A solitary tree surgeon, he’s made peace with working alone, eating alone, being alone. Until a serious accident tears his world apart and lands him in a hospital bed opposite the most beautiful man he’s ever seen.
Ludo Giordano is beautiful, bright, and impossible to ignore. Bipolar and sleepless, his world is ruled by colour—shifting, vivid, relentless. And when he looks at Aidan, he finds a flare of yellow he can’t resist. Their midnight conversations ignite something electric.
Something dangerous.
Something Aidan can’t forget once he’s discharged. Grey isn’t enough anymore, and when a chance reunion pulls them back together, that flare… Aidan can’t resist it either.
His recovery is slow and painful. Ludo’s instability is a storm they can’t outrun. Yet together, their fractured lives start to feel whole.
Almost.
Because loving Ludo means weathering every shade. It means holding on when he whispers kiss me again because he needs an anchor more than a promise.
It means fighting for a love that burns brighter in the dark.
Rating: A-
Garrett Leigh’s Kiss Me Again is a beautiful, angsty, slow-burn romance between two men – broken in different ways – whose love story is one of learning and acceptance and gradual healing, showing clearly that while love can’t fix everything, it can provide understanding and visibility and a safe space where two people who are struggling can maybe just… struggle less, together.
Tree surgeon Aidan is prickly, solitary, emotionally closed-off and deliberately disconnected from everyone around him, even his family. After an accident at work lands him in hospital, he meets sweet, kind Ludo, who, he learns, is recovering from a recent episode of his bipolar disorder. There’s an instant spark of connection between them, but they’re both traumatised, in pain, medicated and unsure of what’s real that it’s hard for either of them to fully believe in what they’re feeling.
When they’re discharged, they each realise, with regret, that they never asked the other for their number – although they’re both also questioning whether they did actually meet or if the connection they felt was the result of some drug-induced hallucination.
As it turns out, though, fate isn’t finished with them yet. A chance meeting brings their intense connection roaring back to life, both of them drawn to the other incredibly strongly, yet struggling to express how they really feel. And as they slowly get to know each other outside of the hospital environment and to ground their memories of each other in reality, it’s clear that these two really are meant to be. Aidan, grumpy, closed-off and often monosyllabic, evolves from a man who doesn’t really know what it feels like to care for someone to a man with a lot of love and care to give and Ludo, constantly doubting his own mind and believing that the condition he lives with is too difficult to explain or expect anyone else to deal with, realises that in Aidan, he’s found someone who really sees him and accepts him as he is.
The author makes a point of saying, in a note at the beginning, that while she did extensive research, Ludo’s experience of bipolar disorder is not meant to be representative of the condition. I know very little about it, but the representation seems appropriate and authentic, and as I’ve said previously, I appreciated that Ludo is not magically ‘fixed’ by love (and neither is Aidan). Instead we see them working together, supporting one another and being present for each other in meaningful ways as they choose to let one another into their lives.
Garrett Leigh is so very good at writing emotionally charged, deeply intimate and quietly powerful stories featuring three-dimensional characters dealing with real life trauma, and then delivering a realistic and well-earned HEA. There’s a small secondary cast that adds layers to the story, and I particularly appreciated the development of the relationship between Aidan and his cousin Michael. I had a few very small niggles about the book (Aidan’s drinking kind of came and went), but apart from that, I enjoyed Kiss Me Again a great deal; it delivers exactly the kind of complexity and emotional heft that I look for in a romance, and I’m more than happy to recommend it.
Sure, Chris O’Neal has problems. His restaurant is still co-owned by his ex. His flannel-and-tattoos style is making him accidentally trendy. He can’t remember the last time he went out and had fun. But he’s not lonely, he’s driven. And the hot bakery delivery boy is not his problem, no matter how sweet his buns.
Chris is old enough to know Lance Degrassi’s sculpted good looks and clever double-entendre’s spell nothing but trouble. Lance is still in college—he should be hitting the clubs and the books, chasing guys his own age, not pursuing some gruff motorcycle-riding workaholic. Especially when he’ll be leaving for grad school in a few months. But Lance keeps hanging around, lending a hand, charming Chris to distraction. Maybe some steaming hot no-strings indulgence won’t hurt.
Then again, maybe it will . . .
Rating: B
The first prompt for 2026’s TBR Challenge is “still here”, so I went for a book in a series I started reading a while ago and haven’t yet finished. Delivered Fast (from 2015) is the third book in Annabeth Albert’s Portland Heat series – where, according to the series blurb, the only thing hotter than the coffee shops, restaurants, and bakeries are the hard-working men who serve it up—hot, fresh, and ready to go.
Now in his mid-thirties, Chris O’Neal had moved to Portland to open a vegan coffee shop with his boyfriend, but when Randy decided he wanted to open another café a few hundred miles away near the coast, their relationship, which had been rocky for a while, didn’t survive. Chris knows grumpy has become his default over the past year or so, but he doesn’t have time for anything else – certainly not flirting with the hot young delivery guy from the local bakery.
Lance Degrassi is twenty-two and comes from a large Italian family who – unlike Chris, who was disowned when he came out – accepts him completely and love him for who he is. He’s just taken over this particular delivery run and makes no bones about showing his interest in Chris from the get-go. Chris has that whole hipster lumberjack thing going on and clearly has no clue how hot he is, which Lance finds more than a bit endearing, and even though Chris tries hard not to flirt with him, Lance isn’t deterred.
Chris tells himself Lance is too young for him, but can’t help being drawn to his confidence, his intelligence and his good humour. A one-time hook-up (that Chris recognises as transformative but decides to ignore) leads to a friends-with-benefits arrangement, although the lines become blurred as the two of them begin spending more time together, sharing meals, watching movies and generally hanging out, and even moreso when Chris suggests Lance should come over to take advantage of the quiet to study while he (Chris) is at work. It’s clear to the reader that this thing between them has already gone way beyond friendship, but Chris is in denial, telling himself that friendship and sex is all he wants and all he can have from Lance, stubbornly clinging to the knowledge that Lance will be leaving to go to college (for post-grad) in a few month’s time. Lance is young and should be free to experience everything that comes with it; he certainly shouldn’t be thinking about putting his life on hold for a cranky older guy whose life has become hemmed in by responsibilities and regrets.
Annabeth Albert’s character work is always excellent, and I really liked the two leads here. Lance is bright, bubbly and persistent without being creepy or pushy, and he’s exactly what Chris – who has allowed himself to be ground down by the weight of work and obligation – needs to pull him out of his funk and start to realise that maybe he needs to start chasing his own dreams again. They have terrific chemistry and the attraction between them is palpable; the sex scenes are hot and well-written and even though Chris is the story’s sole narrator, the author does a great job of showing us exactly why he and Lance are so drawn to each other and how their feelings are evolving.
The I-don’t-want-you-to-give-up-your-dreams-for-me trope often shows up in age-gap romances; usually the older partner decides they’re too old for the younger and deliberately pushes them away, even though like it’s a stab to the heart and it’s obviously making them both miserable. I don’t like it when one partner makes a unilateral ‘it’s for your own good’ decision – but Chris’ reasoning makes sense here because we know that he did exactly that – put his wants and needs second – only to have the relationship fail, so it’s understandable that he would think as he does. The third-act break-up is, thankfully, fairly brief, with Chris taking the time they’re apart to realise that what he has with Lance is different and worth fighting for.
Delivered Fast is a quick, sexy and emotionally satisfying read with just enough conflict to keep things interesting. It’s a good reminder that I need to dig out the rest of the Portland Heat books and keep them closer to the top of my TBR pile.
Gabriel Karne is cautiously optimistic. Life seems to be settling down into a nice even keel.
It’s a new year and the former con artist has a permanent-for-now address. Even Keith-the-cat seems to like it there. No more rickety sailboats and living out of go-bags for Gabriel Karne. No surprises. No dead bodies.
Romance-wise, he and Ranger Man are easing into being a couple. A lifetime of habits is hard to break for both of them but they’re getting there.
Gabe even has a job. Will he regret agreeing to it? Probably but it’s almost legal, so baby steps.
Then a strange young woman claiming to be his long-lost daughter appears on his new doorstep, and she has some sketchy documentation to prove it. It’s not impossible, but Gabe wasn’t born yesterday, and Heidi Karne was his mother, after all.
And another damn letter—this one from a stranger—shows up. The author claims to be a friend of Heidi’s and to have some of his late mother’s belongings. Just great.
It’s pretty clear that the past isn’t done with him yet.
It will be fine. Everything will be fine.
Rating: B
Note: The Subtle Deceptions series is a same-couple series that features some overarching plotlines, so it’s essential to have read The Last Grift and Bait and Switch first.
This third book in Elle Keaton’s Subtle Deceptions series featuring former grifter Gabriel Karne and park ranger Casey Lundin, finds Gabe trying to unravel more of his mother’s mysterious past and Casey trying to repair his relationship with his brother after the latter’s release from prison.
When Skin Game begins, Gabe receives a an unexpected visit from a young woman who claims she’s his daughter and offers DNA evidence as proof. If Gabe didn’t already have reason to be suspicious, he knows damn well he’s never left his DNA anywhere – he recognises her claim as the grift it undoubtedly is, but can’t work out why anyone would target him in this way.
His friend, Elton, has asked for a favour on behalf of his lady-friend, Althea, who works at the sheriff’s department. Althea’s granddaughter’s deadbeat ex-boyfriend still has a necklace that is of huge sentimental value and she’s asked Gabe if he can get it back. Casey isn’t wild about the idea, but knows Gabe well enough by now to know that he’s going to do it regardless so tries instead to just know as little about it as possible and just reminds him to be careful. It’s not really breaking and entering because Gabe has a key (sure, Gabe); he finds the necklace but the deadbeat ex shows up just as he’s about to leave and chases him outside.
As if that wasn’t bad enough for one Monday, Gabe then receives a letter from someone claiming to have been his mother’s friend (which is the first he’s heard of Heidi actually having friends) and asking him to come to collect some things Heidi left with her. He’s not exactly eager; Heidi had so many secrets and he’s kinda done with them, but he and Casey head to Seattle to collect the items – which turn out to be a stack of boxes and a very sturdy (and ugly) wooden chair.
Returned to Heartstone, he and Casey starts looking through the boxes for clues as to why Heidi might have given all this stuff to someone to look after – someone he’s never met or heard mention of – and eventually finds an old high-school year book that indicates not only that Heidi was born in or around Heartstone, but that she began life as Holly Pritchard. Discovering this has Gabe trying to work out how and why and when Holly became Heidi and turned into the supreme grifter that she was.
Meanwhile, Casey is struggling to rebuild his relationship with his brother, Mickie, who was sent to prison for a murder he did not commit almost years earlier and who has, thanks to the exposure of the corrupt dealings of the former sheriff in book two (Bait and Switch). Casey has a sneaking suspicion that Mickie is keeping secrets and is deliberately keeping him at a distance; he’s trying to respect Mickie’s boundaries, but it’s difficult for him because all he really wants to do is to be there for his brother and BE a brother again.
As Gabe continues to dig into Heidi’s past, he discovers she may have been involved in a decades old art-theft – and someone out there is prepared to do whatever it takes it discover the whereabouts of those priceless stolen paintings
Skin Game is another enjoyable outing for the “charming fucker” and his “ranger man” in which the author skilfully pulls together her various plot-threads to create a satisfying mystery at the same time as she continues to develop the central romance. Gabe and Casey are still feeling their way a bit, but they’re definitely in it for the long haul now, and willing to lower their walls to let the other in. Gabe is still a trouble-magnet who tends to rush into things and Casey, always his support and voice of reason, is learning that he needs to “grab on and hold tight” (be on hand with the first-aid kit and be ready to kiss the boo-boos) when Gabe gets up a head of steam.
The mystery is tightly plotted, the romance is progressing nicely and I like the characters; my one niggle really is the reappearance of members of the Delacombe family – many of whom have appeared in other books by this author – which still feels a bit like fan-service – but I enjoyed the book overall and will no doubt be picking up the next one.
Nico Andretti knows one thing is true: Love is for fools.
Being a tour bus guide in Times Square isn’t his dream job and he yearns for more than living in his mother’s basement apartment, but life is tough in the big city.
At least the men on the bus are eye-candy galore, and they’re one and done. Why bother with seconds when you’ll only get hurt? And Nico knows hurt—he’s got a father he’s never met and an ex who broke his heart and shattered his self-esteem.
Then Dr. Ford St. Claire takes his tour, and Nico enjoys his own personal sightseeing of the gorgeous older man. In a twist of fate they meet again that evening and share drinks, confidences, and a night of flirting. Now Ford is gone for good. Home to Florida.
Until he shows up the next month.
And the next…It’s just a fling.
Right?
But the more time they spend together, the more Nico realizes being broke doesn’t matter. Nor does the distance between them. What matters is how Ford makes him feel—loved, appreciated, and respected. And Nico is determined to give Ford the one thing his cheating ex couldn’t—a loving family.
When secrets and scandals threaten them both, their love is put to the test. Maybe they’ll crash and burn…but Nico doesn’t think so.
All that matters is finding their forever. And doing it together.
Rating: Narration – A-; Content – B
Felice Stevens’ more recent books have been a bit hit and miss for me, but All That Matters was definitely a hit, especially combined with Kale Williams’ fantastic narration.
Nico Andretti (28) works as a guide on the sightseeing bus tours of NYC and loves sharing the more little-known facts about the city and taking people to some of his own personal favourite places in order to make their stay more memorable. Several evenings a week, he works at his family’s Italian restaurant in Brooklyn; the restaurant used to be run by his mother and aunt, but neither of them is getting any younger, and his mother is recovering from cancer. Money is tight, but Nico is surrounded by the people he loves and who love him, and that’s enough. Romantic love, though, is something he’s sceptical about; he got badly burned the one time he went all in and has decided that once was enough and to stick to hook-ups. It’s much easier and less painful that way.
Dr. Ford St. Clair (42) runs a successful dermatology clinic in Florida with his now ex-husband (who had been cheating on him for years.) Ford is in New York for a conference and decides to take a bus tour around the city; he greatly enjoys the guide’s knowledgeable presentation and the short snippets of conversation they’re able to engage in. Nico is nice to look at, funny and charming, and Ford is just a teeny bit smitten even though he knows they’ll never see each other again.
Nico is cleaning up at the end of the tour when he spots a wallet lying on the floor at the back of the bus. A quick look inside reveals it belongs to the gorgeous older man who’d caught his eye – but he’s got several more tours to deliver before he can do anything about it. Fortunately, the wallet includes some receipts with the name of Ford’s hotel on, so Nico heads over there to return it – and thanks to the kind intervention of fate, they end up spending the evening together, talking and getting to know a bit about each other before Nico takes a slightly tipsy Ford back to his hotel – and leaves.
But neither man is able to forget the other, and when Ford has the opportunity to visit New York again he grabs it with both hands and makes sure to book another of Nico’s tours. This time, they spend as much time together as they can, and Nico takes Ford to eat at the restaurant, where the warm welcome and obvious love and affection lying between Nico and his family makes him yearn to have something like that for himself. Despite the depth of the connection he and Nico feel to one another, this can only ever be a fling – their lives are so very different and they live thousands of miles apart – yet with each visit, whether it’s Ford coming to NYC or Nico going to Florida, the stronger that connection grows and the harder it’s going to hit when they have to say goodbye.
All That Matters is a lovely, slow-burn romance between two characters who really are perfect for one another, but who have to overcome a few obstacles – not counting the distance between NYC and Florida – before they can really commit to each other. The power-imbalance that sometimes exists in age-gap romances is kind of reversed here, with Nico being the more sexually experienced of the two, and having a support system of friends and family around him that Ford lacks. But due to a relationship-gone-wrong some years earlier, and being in a low-status job, Nico is sensitive to the big difference in their financial statuses and finds it difficult to believe himself ‘worthy’ of a man like Ford. But the great thing is that these guys talk through things like adults, they help each other to find the confidence they’re lacking in some areas and realise that what they have is worth holding on to, even if doing so is going to take some major life-changing decisions.
There’s a strongly written secondary cast, and a villain you can love to hate; it’s true that you can see the solution to the biggest stumbling block in the relationship coming a mile off, but I liked these two so much and was rooting so hard for their HEA that I didn’t really mind that.
Kale Williams is someone I always enjoy listening to, and he delivers a terrific performance in which the chemistry and emotional connection between the two leads comes through strongly. All the characters are clearly differentiated (his New York accent(s) is, to my British ears, very good) and his portrayals of the two leads fits them really well, with a higher pitch and more upbeat note used for Nico, and a deeper tone and slightly reserved manner used for Ford.
So, yep, a definite thumbs-up for this one – the characters are likeable and well-drawn, and the narration is excellent.
According to my Goodreads stats, I read and listened to 270 books in 2025, and I’m pleased – again – to see that the vast majority were books I rated as “good” or more – 4 and 5 stars – and that there are only a handful of 3/3.5 star “okay” reads and a small number of 2 stars and DNFs. That said, I’ve learned to curate my reading pretty carefully over the years so I know which books are unlikely to work for me (the vast majority of college-age stories, omegaverse, daddy/boy, gangster/mafia etc.) and I’m more cautious than I was about trying new authors – although to be fair, some of those I did try this year (Erin Dunn, Dylan Morrison, Robyn Green for example) worked pretty well for me. I have a début author on my TBR for Jan 2026, and I’ll no doubt pick up a couple more as the year progresses – we’ll see.
As always, the 5 star bracket includes those titles I rate at 4.5 but round-up (which I equate to A-); the 4 star bracket (B) includes the 4.5 star grades I don’t round up (B+) and the 3.5 star ones I do round up (B-), the 3 stars are C+/C/C- and so on. Of the 68 5 star ratings quite a few this year are audiobooks where I’ve bumped up to 5 stars because the narration is so good, so the rest are A minuses’4.5 stars rounded up or audiobooks where A and B grades combined to rate a higher overall total. The number of actual A grades / 5 stars outright is actually fairly small – but that’s me. I tend to be a tough grader 😉
My top books of 2025 (in no particular order) are as follows:
Book six in the Cold Justice: Most Wanted series brings the culmination of a long-running plotline that’s been present over several books as we catch up with team leader Kurt Montana, who was supposedly killed in a plane crash while on his way back from Zimbabwe where he’d been chasing down a lead as to the whereabouts of a terrorist at the top of the FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitive list. Fortunately, however, circumstances led to his not taking the flight when he meets English librarian Rowena, who is trying to discover the identity and whereabouts of her errant father.
In typical Toni Anderson fashion, Cold Truth is slick, fast-moving and action-packed as Kurt and Rowena end up running from some very dangerous, very powerful individuals who will stop at nothing to get what they want – and stop them from uncovering some long-buried secrets. And Kurt and Rowena aren’t the only ones in danger; back in the US, Kurt’s team is slowly putting the pieces together and realising that someone out there doesn’t want him to find out the truth. This one is probably my favourite of the series so far, an exciting, action-packed rollercoaster ride of thrills and spills featuring likeable, well-rounded characters, a satisfyingly complex plot and an emotionally charged romance.
A Best of the year list from me wouldn’t be complete without (at least) one entry from KJ Charles, and for 2025, it’s All of Us Murderers, a masterful blend of mystery, romance and suspense and a clever, witty homage to the gothic romance. Set in a creepy and remote old house, all the ingredients you’d expect to find in such a story are here: a family curse, ghosts, unwelcoming servants, dreadful family members and a kind and morally upstanding hero who triumphs over adversity to win true love. The mystery is satisfyingly twisty, the romance is fabulous and the slowly growing atmosphere of dread and unease as the strange and supernatural events start to escalate is extremely well done. It’s KJ Charles at her very best.
This charming and funny opposites-attract / bi-awakening romance set in Paris is the rare rom-com that is actually both romantic and funny! The dryly witty, laconic Laurent (from Never Too Late) arrives at his friend Finn’s apartment to feed his cat and instead gets an eyeful of a gorgeous Irishman in the shower. This meet-cute leads to a fake-dating scenario and a lovely slow-burn romance between two men who find it hard to disguise their delight at having found someone who can give as good as they get. The dialogue sparkles and the chemistry is undeniable – but both these guys are carrying significant emotional baggage they need to deal with if they’re going to be together.
Jay Hogan’s first same-couple series gets off to a fantastic start with The Meaning of You, a romantic suspense story set in and around Auckland, NZ. Two men in their fifties become the unwitting targets of some dangerous people when one of them discovers some unsettling facts about his late husband. The author perfectly balances both elements of the story to weave together a poignant, beautifully written story about love, loss and moving on, combined with an emotional romance and an intriguing mystery plotline.
I was hard-pressed to choose between the four books Nicky James has published this year, because they’re all excellent and every one is fabulous. But I decided to go with Paternal Instincts because it’s the final outing for our favourite Toronto-based detectives Quaid Valor and Aslan Doyle, whom we’ve watched go from antagonists to committed partners and husbands over the course of eight books as they’ve solved some pretty twisty mysteries and overcome a number of relationship hurdles. If the series had to end – as all good things must – Nicky James sent these two guys off into the sunset with a fantastic and incredibly satisfying finale that delivered everything series fans could have wanted.
This is the third book in the author’s Punked as Puck series featuring a group of friends who play on a community sled hockey team. I really enjoyed the first book, Zero Pucks, (which I also rated highly) but I chose to include this one on the list because it’s a redemption story and I’m a sucker for those. Killian – twin brother of Tucker from Zero Pucks – was quite the arsehole when we met him in that book, but by the time we meet him again here, his life has been upended (through no fault of his own) and he’s hit rock bottom. The author does a great job of showing us who he really is while never letting him off the hook for his past behaviour, and his love interest, Ford, is a total sweetheart whose life hasn’t exactly been a bed of roses. The disability rep is excellent, Killian and Ford have great chemistry and their love story is tender, funny, heart-breaking and beautifully romantic.
Dylan Morrison’s second traditionally published contemporary romance is a charming opposites-attract slow-burn romance between a grouchy video editor (Ben) and a ray-of-sunshine chef (Pete) who end up working together when Ben is roped in to editing a disastrous cookery video that ends up going viral. It seems like 90% of contemporaries are labelled as rom-coms these days, and of those, 90% are neither funny nor romantic, but Recipe for Trouble is both; the writing is witty, vivid and engaging and the two leads are endearing characters you can’t help but root for.
Another favourite long-running series where the books really need to be read in order; Hudson River Homicides is the fourth Memento Mori book featuring NY Detective Everett Larkin and his partner, forensic artist Ira Doyle. Whoever is taunting Larkin is escalating their cat-and-mouse game and raising the stakes considerably, which is, in turn, affecting Larkin and Doyle’s relationship as Larkin desperately wants to do everything he can to keep his boyfriend safe and out of the line of fire. These books are mysteries with a romantic subplot; the mysteries are clever and superbly researched and the romance between these two damaged but loving men is the emotional heart of the series. Here, we get some long-awaited details about Doyle’s troubled past as it becomes clear that their last three cases have been part of the same tangled web of blackmail and murder – and that whoever is behind it all is prepared to go to any lengths to get what they want.
Well, this has been quite a year for Rachel Reid. The massive success of the TV adaptation of Heated Rivalry has been amazing and so very satisfying to see, and I can honestly say that it’s the first time I’ve seen a (modern) romance novel adapted for the screen that feels like the people behind it actually understand the genre,take the subject matter seriously and treat it with the respect it deserves.
Earlier this year, Ms. Reid published this fabulous standalone romance featuring two former players who reconnect more than a decade after their youthful relationship crashed and burned. It’s a real emotional rollercoaster of a read, pulling readers through the depths of despair over lost love, a career lost due to depression and addiction and soul-deep grief in the troughs before pulling us up to the highs and the possibility of a second chance at love, hope for the future and redemption for past mistakes. It might not always an easy read, but it’s a deeply satisfying one.
Cat Sebastian knocks it out of the park again with this fabulous tender slow-burn romance set in New York City in 1968. It’s a compelling, character driven slice-of-life story in which the historical background is superbly researched and incorporated into a beautiful story about finding family and finding love, about shared grief, forgiveness, the importance of community and finding the good where you can, of making space for happiness and peace for yourself and your loved ones, even when things seem hopeless. Happy sigh.
Another one of my favourite series came to an end this year; Viscounts & Villainy is the third and final book in Allie Therin’s Roaring Twenties Magic series in which our heroes – snarky curmudgeon Wesley, Viscount Fine, and “dangerous marshmallow” Sebastian de Leon – come face-to-face with probably their most dangerous (and unhinged) foe yet as they seek to foil the plot to control and destroy magic that has run through the three books in the series. The plot is complex and well-constructed, but the highlight of the series has been the wonderful interplay and superb banter between the two leads; I’ve loved every minute I’ve spent watching Wesley and Sebastian falling for each other and coming to accept that they’re worthy of love and deserving of happiness.
One reason I can find it difficult to pick books for these lists is because so many of the books I read are part of long-running series with an ongoing relationship arc, so it’s hard to say “book three is the best” or “you MUST read book four”, as anyone who only reads that one will likely be lost. Xanthe Walter’s Dark Water series is a same-couple series that is effectively one story told across four books, and because each instalment builds on what has gone before it will make no sense if you haven’t read the others, so I feel justified in adding the entire series to my Best of 2025 list. Dark Water is both a gripping suspense and gorgeous romance; set in the not-too-distant future, in a world where rising seas have made land scarce and life cheap, a grieving investigator crosses paths with a beautiful, enigmatic and damaged young man and both their lives are changed forever. A high-stakes plot, a romance that will rip your heart out, flawed, compelling, superbly-drawn characters you can easily fall in love with (and one you will love to hate!): each instalment of the series had me on the edge of my seat – and the audiobook versions are fantastic, too.
I listened to a lot of good audiobooks in 2025, although most of the ones I’d give 5 stars are audio versions of 4.5 /5 star books I’d already read with my eyes (all these audiobooks came out in 2025 although some of the ebooks came out before).
These short stories, that take place between the full-length Holloway Holmes books, offer little vignettes of the characters’ daily lives when they’re not in deadly peril whilst on the trail of a twisty mystery. Of course, the series can be listened to without needing to read these shorts, but they’re full of such humour, insight and emotion that it would be a shame to miss them. They’re also the only places we get Holloway’s PoV, allowing us to see how he has progressed from the Holmes bot Jack thinks he is in the first book to someone who is prepared to risk connecting with others and prepared to love and be loved.
Breaking the Ice (Portland Evergreens #4) by Beth Bolden, narrated by Darcy Stark.
Finally – Zach and Gavin’s story and it didn’t disappoint. Breaking the Ice is the slowest of slow burn romances, but I am so HERE for all the pining and the yearning and the sexual tension stretched to breaking point and so thick you could cut it with a knife.
A spin-off from the Portland Evergreens, Breakaway Goals features two of its most prominent secondary characters, former NHL legend Morgan Reynolds and current NHL legend Hayes Montgomery, whose romance spans six or seven years, resultin in lots of yearning and pining and I was HERE for ALL OF IT.
Unrivaled (Hockey Ever After #3) by Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James, narrated by Nick J. Russo
My favourite of this series so far, Unrivaled is a rivals-to-lovers set-up between two really well developed characters with great chemistry and a superbly done slow-burn romance.
The Last Guy on Earth (The Hockey Guy #3) by Sarina Bowen, narrated by Teddy Hamilton & J.F. Harding.
A lovely, swoony, second-chance romance between two guys who never got over each other realising they have the opportinity to start again if they’re brave enough to take it.
I listened to this one for the TBR Challenge for the “older couple” prompt and absolutely loved it. The Rebuilding Year is a fabulous double bi-awakening, slow-burn, grown-up romancebetween two guys with complicated pasts and emotional baggage, and while the story is strongly focused on the two leads realising they have feelings for each other, there’s a also an intriguing mystery/suspense plotline bubbling along in the background. Gomez Pugh is a favourite narrator and delivers an excellent performance with clear character differentiation that hits all the right emotional beats.
Resisting You (Things We Never Said #2) by E.M. Lindsey, narrated by Kirt Graves
The ‘enemies’ part of this enemies-to-lovers story is very well done – as in there’s some actual enmity there rather than just an easily cleared-up misunderstanding, and the slow-burn romance is terrific; the two leads give in to their physical attraction before they admit to themselves that there is more going on between them than just sex, and their move from enemies-with-benefits to reluctant friendship and eventually to falling in love is beautifully done. Kirt Graves’ excellent performance is superbly characterised, clearly differentiated and expressive.
Save the Game (SCU Hockey #2) by JJ Mulder, narrated by Javi Wilder & Liam DiCosimo
This sweet and emotional opposites-attract romance between hockey player, Max, and baseball player, Luke, kicks off when Max, who has trouble sleeping, enters the diner Luke works at, and Luke decides to keep him company. The sensitive subject matter is skilfully handled without letting it completely overwhelm the story and the central romance is very well developed; the emotional connection between the leads absolutely shines. Despite a couple of niggles, I enjoyed the performance a great deal; I don’t think I’ve listened to Javi Wilder before, but he’s definitely on my list of go-to narrators now!
So I think I had a pretty good year of reading and listening all round. For 2026, I’m looking forward to new books from favourite authors – KJ Charles, Fearne Hill, Jay Hogan, among others – although first I have to get over the massive Heated Rivalry hangover I’m currently experiencing!
Thanks for your company over the past year, for reading my reviews and, hopefully, finding them useful. (A belated) Happy New Year to all – and here’s to another year of great reading!
No one ever explained to me what to do when the man who took your virginity turns out to be the one in charge of your physical therapy.
NHL veteran Quinn Rhodes was supposed to be a one-time thing: just a hookup who kisses like a dream and screws like a god.
Then, three weeks later, a freak accident threatens to destroy my debut NHL career before it begins. And if almost losing my spot on my team wasn’t bad enough, I walk into my PT’s office and find him assigned to my recovery.
I can handle this, damn it. I can keep it professional.
And for a short while, it seems like Quinn’s willing to do the same. But it doesn’t take long for the two of us to shut our mouths and let our bodies do the talking.
If this was just physical, two guys scratching an itch, I could handle it. But deep down, I know there’s more to it.
These stolen moments between us mean something. After all, Quinn doesn’t smile for just anyone, and the way he holds me when our hookups are over tells me that this thing between us doesn’t have to end the moment my knee is healed.
The only question is, will either one of us be brave enough to take a shot on that goal?
Rating: C+
I enjoyed this low-angst age-gap romance between a soon-to-be NHL rookie and a former player who retired due to injury, but it didn’t wow me.
Ferris is mixed race (mum Pakistani, dad white American) and also Autistic. His parents are good people although his mother has kind of smothered him most of his life thanks to early diagnoses that suggested he might never speak or be independent, and continues to be overprotective; he struggles with loving her and wanting her to back off.
He’s at college in Boston and lives in a frat house, which is going better than he’d ever expected. Some of the guys are dickheads, but some are decent – to him at least – and he’s made some good friends, who know when to leave him alone and when to offer help. The one thing really bugging him though is that he’s still a virgin at twenty-two, and he decides he needs to dispense with that before he finishes college and heads off to play in the NHL.
Quinn Rhodes’ hockey career was ended when he was hit by a car and his leg was so badly broken that he has a permanent limp and stiff knee. After the accident, his doctors had given him hope that he’d play again – but after four surgeries were forced to conclude it wasn’t happening. It was a tough time, but he decided he wanted to help others in his situation, so he went back to school, got his degree and became a physical therapist – and when the story starts, is about to start a new job at a practice in Boston.
Quinn and Ferris meet at a photoshoot involving queer athletes – and although they don’t interact all that much, Ferris can’t forget the older man’s kindness or the way he’d looked at him with those deep, penetrating eyes, and Quinn can’t forget the most gorgeous man he’s ever set eyes on. When, a few weeks later, Ferris starts to freak out a bit in the group chat, word vomiting about whether he should date or whether he should even want a relationship when he’s playing in the NHL, Quinn offers a sympathetic ear and suggests that maybe they should meet up and talk about it. And that really is his intention, just to talk and offer advice – but when Ferris makes clear that he’s up for way more than advice, Quinn is only too happy to oblige.
The sex is hot and revelatory for both of them. But they know it’s a one-time deal; Ferris has his life ahead of him and an exciting new career to start, and Quinn is much older (I don’t think his age is given, but I’m assuming late thirties/early forties?) and has a settled life to live. Even so, they can’t stop thinking about each other.
Three weeks later, Ferris is injured in a freak accident and his ankle needs surgery. He can’t help remembering what happened to Quinn and how his injury was career-ending, but he’s told his prognosis is excellent and that he should be recovered sufficiently to be able to attend training camp and to start with the Bruins as intended. After the surgery, he’s going to need extensive physical therapy – and is shocked to arrive at his first appointment to discover that his PT is Quinn Rhodes.
Quinn is just as surprised to discover the identity of his new, last minute patient, and is determined to keep things professional, but the pull of the attraction thrumming between him and Ferris is too strong to ignore or resist. They decide being together for whatever time they can have is worth the risk of discovery, and even though they know they’re pretending that whatever is happening between them is just a fling, neither of them is quite ready to admit to wanting more.
I have to say that the ‘this can only be temporary’ issue is one of the things that didn’t work for me about this one, because – why? These two are in deep almost from the beginning, and I didn’t understand why Ferris seemed set on being single in the NHL or why Quinn was so sure they couldn’t be together. And when they meet again after their amazing night together, they’re still thinking short-term, even though their feelings are deepening and the relationship is going well.
Ferris is a sweetheart. (I loved that he’d crochet little amigurumi animals and give them to the people he cares about.) Life hasn’t been and isn’t easy for him and as always with this author, the neurodivergent rep is excellent; his Autism is sensitively portrayed and we get a real insight into how it affects him and how it impacts his daily life. Quinn is less well-characterised; we know about his physical limitations, but we’re not given much information about his life between the accident and now, other than mention of a very brief and disastrous marriage. He’s a good man, but has been holding himself aloof (he says he hasn’t had anyone in his life for over five years) and I liked him as a character; his backstory is just not all that well fleshed-out.
Quinn and Ferris do make a good couple. Ferris has always worried that he’ll never find a partner who really gets him, and in Quinn he finds it, someone who understands and cherishes him and knows how to take care of him without smothering him. On the downside – and I said the same about another book by this author I read recently – I had to wonder how Quinn knew exactly what Ferris needed given they haven’t known each other all that long and he hasn’t had a lot of time to learn to read Ferris’ cues. I did like Quinn’s ready and easy acceptance of all of Ferris, his unique reactions, his blunt honesty – but his ability to read Ferris so perfectly and so quickly felt unrealistic and meant their relationship didn’t have any real challenges to overcome.
Top Shelf is warm, funny, cute and very sexy, the two leads are likeable, the secondary characters are well-drawn and the Autistic rep feels authentic. Even so, it didn’t quite hit the spot for me – partly, I think, because the romance feels a bit insta-love-y; Quinn and Ferris are pretty far gone for each other from the start, even though they’ve hardly said a word to each other – and partly because there’s no real impediment to their being together. But it’s well-written and readable and I enjoyed the time I spent in this world. It’s just not a book I’ll pick up again.
2025 was my 12th year taking part in the TBR Reading Challenge hosted by Wendy the Superlibrarian and thought I’d have a look back at how it went before I start picking books for the 2026 challenge.
I had pretty good results overall in 2025 – only one real disappointment, 4 A grades and the rest all in the B range (what I call the ‘good’ bracket) which is a pretty good showing. I’m signed up for the 2026 TBR Challenge, although I have yet to look at the prompts and work out what I’m going to read!
Here are the prompts and the books I chose to read for 2025’s TBR Challenge.
Although this is the third book in Annick Trent’s The Old Bridge Inn series, there are no overarching plotlines it works well as a standalone. It’s that rare historical romance in which neither lead is an aristocrat, and it’s a lovely, quiet read that takes the time to explore how a relationship between two working class men of this period could actually work, while also featuring some insightful social commentary. A well-researched historical with a satisfying romance – I enjoyed it. – B
The first book in Veryan’s League of the Jewelled Men series. Time’s Fool, sets up the series nicely, with a gentle romance, an exploration of complex family dynamics, a dastardly villain and the formation of an interesting fellowship of friends. It’s more of an adventure romp with a romantic sub-plot than it is a straightforward historical romance, but if you’re burned out on wallpaper historicals and characters from the twenty-first century in period costume, and don’t mind a plot-driven rather than romance-driven historical, then I’d definitely suggest giving this one a go. – B+
March:Rizz (and yes, I needed the explanation that this is slang for “charisma”!)
I went looking for a book featuring a charmer or a rogue or a roguish charmer for this one, and settled on The Morning Star, a caper movie in book form featuring the cat-and-mouse games played by a charismatic thief and the FBI agent set on apprehending him. It’s witty and fast-paced and entertaining, and the UST developing between the two leads is *chef’s kiss*. It’s the first of four books – now all I have to do is find the time to read the others! – B+
This is a superbly written story set in 1891 in a small town in the Australian outback, featuring two engaging, well-rounded protagonists, a beautifully developed romance and a wonderful setting with a real small-town atmosphere and strong sense of time and place. Police officer Jonah, and priest, Matthew, embark on a friendship that quickly deepens into something more in this deeply felt, immensely satisfying queer historical romance. – A-
A fabulous double bi-awakening, sl0w-burn, grown-up romancebetween two guys with complicated pasts and emotional baggage; one has teenaged children and a difficult ex, the other is dealing with a physical disability which has led him to change careers, and neither has ever considered the possibility they might be anything other than straight. While the story is strongly focused on the two leads realising they have feelings for each other, there’s a also an intriguing mystery/suspense plotline bubbling along in the background. Gomez Pugh is a favourite narrator and delivers an excellent performance with clear character differentiation that hits all the right emotional beats. – A-
In my review, I described this one as “a comfort blanket in book form.” It’s funny and charming and utterly captivating, and I loved every minute I spent with the well-to-do Peter Cabot and the prickly, down-at-heel Caleb Murphy during their 3000 mile road-trip across the US. The author perfectly captures the flavour of 1960s America – paper maps, no phones, newspapers at 3 cents a piece – and of the various places Peter and Caleb visit along the way; their chemistry sizzles as their mutual attraction grows, and the banter and the sweetness of their relationship is a delight from start to finish. – A-
This prompt had me returning to the Warrender Saga – a thirteen-book series set in the world of classical music written in the 1960s and 1970s. Classical music is probably my first love (I discovered Beethoven long before I discovered romance novels!), and Ms. Burchell’s way of writing about the world of music and musicians resonates very strongly with me. In this story, a young woman whose fiancé (a musician) has recently died takes a position as PA to a celebrated opera diva – and clashes with an infuriating up-and-coming conductor. I have a soft spot for these old Mills & Boon romances; we only (usually) get the heroine’s PoV, but the strength of the characterisation and the skill with which the author depicts the heroine’s emotional conflict and emotional honesty makes it well worth reading. – B
I chose this one because one of the leads is having to work several jobs to make ends meet – which I’m interpreting as ‘hustling’! It’s an emotional, slow-burn, age-gap romance featuring two men from very different backgrounds who are both struggling to find their way after events that turned their lives upside down. I found the first part to be more engaging than the second, mostly because the slow-burn is so well done, and the pacing becomes a bit uneven later on after the leads hit the sheets. Still, Broken Silence is a heart-warming story of self-discovery, forgiveness and acceptance and a tender, sensual romance between two damaged people who find each other against the odds and learn how to live, love and be loved in return. – B
I’ve read a few of Tal Bauer’s books before, but they were all romantic suspense stories; You & Me is the first contemporary romance of his I’ve read and I was utterly captivated from start to finish. It’s both a gorgeous slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance between two forty-something single dads, and a fantastic story about an estranged father and son finding their way back to each other. Although it’s quite serious in tone at times and deals with some difficult issues, the story is fairly angst-free – there’s no contrived third-act break-up or silly miscommunications (in fact, there’s lots of honest, open communication here) – but there’s enough going on in the story to generate tension and keep things moving. My only real criticism is that the prose is sometimes a bit flowery there’s a bit more mushiness than I normally like, but I honestly didn’t care because I was so invested in these characters and their story. – A-
The big disappointment of this year’s TBR Challenge, and the only book I graded lower than a B, this late-19th century historical set on a remote island off the coast of Seattle promised much and just didn’t deliver. The premise – a witch travels to a remote island to prevent a powerful magical artefact from falling into the wrong hands and teams up with the enigmatic lighthouse keeper – should have been right up my alley, but while the book begins well, and the author does a great job of depicting the island’s hostile terrain, the fearsome storms and of creating a slowly escalating atmosphere of dread, the story doesn’t have a strong period feel and the plot is a mess at worst and confusing at best. – C-
New-to-me author Temple charmed me with this cute fake relationship contemporary romance in which two guys, both abandoned by their partners while on a week-long Caribbean cruise, end up spending the time together and falling in love. Like a lot of fake-dating romance, the premise has to be taken with a pinch of salt, but it works, and the author adds depth to the story by skilfully interweaving moments of melancholy and self-reflection with humour and tenderness. – B-
My second Kaje Harper TBR book this year didn’t quite fit the prompt, but I’m used to going for a holiday/Christmas-themed / winter-set story, so I and went for more of a Christmas-adjacent story. The premise of Second Act sounds like it could be setting the stage for a cheese-fest, given that it’s about Bryce, a fairly well-known actor, going back to his home in small-town Minnesota to ‘make peace’ with the ex-boyfriend who refused to leave with him a decade earlier – and we all know how that one goes, right? Except it doesn’t, and Kaje Harper does something different, avoiding the cheese completely and turning it into a story of forgiveness, healing and finding new love. It’s a fairly quick read, but well worth it if you’re looking for something seasonal but not schmalzy that features a wonderfully-written romance between multi-layered, flawed characters who experience significant personal growth. – B+
Austin
I made it to age eighteen as Frankie Morse—Frank, Junior—my dad’s prized possession and sometimes punching bag. But only because Dad never knew I was gay. On my eighteenth birthday, I defied him, and ran. Crossed three states, in the miraculous gift of an old truck, before I ran out of gas outside the Star & Bar ranch in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Now I’m broke, they aren’t hiring, and my string of luck has apparently come to an end. But here, in the free California air, I can choose to use my middle name, Austin. I can be as gay as I please. And maybe, just maybe, the approval I see in a weathered winter cowboy’s eyes means I haven’t totally wrecked my life.
Seth
After messing up bigtime years ago, and letting a young man get hurt on my watch, I’m never mixing business and pleasure again. I’m gay, I’m out, but when I’m around the horses and the cattle, I refuse to be distracted. Even by a young man with a world of hurt in his eyes, and a mouth created to tempt me. Austin needs a helping hand, but that’s the only kind of hand he’s getting. If he’s even willing to bend his pride enough to take that.
I’m 33, he’s 18 and barely finding his feet, and anyhow, we’re full up with ranch hands for the winter. But when I find him bartering barn-cleaning for a place to sleep that isn’t below freezing, I’m not made of stone. My cabin’s small, but I can give him shelter. Just for one night, or two.
Rating: B
Kaje Harper’s Winter Cowboy is a thoughtful and poignant age-gap romance that acts as a companion piece to the novella Cowboy Dreams (also highly recommended if you haven’t already read it). It picks up the story of one of the secondary characters in that book, Frankie Morse, a kid of seventeen, terrified that his abusive father (the local sheriff) would find out he was gay, but unable to get away because he had no money and nowhere to go. He works on Joe McNeil’s ranch (the Circle-K) for a short time, saving what money he can and intending to leave home when he’s eighteen – but his father steals the little money Frankie has and then tries to force him to apply to the police academy, and when Frankie refuses, things get violent and he narrowly escapes with his life, running to the ranch to gather the few belongings he’s stashed there. Knowing something of Frankie’s situation, Joe ‘sells’ him (for a dollar) his beat-up old truck and Frankie heads out, intending to make his way to San Fransisco to start over.
A few days out, Frankie – who has decided to go by his middle name, Austin – realises he’s not going to make it to his destination (he’s low on petrol and money) so he stops off in the small town of Selbyville in hopes of finding work. Cold and hungry, he goes into the local diner where he gets chatting with an older guy who tells him about the Star & Bar ranch outside town – but says they’re not going to be hiring until the spring. Still, Austin decides it’s worth a try and heads out in the truck – which unfortunately, konks out before he can get there. It’s dark, so he holes up until the morning, then starts walking.
As Austin trudges along, he meets Seth, one of the ranch hands, who takes him to see the boss – who confirms that he’s not hiring now and says to come back in March. But a few days later, he offers Austin a week of temporary work, which will at least give him a chance to earn the money he needs to get his truck fixed so he can get around and find some other work until he can go back to the ranch in the spring.
Hollywood is full of dirty secrets, but Carter refuses to be Levi’s.
Retired action star Levi Pritchard has made a quiet life for himself in the sleepy logging town of Bluewater Bay, Washington. But then Hollywood comes to film the wildly popular television series Wolf’s Landing, and Bluewater Bay isn’t so sleepy anymore. His retirement doesn’t stick, either, because he’s offered a part on the show—exactly the kind of complex role he’d always wanted, one that would prove him more than a glorified stuntman. The only catch? He has to stay in the closet—no matter how attractive he finds his costar.
Carter Samuels is the critically acclaimed male lead on Wolf’s Landing. And now, the man who inspired him to take up acting—and made him realize he’s gay—is joining the cast, and sparks fly between them instantly. But Carter is out and proud and determined to stay true to himself.
Remaining just friends is the only thing to do, as both the studio and Levi’s disapproving, dysfunctional family keep reminding them. Except their friendship deepens by the day, tempting them with what they can’t have but both desperately need.
Rating: Narration – A-; Content – B
I liked this one; a former action-hero movie star who decided he’d had enough of typecasting and moved to a small town is offered a role in a hit TV show and, for the first time, is actually tempted to get back into acting. It’s a good part that will allow him to flex his acting chops – and that he will be working with Carter Samuels – the hot and very talented young actor playing the lead – is not exactly a negative.
Carter is out and proud and always has been, and is excited at the prospect of getting to work with his long-time crush, Levi Pritchard, who is the person who inspired him to go into acting in the first place. He certainly doesn’t get starstruck, but when he first meets Levi, Carter can’t deny that he’s… something; he’s always known that Levi is handsome, but he’s also a charming and maybe a little bit shy and – something just clicks.
The sparks fly, and they bond over a love of obscure movies and a love of cats, but Levi isn’t out and doesn’t intend to be; he’s remained in the closet partly because of his career and partly because of his bigoted parents, and although he and Carter acknowledge their mutual attraction fairly early on, they agree to be friends and nothing more.
Well, we all know how that’s going to go! The attraction strengthens until it reaches a point where neither of them can deny it any more – but Levi isn’t ready to come out (and doesn’t think he’ll ever be) and Carter isn’t prepared to be someone’s dirty secret.
I enjoyed this a lot – the majority of the story is really Levi and Carter hanging out together, but the terrific chemistry, the palpable attraction and the intense longing that develops between them is so good – and I always love a good slow-burn, which this definitely is.
Maybe the ending is a bit rushed and, given the pressure being put on Levi by the studio (to stay in the closet) a bit tidily wrapped up, but eh, I was invested in these two working everything out and getting their HEA.
Nick J. Russo’s narration is excellent; the cast is small, but clearly differentiated, and the leads are well-characterised and easy to tell apart. It’s one of his earlier performances and honestly, the only thing I can fault is that he maybe occasionally, speaks a little fast. Not so fast as to be unintelligible or sound rushed, it’s just a teeny bit faster than I’m used to from his more recent performances. But that really is my only note there. Recommended.
Knowing You (Things We Never Said #1) by E.M. Lindsey (audiobook) – Narrated by Kirt Graves
“Oh my God, Briar! Where did you get that prosthetic leg?”
Things as a parent Lane thought he’d never say for four hundred, Alex.
But that’s par for the course in Lane Ashbury’s life considering everything is on the verge of falling apart. He not only has a toddler building her skills as a professional klepto, but he’s also on the verge of divorce, and hoping desperately to save his business before it goes under.
Luckily, the owner of the stolen leg might just be an angel in disguise when he offers to be Lane’s new nanny instead of pressing charges.
The whole thing would be perfect if Bowen Galanos didn’t make Lane feel things. If he didn’t make Lane question everything he thought he knew about himself every time Bowen’s touch lingered just a little too long.
When Bowen offers some no-strings benefits to their friendship to see if maybe Lane’s not as straight as he thought, Lane finds it impossible to say no. I mean, it’s not like he’s going to realize he’s madly in love with his nanny, right?
That would be absurd.
That would be ridiculous.
And knowing him, that would be exactly his luck.
Rating: Narration – A; Content – C+
Knowing You is the first book in E.M. Lindsey’s Words We Never Said series, and it’s a single dad falls for his nanny (manny) story featuring a kleptomanic toddler with Houdini-like escape skills.
The romance between Bowen, a former stuntman who lost a leg in an on-set accident and was subsequently dumped by his boyfriend, and Lane, a hassled single parent, is cute and the bi-awakening element of the story is nicely done, but I couldn’t get past the fact that Lane, supposedly an intelligent man and business owner, doesn’t realise that his wife, who has been absent for TWO YEARS is not coming back! And that is after she already ‘took a break’ a few months after giving birth to their daughter because she needed a rest. Yes, she’s manipulative and emotionally abusive and has obviously conditioned Lane into doing whatever she wants, but – two years… it was hard to accept and made him seem like a total doormat.
Also hard to accept is that Briar (the daughter – whose age seems to vary between three and four years but whose speech makes her sound younger) has been randomly stealing stuff for most of that time, and Lane has done nothing about it, not disciplined her in any way to help her to realise what she was doing was wrong (although it becomes clear later that she’s aware of that) or taken her to a therapist, because that is not normal behaviour.
I did like Lane and Bowen as a couple – Lane has been starved of affection and touch for so long, and Bowen, who is struggling with insecurities thanks to his ex, is so kind and big-hearted with plenty of love to give – and I liked how they start off as friends (well, Bowen starts crushing on Lane pretty quickly) and move slowly to being more, as Lane finally grows a spine and files for divorce as well as coming to terms with his attraction to Bowen and his bisexuality (his huge crush on Henry Cavill should surely have given him a clue!).
Kirt Graves is in the narrator’s chair for this series, and he’s someone I always enjoy listening to. His performance is well-characterised and clearly differentiated, and his portrayal of the two leads fits them really well. Bowen’s dialogue is delivered at a slightly higher pitch than Lane’s, and his generally upbeat, good-hearted manner comes through strongly; the lower pitch and slightly slower tempo used for Lane helps to convey his exhaustion and that he’s reached the end of his rope. The secondary characters are easily identifiable, and Mr. Graves does a good job with Briar, making her sound age-appropriate without resorting to falsetto or a ‘baby-voice’.
I enjoyed the listen and plan to continue with the series (if only to find out what would possess someone to name their son ‘Adele’!) I struggled to warm up to Lane to start with because he’s just so passive, and I didn’t find Briar’s antics at all cute – I felt that Lane was neglectful in not seeking help for her – but I loved Bowen and wanted him to get his guy, Lane does eventually man up, their romance is sexy and cute, and Kirt Graves’ excellent narration wraps it all up nicely.
Successful lawyer Jeremy Speer has it all—a loving husband, a beautiful home, and a cherished dream that’s about to become reality. He’s learned not to take happiness for granted, meeting the challenges of life and love head-on with unwavering commitment and fierce devotion. A series of tragic events leave Jeremy shattered, adrift on a sea of unimaginable pain. He’s able to piece his life back together, but instead of embracing it, he merely exists, using isolation and punishing physical exertion to keep the world at bay.
High school teacher Kai Daniels has a heart for at-risk kids—he was one himself, and a teenage brush with the law and some troubled years behind bars left him scarred inside and out. With courage, hard work, and the support of friends, he’s built a fulfilling life that leaves no time for a relationship.
An intense encounter with Kai at a gay club ignites a spark in Jeremy that he thought was extinguished forever, but he’s unwilling to destroy the fragile peace he’s managed to create, and he leaves Kai humiliated and disappointed. Things should have ended there, but a bizarre occurrence brings the two together in a way neither of them expected.
Rating: C+
I admit, I’d expected Signs of Life to be a bit more angsty given the premise, but after the events of the prologue – which are utterly gut-wrenching – it kind of peters out into a fairly run-of-the mill romance.
Lawyer Jeremy Speer loses everything – his husband to a car accident and their unborn baby to a problem in utero – within the space of a few weeks. After this, he disappears for a couple of years, re-emerging in Bend, Oregon, where he lives in a remote cabin and does the occasional bit of legal work for his old firm, even though he comes from a wealthy family and doesn’t really need to work. He’s been living in a kind of bubble – he’s existing rather than living – but has started to realise that maybe it’s time for him to push himself out of what has become his comfort zone and to try to make a new life for himself – even though he doesn’t expect to ever be as happy as he was.
Kai Daniels is a teacher at an alternative school for kids who, for whatever reason, aren’t suited to mainstream education. These are mostly disadvantaged kids, some of them already on the way to becoming criminals, and Kai, who was, himself, in a similar situation in his teens – bullied into a gang by his older brother, and later, served time in juvenile detention (where he was repeatedly beaten up and sexually assaulted) – is dedicated to doing the best he can for them, even though he knows he’s unlikely to get through to many of them.
Jeremy and Kai meet at a gay bar in Portland and have a scorchingly hot hook-up – but Jeremy has an attack of guilt immediately they’ve finished, and he takes off, leaving Kai feeling bewildered and used. And pissed off.
They don’t expect to see each other again, but fate intervenes when some of Kai’s students vandalise Jeremy’s property, and, desperate to keep the ones who were just the hangers-on out of prison, Kai suggests that they could instead do the hundreds of hours of community service likely to be their sentence in reparing the damage. At the time he suggests this, Kai has no idea whose property was involved – so it’s a bit of a shock when he walks into the lawyer’s office and sees Jeremy sitting on the other side of the table.
Jeremy isn’t enthused by the idea of having the same kids who vandalised his gym and is inclined to say no – but Kai is persuasive; his bestie Loren (a cop) will be there to supervise and keep the kids in line, they won’t be allowed into the house and Jeremy won’t even have to see them – and Jeremy eventually agrees to give it a try.
Even though they don’t have to see each other, they can’t stay away from one another. Kai and Jeremy can’t forget the sparks that had flown between them the night they met, and can’t ignore that they haven’t gone away – and are getting stronger. That night was the hottest sex either can remember ever having, and they agree to a short-term fling; Jeremy is very clear about not wanting a relationship, which Kai privately thinks is a shame, because he would definitely like this thing between them to turn into something more.
I liked quite a few things about the story. Jeremy and Kai are both interesting characters who have been through some really tough times, and the author builds a strong connection between them. The opening prologue is harrowing, but superbly done, and while Jeremy says and does some pretty horrible things in the immediacy of his grief, it feels realistic and raw. On the downside, Jeremy’s insistence that he’s not looking for anything long-term with Kai lasts for about a week, although he doesn’t actually say anything to Kai to indicate he’s changed his mind. The sex is hot and plentiful – but it’s a bit too plentiful to be honest, because once the pair start hooking up, the story gets pushed into the background in favour of all the shagging – and I really could have lived without Jeremy’s cringey dirty talk. But the thing is, once they’ve hit the sheets again and Jeremy has done his volte-face, there’s nothing really keeping them apart, so the story loses momentum. Then the author pours on the syrup with too-heavy a hand, sending the plotline with the kids on probation down the Hollywood route, with Jeremy coming around to them and doing nice things for them, Kai being mostly okay with Jeremy’s (perhaps understandably) obsessive need to know he’s safe, and Loren – who is Kai’s former fuck-buddy as well as his best friend – as the fount of all relationship knowledge. The co-dependency of Kai and Loren’s relationship is quite interesting though, and Kai’s determination not to burden Jeremy with his problems leads to the small bit of conflict to be found in the last part of the book.
The characters are interesting and their romantic and sexual chemistry is strong, but while Signs of Life got off to a stonking start, it didn’t live up to its early promise. It’s the first book I’ve read by Melanie Hansen, and while it wasn’t an astounding success, I liked enough about it to be prepared to give something else of hers a try.
According to my 
2025 was my 12th year taking part in the 
Caz's Reading Room 