CazReadingRm

Cold Heat (Cold Justice: Most Wanted #7) by Toni Anderson He's supposed to protect her. She doesn't trust him. But when a Russian terrorist targets a nuclear reactor, they'll have to risk everything—including their hearts. Ten years ago, FBI Hostage Rescue Team operator Jordan Krychek lost his family when a Russian arms dealer burned them alive. The monster vanished—until now. When a physicist is murdered at a conference in Mexico, Jordan recognizes the killer: Konrad Bocharov, the nightmare he's been hunting for a decade.

COLD HEAT by @toniandersonauthor - book 7 in the Most Wanted series; clever, stylish, well-paced and thoroughly entertaining. #romancelandia

Ski-Crossed Lovers (Love on the Podium) by Allison Temple Winners don't always come first. Canadian ski cross phenom Cedric Bérard has spent his life chasing speed, glory, and his best friend Austin down every mountain they could find. They’ve always pushed each other harder, faster, closer to the edge—until one night, Cedric falls in a different way. One kiss. One touch. A tumble into something neither of them planned for.

SKI-CROSSED LOVERS by Allison Temple; a friends-to-lovers/winter olympics-themed romance between two ski-cross champions that needed a bit more meat on the bones of the romance. #mmromance #romancelandia

Kiss Me Again by Garrett Leigh Aidan Drummond is happy on his own. 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.

KISS ME AGAIN by @garrettleigh.bsky.social: a beautiful, angsty, slow-burn romance that delivers exactly the kind of complexity and emotional heft that I'm looking for. #mmromance #romancelandia

TBR Challenge: Delivered Fast (Portland Heat #3) by Annabeth Albert 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.

My first #tbrchallenge read of 2026 - DELIVERED FAST by Annabeth Albert, a sexy, emotionally satisfying age-gap romance between a grumpy café owner and the sunshiny delivery guy. #mmromance #romancelandia

Skin Game (Subtle Deceptions #3) by Elle Keaton 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.

SKIN GAME (Subtle Deceptions #3) by @ellekeaton.com - another entertaining, tightly-plotted instalment in PNW-set romantic suspense series which finds Gabe once again up to his neck in trouble. #mmromance #romancelandia

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All That Matters by Felice Stevens (audiobook) – Narrated by Kale Williams 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?

ALL THAT MATTERS by @felicestevens.bsky.social, a lovely, slow-burn romance featuring a strongly written secondary cast, and a villain you can love to hate, plus terrific narration from the always excellent Kale Williams. #mmromance #audiobook #romancelandia

2025 in Books & Audio 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. 

Late (as usual), but here's my 2025 IN BOOKS & AUDIO - a pretty good year overall with plenty of good and excellent reads/listens and only a handful of underwhelming ones. #mmromance #romancelandia #audiobook

Top Shelf (Love the Game) by E.M. Lindsey 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.

TOP SHELF by E.M. Lindsey - warm, funny, cute and very sexy, the two leads are likeable & the secondary characters are well-drawn, but it didn’t quite hit the spot for me – partly, I think, because the romance is a bit insta-love-y. #mmromance #romancelandia

Hi, I'm adult onset asthma!

2025 Reading Challenge Round-Up 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. 

A quick recap of the books I read for the 2025 #tbrchallenge: I had a pretty good year, with only one real dud and the rest all As and Bs. #romancelandia #mmromance #audiobook #historicalromance

Winter Cowboy by Kaje Harper 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.

WINTER COWBOY by @KajeHarper - a thoughtful & emotionally satisfying age-gap romance #mmromance #romancelandia

Quickie Reviews #16 A couple of shorter-than-usual audiobook reviews. Starstruck: A Bluewater Bay Story by L.A. Witt (audiobook) - Narrated by Nick J. Russo 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.

More Quickie Reviews - audiobooks by L.A. Witt & E.M. Lindsey, both expertly narrated, although one worked better for me than the other. #mmromance #romancelandia #audiobook

Signs of Life (Resilient Love #2) by Melanie Hansen 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.

SIGNS OF LIFE by Melanie Hansen - started really well and promised much, but kinda fizzled out. I did like some things about it, but it got a bit syrupy and bogged down in too much sex and not enough story. #mmromance #romancelandia

Kismet by Nicky James My name is Dominique Chevalier, and I am broken. Two years ago, a beloved part of me died. Angelique was everything, but she left me alone. Alone with an infant, a broken heart, unimaginable pain, and a promise that I’ll never forget. After relocating and taking a job as Ottawa’s chief forensic pathologist, I find purpose. I find escape from the anguish that threatens to drown me.

KISMET by @nickyjames.bsky.social - a superbly plotted emotional rollercoaster of a read featuring a twisty plot and a tender romance between complex, flawed characters. Unputdownable! #mmromance #romancelandia

Delayed Penalty (Scoring Chances #4) by Brigham Vaughn The last thing Thad Racine needs is to fall for a guy playing for his brother's hockey team ... As an ex-con, Thad’s had a rough life. Getting a job in the social media department of the Boston Harriers is his last-ditch effort at a fresh start. He may not be raking in money like his previously estranged twin—the team’s GM—but he finally has a career he likes, a regular paycheck, and some stability.

DELAYED PENALTY by @brighmanvaughn.bsky.social - a sexy, tender and thoughtful friends-to-lovers /bi-awakening romance. #mmromance #romancelandia

Perfect Storm (Toronto Thunder #1) by Beth Bolden (audiobook) – Narrated by Darcy Stark When the sexy little brother of Aidan’s best friend suggests a hookup pact, it's the perfect storm for a bi-awakening . . . Toronto Thunder quarterback Aidan Flynn always believed he was straight, until his close friend and favorite wide receiver signs with a team across the country. Distance opens his eyes and unlocks a desire he can’t deny. Even if his feelings aren’t returned, Aidan still wants to learn more about this part of himself.

PERFECT STORM by Beth Bolden, narrated by Darcy Stark - an entertaining opposites-attract / bi-awakening romance that's a bit overcrowded by shared-world characters that take time & focus from the leads #mmromance #romancelandia #audiobook

TBR Challenge – Second Act by Kaje Harper Sometimes you have to go home again. When Bryce Edwards left Minnesota for the bright lights of Hollywood ten years ago, he was determined not to look back. He's built a solid acting career through his own hard work and talent. But when he finds himself unemployed right before Christmas, the memories he's been ignoring start to rise up and annoy him.

For the final #tbrchallenge of 2025, I read SECOND ACT by Kaje Harper, a superbly written story of forgiveness, healing and finding new love. #mmromance #romancelandia

Colliding Hearts (Rainbow Redemption #3) by Jax Calder One voice kept me alive in the darkness. One Halloween night changed everything. One secret threatens to destroy it all. When my car plunges into a ravine, a stranger's chocolate-cake voice becomes my lifeline in the endless dark. But after I’m rescued, the mysterious paramedic vanishes without a trace, leaving me with nothing but scars and memories. After a year of avoiding mirrors and first dates, I manage to hook up with the hottest Darth Vader in existence while dressed as a surprisingly seductive Yoda.

COLLIDING HEARTS by @JaxCalderAuthor - a tender, heartfelt and heartrending romance that runs the gamut of emotions and had just enough angst to keep me eagerly turning the pages. #mmromance #romancelandia

The Inner Line (Throttle & Thrust #2) by Ryan Reed A fallen champion risks everything for love with the doctor who holds his career—and his heart—in his hands. Former world championship contender Jackson "Jax" West is running out of chances. Two years after a catastrophic crash, he's been relegated to an outlier team, dismissed by his tyrannical father, and haunted by demons that threaten to end his career for good. When he seeks anonymous escape in the exclusive thermal spas of Baden-Baden, the last thing he expects is to find solace in the arms of a mysterious stranger whose touch promises healing he never thought possible.

THE INNER LINE by Ryan Reed - romance set in the high octane world of F1 racing. Entertaining and steamy with some fab on-track scenes and a compelling plot. #mmromance #romancelandia

Resisting You (Words We Never Said #2) by E.M. Lindsey (audiobook) – Narrated by Kirt Graves “Do you think I can go to jail for cutting holes in all the toes of my boss’s socks? Because that’s where I’m at in life.” Frey’s a single dad, a nurse, and ready to wage a one-sided prank war against the arrogant surgeon with the sexy accent he keeps getting paired up with. And while there might be more to Dr.

RESISTING YOU by @emlindsey.bsky.social - a superbly done enemies-to-lovers romance between an arrogant surgeon and a nurse, superbly narrated by @narratorkirt.bsky.social #mmromance #romancelandia #audiobook

On Dancer by Annabeth Albert Can holiday magic transform this crush into a happily ever after? Rudy: I’ve had a crush on Alexander Dasher, the legendary ballet star, since I was fifteen years old. A decade of pining from a distance. This holiday season, I’m assisting my mother with our small-town production of The Nutcracker, and guess who’s agreed to take the leading role? Alexander is rehabbing a knee injury and looking for distraction.

Annabeth Albert's ON DANCER is a sweet, warm-hearted romance between a famous ballet dancer and the geek who has had a crush on himfor years. I enjoyed it - it’s cute & the characters are likeable but the romantic chemistry is luke-warm at best. #mmromance #romancelandia

Christmas on Cosmic Avenue by Garrett Leigh When single dad Sab Dubois downloads a swingers app, it’s meant to be a bit of harmless curiosity—until his gorgeous neighbour catches him in the act and makes him an offer he can’t refuse. Galen McCarthy, the firefighter over the back fence, doesn’t do love or relationships—and he certainly doesn’t do forever. Coaching his flustered neighbour through some first-time exploration seems easy enough.

CHRISTMAS ON COSMIC AVENUE:@garrettleigh.bsky.social is the best at funny, snarky, Christmas romances that don't set my teeth on edge from all the sugar! An oopsie with a swingers app finds single dad Sab finding his person in the hunky firefighter from over the back fence #mmromance #romancelandia

Script Swap (The Last Picks #11) by Gregory Ashe They say the show must go on. Thank goodness for intermission. Dashiell Dawson Dane isn’t thrilled that a new play at the community theater is based (however loosely) on his life. But when Dash’s friend Fox asks him to attend opening night, things take a strange turn: the actor playing Dash’s role seems to have been given a different script. Even stranger, the new lines trigger a bizarre response from the rest of the cast and crew—right before the lights go out and the box office is robbed.

SCRIPT SWAP. book 11 in Gregory Ashe's The Last Picks series of cosy mysteries finds Dash investigating nefarious goings on at the local theatre... the mystery in this one is a bit underwhelming, but the character/relationship development is fab. #romancelandia #mmromance #mystery

Affogato (BrewBiz #1) by E.M. Lindsey Despite finding success in his career, the BrewBiz Deaf Café owner's love life is another story. Because Caleb's longest relationship just came to a screeching halt when his ex cheated. Then dumped him. Publicly. And the video of it went viral. Resigned to his fate of being famous only because the world saw his public humiliation, Caleb turns sour and bitter.

I liked but didn't love AFFOGATO by E.M. Lindsey; the romance is underdeveloped, but the found-family element is nicely done and, as always, the disability rep. is excellent. #mmromance #romancelandia

Quickie Reviews #15 A few shorter-than-usual book and audiobook reviews of recent reads and listens. Gary of a Hundred Days by Isabel Murray The Kingdom of Estla is in turmoil. Power plays, intrigue, and plots seethe in the corridors of power. And Gary of a Hundred Days, Last of the Tyrant Kings is…well, he's pretty offended, actually? Tyrant? Seriously? Who is making this up?

Quickie Reviews #15; a fun rom, susp featuring a G-man and a con man; a fantasy romp that loses focus once the leads start shagging and a contemporary fake relationship story with awesome narration - #mmromance #romancelandia #audiobook

Wham Line (The Last Picks #10) by Gregory Ashe Grief is the price of love. When an upscale restaurant opens in Hastings Rock, Dashiell Dawson Dane (just Dash) and his friends are excited to get reservations for the soft open. After all, winter on the Oregon Coast is the quiet season, and Dash is looking forward to a little excitement. (And, of course, dessert.) Instead, their arrival at the restaurant brings them face to face with Indira’s ex-husband, Mal.

WHAM LINE, book 10 of Gregory Ashe's The Last Picks cosy mystery series - is less about the mystery and more about the emotional crises & relationship development - and I'm not complaining! #mmromance #romancelandia #mystery

After Hours at Dooryard Books by Cat Sebastian 1968 New York City News about the war might be keeping Patrick up at night--news in general might be keeping Patrick up at night--but he's doing fine. He's sure of it. He gets to spend his days selling books in the gayest neighborhood on the East Coast and his nights merrily sleeping his way through the rare book community. But when he takes in a drifter who seems to be hiding something, and his best friend and her newborn move into the apartment upstairs, his life gets turned on its head.

AFTER HOURS AT DOORYARD BOOKS by @CatSWrites: a lovely slow-burn romance full of chemistry, caring & gentle humour wrapped up in a beautiful story about finding family, finding love and finding the good in life where you can. #mmromance #romancelandia #historicalromance

FIXER by Kaje Harper. Set in 1974, this is an excellent prequel to the Hidden Wolves series featuring a sexy and heartfelt enemies-to-lovers romance between former pack members. #mmromance #romancelandia

TBR Challenge: Honeymoon Sweet (Out & About #2) by Allison Temple Doug is a cheese pizza kind of guy. A honeymoon cruise around the Caribbean is the most adventurous thing he’s ever done. Going on that honeymoon alone is unthinkable, but here he is, with a luxury suite and a broken heart. Tripp is a hopeless romantic. He’s in a sinking relationship that’s been taking on water for months. He’d throw in the towel if he had one, but he’s naked and locked out of his room.

For November's #tbrchallenge prompt: 'Change of Plans', I read HONEYMOON SWEET by Allison Temple, a cute, fake-relationship shipboard romance that kicks off when one MC is dumped at the altar and decides to go on his honeymoon cruise alone. A bit insta-lovey, but it works. #mmromance #romancelandia