo's apartment, roommate, and neighbor had me DYING DEAD from cackling.

LOVING LEO was an entertaining story in a universe I adore 🩷 and it comes out January 24th! 

💜💜💜 Damon and Tomas were such a treat! 

This was a reread, as I've said, and it's JUST as amazing the second time! 

Damon is unapologetically himself and completely over the top - he is, to steal a bit of British slang, totally BARMY. I love him for it, though. He is a super sweet sex positive cam worker. He's in the country for a week, dogsitting for his friends' moms, and meets the hottie mechanic next door, Tomas. 

Tomas is the kind of character I love. Quiet and broody without the emo rage. He thinks he's straight, but Damon has him feeling some kind of way. 

Honestly,  this book was great right from the get-go. I laughed so much, and I was so happy with how the hea played out. 

If you're looking for a funny, low angst, biawakening featuring a charming mechanic and a sweet tender hearted cam worker - flatulent devil dogs, found family, honest conversations about feelings and events and a sweet as all get out hea? Look no further! 

Loved Damon and Tomas.
 Tomas' dad!
 The centipede.
 The live show [redacted]
 The first date! 

I can't recommend this book or series, enough!

I finished up Becoming Bennet by Cora Rose and Nicole Dykes last night and I LOVED IT. 

Honestly, this story had me giggling almost the entire time. Jasper is just so entertaining with his running monologs - the man is a hoot. And Bennet. OMG, what a teddy bear. 

Bennet and Jasper are camboys, coworkers, and... acquaintances. Friends. Well, they're definitely something. And there's absolutely a spark between them. When Bennet receives bad news and crumbles, Jasper steps up to help. The two travel to Bennet's home town in Kansas and [redacted]. 

Jasper is a secret softie. A caretaker hidden beneath snark and pouts. Bennet leans on him, while they're forced to share only one bed. 

The side characters in this were amazing. Even the critters [and those names, OMG!] Looking forward to Jimbob and Ryan's stories too. And of COURSE Damon's. I really loved getting to see Bennet and Jasper navigate their feelings, what a mess. 

My only complaint, if it could even be called that when I loved this story so much, is that I would've enjoyed getting a little more of Jasper's backstory. We got little nuggets, but I would have loved to learn his familial history and get pieces of why he is the way he is. But, the story was great even without that. 

I loved book one and I loved this one too! I laughed so much, and desperately want to give Jasper a hug. I absolutely recommend! I also recommend you read Reaching Reed, book one, before this one. It's not necessary, but makes the books more enjoyable.

Y'all, this book was great. The chemistry, the shenanigans, everything!

edit reread: 01/17/2025

🧡🧡🧡 in an early celebration of Loving Leo's release, set on the 24th, I'm rereading this ✨️Becoming Bennet✨️ and Discovering Damon from the Behind the Camera series.

Cora & Nicole deliver hilarious and fun mcs with amazing stories, and Jasper and Damon are ridiculously entertaining. They remind me of Tatum from the Unexpectedly Twisted series.

BECOMING BENNET is Bennet & Jasper's story. Bennet has to go home to Kansas for a family situation, and Jasper goes to help because Bennet can't deal.

What follows is syrupy sweet. Bennet deals with family, and Jasper experiences farm life and tornados all while trying so hard to NOT fall for Bennet. It's impossible.

They tease and collaborate for their friend Carter's website, doing camboy things and fall hopelessly in love with each other.

This story was great. I loved the mcs. I loved the side characters and cameos. I loved the animals and how ridiculously sweet Jasper was. I just loved all of it.

If you're interested in starting this series, I definitely recommend it. Reaching Reed is book one, and it's a little more ✨️sad✨️ because of circumstances, and the spicy scenes were a little spicier because, again, circumstances. Then you can read Becoming Bennet to balance the universe. I'm off to start Damon's adventure, and I can't wait!

The last of my unread Forestville Silver Foxes novellas 💕 MARRYING THE GUIDE hit me right in the feels. Since it's a novella, it was instalovey, but that's forgiven since Onno & Howell were so damn sweet. 

Onno, Joost from the baker's brother, is in the US visiting said brother from the Netherlands. He's making a point to try and do new things. One of those things is kayaking, and that's where he meets the outdoor guide, Howell. 

These two were seriously sweet. They had three weeks ✨️before Onno goes back home✨️ to fall for each other. There are all kinds of adorable dates and a steamy scene or two. 

My favorite part was the airport scene. That's always a favorite. 

I can't recommend this series of novels and novellas enough. I love Forestville!