LGBTQ+

All posts in the LGBTQ+ category

Savage Rivals by Becca Steele(Review Post)

Published November 30, 2021 by bookbesties

Asher and Levi both attend rival schools and they compete against each other on the Pitch. They both come from different worlds as Levi is privileged and Asher has struggled for what he has. The tension is high and the gloves come off in order to try to one up each other. The pranks played on both sides get a bit crazy. The battle of the Savages begins and one night ends up turning their emotions upside down and opening their minds to a different perspective. This is a rivals, enemies to lovers MM HEA that is a definite hit! I loved every turn of the page and equally fell in love for both. LEVASH all the way!! The story was emotional at times and the tit for tat can take you back at times but this story is like a movie you cant tear your eyes away from and you have to see what happens. The story is beautifully written and the characters are well developed. LEVASH is sexy, edgy and can also have that sweet softness with each other. You will not be disappointed!

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston(Review Post)

Published April 1, 2021 by bookbesties

* Instant NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestseller *
* GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD WINNER for BEST DEBUT and BEST ROMANCE of 2019 *

* BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR* for VOGUE, NPR, VANITY FAIR, and more! *

What happens when America’s First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales?

When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There’s only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse. 

Heads of family, state, and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instragramable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations and begs the question: Can love save the world after all? Where do we find the courage, and the power, to be the people we are meant to be? And how can we learn to let our true colors shine through? Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue proves: true love isn’t always diplomatic. 

“I took this with me wherever I went and stole every second I had to read! Absorbing, hilarious, tender, sexy—this book had everything I crave. I’m jealous of all the readers out there who still get to experience Red, White & Royal Blue for the first time!” – Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners

Red, White & Royal Blue is outrageously fun. It is romantic, sexy, witty, and thrilling. I loved every second.” – Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six

So I read this book on recommendation of a good Enemies to Lovers book from booktok having no idea what it was about going in, and sometimes those are hit or miss. this book fell into the HIT category! 

If you are going to judge it by this category alone then yes, obviously you should read the book, but this is so much more.

This was my first M/M read and I absolutely adored it! It’s hilarious and hopeful and progressive thinking of this idyllic future that should not be as far away as it has ever been.

There is a woman president with mixed race children who own and are proud of their heritage instead of feeling they have to hide it in the limelight.
The love shown in this book is what everyone in the world dreams of experiencing, sharing, reveling in, and growing up with.

Side note, it was so weird reading about travel and gathering and rally’s in the year 2020 with no mention of wearing masks, but like I said, idyllic.

I laughed of course but cried so much at times. I recommend this book to everyone.

Musical Mayhem by Alley Cruz (Review Post)

Published March 24, 2021 by bookbesties

🔥🔥HOT NEW RELEASE🔥🔥 MUSICAL MAYHEM by Alley Ciz is LIVE! #1ClickHere: https://books2read.com/u/mdnw9E 🎸🎧 Musical Mayhem BTU 1.5 🎧🎸 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱: 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗯𝘂𝗺 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗺 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘆. Enter Sammy Rhodes. Famed DJ The Spin Doctor. Musical genius. Fits with the band like he’s our sixth member. We hired him on the spot. So what’s the problem? He’s also all broad shoulders and dazzling smile, and has this flop of hair I constantly yearn to brush away from his handsome face. What should have been a match made in musical heaven could 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 my career. Why? Because as the front man of BoP, I’ve been living my life from deep inside my walk-in closest for years. Will I risk 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 for love? #newrelease #rockstarromance #needtoreaditnow #wildfiremarketingsolutions #mmromance #BTU #alleyciz About the author: Alley Ciz is an indie author of Contemporary/New Adult, Rom-Com, Sports Romances. She’s a stay at home mom to 3 amazing and crazy mini royals, a 95lb lab, and let’s face it on some days her hubby is her 4th kid… But to be fair she totally loves him a lot. When she’s not corralling her crazy mini royals she can be found writing the stories the voices in her head tell her. Caffeine is a staple in her daily diet since she does most of her writing late at night when the rest of her house is asleep, usually with her trusty dog Buke (short for Beukeboom reluctantly named after a NY Ranger even though she’s a NJ Devils fan all the way. Is it any surprise she writes sports romances? Pizza and mac-n-cheese are major food groups and she is a proud Potterhead and superhero buff. She is a complete romance junkie and can always be found reading or listening to a book. Links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlleyCizAuthor Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alley-ciz

This is a new author to me but I figured ok rockstar and MM I will give it a go. I love the cover so that was a plus and the blurb hooked me a bit more. So now moving along to starting the book. I really enjoyed her writing style. This was a winner for me. First you have Jamie , the rockstar, who is famous and a huge sex symbol to the world but has a huge secret about his sexual orientation. Then there is out and proud Sammy who is smooth and funny and just gives you the cool guy vibe. I love the story of Jamie emotions and his struggles of being gay but having to have that image that you feel you have to portray yourself as. Their connection was sweet and heartwarming. This was a home run for me. There was never a dull moment and I loved the friend group. I love it when a author creates a environment in the book and you just wish that it was real and happening now so I can go chill and play Mario Kart too! Lol overall win from cover to end for me.

A little Light Mischief by Cat Sebastian(Review Post)

Published August 7, 2019 by bookbesties

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A seductive thief

Lady’s maid Molly Wilkins is done with thieving—and cheating and stabbing and all the rest of it. She’s determined to keep her hands to herself, so she really shouldn’t be tempted to seduce her employer’s prim and proper companion, Alice. But how can she resist when Alice can’t seem to keep her eyes off Molly?

Finds her own heart

For the first time in her life, Alice Stapleton has absolutely nothing to do. The only thing that seems to occupy her thoughts is a lady’s maid with a sharp tongue and a beautiful mouth. Her determination to know Molly’s secrets has her behaving in ways she never imagined as she begins to fall for the impertinent woman.

Has been stolen

When an unwelcome specter from Alice’s past shows up unexpectedly at a house party, Molly volunteers to help the only way she knows how: with a little bit of mischief.

 

 

 A Little Light Mischief (The Turner Series, #3.5)A Little Light Mischief by Cat Sebastian

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is my first time reading a F/F romance let alone a Historical F/F romance. I’m glad my first was written by an author I adore! As usual for Cat Sebastian the heroines are well written and have lots of character. I like how she made the intimate scenes between Alice and Molly more real to life rather than the crap you see in adult films, that was one of the biggest reasons I hadn’t yet read any f/f romance books. This book has adventure, strength, empowerment, and acceptance, all things that make up a great story.

As the daughter of a impoverish Vicar, Alice Stapleton,was not prepared for her new life as a lady’s companion. But her new position not only saved her from starvation, it led her to make friends withMrs. Wraxhall’s lady’s maid. Through her friendship with Molly she not only discovers her sense of self, she is empowered to stand up for herself and right the wrongs done to her in her past. Her friendship with Molly also gives her the confidence her to embrace other aspects of herself that she denied herself in the past.
Molly Wilkins needs her position as Mrs. Wraxhall’s lady’s maid and she is determined not to mess it up or let anyone get in the way, not even the very attractive new lady’s companion, who can’t seem to take her eyes off of Molly. Will sharing the thievery skills she acquired to survive in the past help her and her new friend gain their independence, or will they be caught red handed and lose it all?

I am glad this was my first f/f romance. Let me know what you think of it?

3 and a half

Danielle

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Unmasked by the Marquess(Review Post)

Published August 2, 2018 by bookbesties

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Robert Selby is determined to see his sister make an advantageous match. But he has two problems: the Selbys have no connections or money and Robert is really a housemaid named Charity Church. She’s enjoyed every minute of her masquerade over the past six years, but she knows her pretense is nearing an end. Charity needs to see her beloved friend married well and then Robert Selby will disappear…forever.

May not be who you think…

Alistair, Marquess of Pembroke, has spent years repairing the estate ruined by his wastrel father, and nothing is more important than protecting his fortune and name. He shouldn’t be so beguiled by the charming young man who shows up on his doorstep asking for favors. And he certainly shouldn’t be thinking of all the disreputable things he’d like to do to the impertinent scamp.

But is who you need…

When Charity’s true nature is revealed, Alistair knows he can’t marry a scandalous woman in breeches, and Charity isn’t about to lace herself into a corset and play a respectable miss. Can these stubborn souls learn to sacrifice what they’ve always wanted for a love that is more than they could have imagined?

OUT NOW!! Get it HERE

This is the second book I have read by this author and I can happily say I am falling in love with her work!  I love the fact that her stories are historically accurate and that she isn’t afraid to build romances and characters who stray from the cis/ hetero normal world.  As a member of the LGBTQ+ community I find it very important that LGBTQ+ characters and romantic story lines show the internal struggles that the characters (as individuals and as couples) face as they grow as people and as romantic entities.  This author does an incredible job of including all of it without losing any of the story line or needing to create a different society where all love is accepted. 

  I absolutely adore Charity and love her unwavering dedication to Louisa and to her most genuine self.  I see this character and this book as having the ability to inspire people to stand fast in who they are and that as long as they hold on to their authenticity they too can find their own love and unconditional acceptance.  I see this book as a beacon of hope for people who may feel like they have none.  I can’t wait to add this book to my collection and I am doubly excited to read my next Cat Sebastian book.

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Danielle