Mikky's Shelf: Book of the Month - June & July - featuring Juliet Braddock, Posy Roberts, Sage Marlowe, A.E. Via & Ada Maria Soto

Hello lovers! I am late again but I am doing my best in trying to catch up. Here are my recommendations for the month of June and July. Enjoy!

~June~

On the 3rd place: Empty Nests, Nested Hearts #1 by Ada Maria Soto

Neither James nor Gabe has ever had a real relationship. They might make a connection if they can get past their differences—and their fears.

At age fourteen, James Maron decided to prove he wasn’t gay despite vast evidence to the contrary. Now at thirty-two, he’s getting ready to send his son to college and wondering what he’s supposed to do next. Outside his son, his life consists of an IT job he hates and watching telenovelas with the women in his apartment building.

Gabriel Juarez is the CFO of a technology giant. He has looks, charm, fantastic wealth, a workaholic personality, and a string of boyfriends who only stick around because he’s too busy to tell them to leave. 

A bad laptop/projector interface causes James and Gabe’s paths to cross. Friends, family, and coworkers jump to match Gabe with a nice guy, and James with anyone. But are they too different? Everyone will have to tread very carefully to keep things from ending before they start.

Genre: Contemporary, M/M Romance, New Adult

My Thoughts:  A sweet story about finding that special someone for whom every wall will crumble and for whom every risk is worth taking. I loved it and cannot wait to read the sequel. I recommend.

You can read my review HERE.

On the 2nd place: Roses and Thorns by Sage Marlowe

When bestselling author Chester Banning requires inside information on the life of a forensic pathologist, he comes across an enticing, yet unwilling study subject in the shape of sinfully attractive Dr Nicolas Sheridan.

After a hot and slightly unsettling one-night stand, Sheridan turns out to be as inapproachable as he is intriguing and clearly not interested in intensifying their liaison. Chester, however, is already falling head over heels in love and doesn’t rest until he’s succeeded in cracking Sheridan’s icy shell. What he discovers underneath is a man well capable of love and affection but caught up in a web of lies and domestic abuse that makes him seek punishment in self-harm.

Refusing to watch Sheridan go farther down the road to self-destruction, Chester gives him all the love and support he is capable of—but then he discovers the horrifying truth about Sheridan’s past.

Reader advisory: Suitable for adult readers only. Contains scenes of and references to domestic violence / abuse, self-harm and dubious consent in a non-erotic context.

This book was previously published with the title Knives & Feathers. This edition has been re-edited and extended.

Genre: Contemporary, Adult, M/M Romance, Erotica, BDSM

My Thoughts: I haven't manage to write the review for this book. I loved it. It was my first Sage Marlowe novel but I can assure you it won't be my last. It's beautifully written, the characters are fascinating and you'll fall in love with them in the blink of an eye. The story is captivating, heartbreaking and you won't be able to put it down. A must read. This book has earned it's place on my "Favorites" list. I highly recommend. 

On the 1st place: Silver Scars by Posy Roberts

You need people to love you, especially when you shove them away.

A bomb destroyed high-powered lawyer Gil Lemieux’s seemingly perfect life, and PTSD has ruled every decision since the explosion that left him scarred inside and outside. Moving home with his mom is meant to be a temporary measure, just like proofreading for a medical editorial firm is meant to be a stopgap. But two years after taking on the wrong court case, he’s still living in fear.

Keith Kramer might be based 1,500 miles away from Gil, but their shared work brings them together—a chance meeting that’s life-changing. Gil is drawn to Keith’s good looks and intelligence, but it’s his innate understanding that Gil is more than the scars on his skin that is truly attractive. He’s everything Gil used to be and more. It blows Gil’s mind that his attraction might be returned.

Only doubt could widen the distance between them. Keith’s hopefulness, borne out of surviving some tough challenges of his own, isn’t enough to bridge the distance alone. Gil will need to believe he has as much to offer as Keith if they’re to build a life together.

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Adult, Drama, 

My Thoughts: This was one of those rare books that pulled me in from the beginning, shredded my heart into tiny, tiny pieces leaving me an emotional mess just to put it back together later. It doesn't happen often for me to be so affected by a story to the point of being completely unable to function properly when I'm done but that's exactly what happened after reading Silver Scars. Words fail me. You HAVE TO read this book.

You'll find my review HERE.

~JULY~

For July I have only two books and both are a first place, in my opinion. Both are a part of two of my favorites series and definitely must reads. I hope you'll love them just as much as I did.

Wrapped, Manhattan Bound #2 by Juliet Braddock

Sweeping through the glitz and glamour of New York’s high society and the drama unfolding in the dressing rooms of Broadway, Wrapped, by Juliet Braddock, continues the journey of a young theatrical publicist’s foray into submission under the tutelage of a dashingly dark star of the stage. Wrapped—the much anticipated sequel to Braddock’s critically acclaimed erotic romance Weakened—is the second book in the Manhattan Bound series.

When Drew McKenzie presents Maxine Kirk with an ultimatum, challenging her to engage in his wanton brand of desire, she readily embraces her awakening hunger for a lifestyle that defies her perceptions of romance.

Entranced by Drew’s charming appeal and by his sensual assault to her senses, Maxine clamors to discover every nuance of this new relationship, ravenous to explore verboten fantasies that seem possible to fulfill only with Drew.

Along the way, he introduces her to his glamorous world of wealth and celebrity—where lavish galas and luxurious gifts are the norm—and entices her into his realm of control with his tender mode of domination.

All the while, however, they both grapple with painful emotions brought about by the extenuating circumstances of their separate pasts.

While Drew remains both confident and conscientious in his parlay of power over Maxine, his own tragic secret lurks in every shadow upon his path in life. Behind the façade of his stage persona and the origin of old Manhattan society, he struggles to hide the unforgiving reality he faced as a child.

Just as Maxine finds the strength to conquer her own torment with Drew’s patience and guidance leading her toward closure, terrifying truths begin to chip away at the surface of his composure.

As the nightmarish details of Drew’s unimaginable life emerge, he fears that this new world he’d begun to build with Maxine will crumble around him.

As Maxine finds herself embroiled in the battle to save Drew’s tortured soul from the atrocities that continue to stalk his every move, two lost souls struggling to find comfort and completion converge.

However, as Drew opens his heart to Maxine’s unwavering support, he questions his own bravery, wondering if she’ll take a bow and make her exit…or if she’ll stick around for the encore?

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Adult, BDSM, Erotica

My Thoughts: I'm in love! *grin* There are so many wonderful things I could say about this series. Juliet is a debut author but, damn, the woman can write. I haven't touched an M/F novel in a long time since all follow more or less the same pattern but she managed to pull me out of my funk effortlessly. I LOVED it! This is one series I highly recommend. I know the Book of the Month column is made for this purpose but some of the books held a really special place in my heart. Manhattan Bound is definitely one. Go for it! No hesitation. I promise, you won't be able to put it down. 

I have only highlighted the second book because Diana chose to highlight the first. Make sure you check both of them and our reviews HERE then come back and tell us what you think. Enjoy!!

!!P.S. - Ben is MINE!!

Don't Judge, Nothing Special #4 by A.E. Via

AN ENEMIES TO LOVERS STORY 

Detective Austin Michaels didn’t think life could get any better after he was accepted into the most notorious narcotics task force on the East Coast, headed up by two of the baddest’ Lieutenants with the Atlanta Police Department - Cashel Godfrey and Leonidis Day. 

Michaels knew he would fit right in as the team’s sniper, having received his fair share of commendations for marksmanship. He was just as badass as the rest of the twenty brothers that made up their team. But when Michaels lets their prime suspect get away from a huge bust with over a quarter of a million dollars in drugs, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it right. 

Left with no other options, God chooses to bring in outside help, calling on his long-time friend and bounty hunter, Judge Josephson. 

Judge was considered one of the best trackers during his enlistment in the United States Marine Corps. After retiring, he used those skills to become one of the most sought out fugitive trackers in the country. When Judge gets a call from his old friend needing his help, he quickly tells God, yes. 

Still embarrassed, and intent to prove himself, Michaels immediately volunteers to partner up with Judge to get their suspect back quickly and quietly. Neither man wanted or needed a partner. But, after Judge and Michaels get on the road, the hate/lust relationship they quickly develop between them will either make them heroes… Or get them killed. 

Genre: M/M Romance, Adult, Contemporary, Action, Suspense

My Thoughts: THIS.SERIES. I've lost the count on how many times I've re-read each and every book. Bloody brilliant! So many interesting and ... quite unique characters (you'll see what I mean by that), insanely hilarious situations, the most odd and mismatched team ever created, action and suspense, lots of hot monkey sex and love. So much love and not only between the couples. You'll see. This is what you'll find in the Nothing Special books.
If you're not familiar with Adrienne's work, let me tell you - she writes beautifully. You'll find yourself so caught up in the books that you won't even realize when the time has passed. Another must read I highly recommend. You can find my review of Don't Judge HERE.

*~ This was all for the months of June and July. Like I said, I hope you'll love these novels as much as I did. Make sure you come back and share your thoughts with us. Happy Reading!! ~*