This is my wrap up for the Queer Romance Readathon that ran from June 13-20, 2022. I didn't get around to all the books I was planning on reading during this readathon, but I'll keep them all on my TBR and start working my way through them. All of these books are queer in some way and I tried to squeeze in as much variety as I could.
Neighborly - Katrina Jackson
This steamy novella is the second in the Erotic Accommodations series and follows Heaven as she and her boyfriend Calvin move in together. They think they've found the perfect place - with plenty of space for Heaven's art and feeling like they're starting to lay down roots together. Another big plus? The couple next door. Tasha and Stephen are married and they're very welcoming to their new tenants next door. But when Heaven and Tasha meet, the connection between the two women is electric and their men only want them to be happy so the two couples work toward an arrangement that could satisfy them all. This was a really great, low angst, steamy read. Both couples are already established at the opening of the story and this is really a journey as Heaven and Calvin's relationship takes a new step. I loved how much time we spend with each couple separately before they start crossing in order to really solidify the relationships. Most of the poly romances I've read have ended up in an official triad or relationship between all participants. In this case, the two couples don't end up in a four-person relationship in that same sense but they do enjoy their time together. I also really enjoyed how the communication was handled both in each pairing as well as a group.
The Hideaway Inn - Philip William Stover
This second chance, MM romance, is the first book in the Seasons of New Hope series and follows Vince as he rolls into town with one goal in mind - successfully flip the Hideaway Inn and earn a good return on his investment. He isn't expecting to run into Tack - his first love and first heartbreak. Vince has spent years changing both physically and mentally so he would no longer be the skinny kid who got bullied for reading poetry. But after just a few conversations with Tack, Vince finds himself struggling with the same feelings he had back in high school. Tack has also changed over the years and now that he's comfortable with who he is, he's ready to take advantage of Vince showing up out of nowhere and show him that maybe the Hideaway Inn is the best place for Vince to finally let those walls down and be himself again. I really loved this small town romance! Vince and Tack were really dynamic characters and I loved how their relationship developed and deepened over the weeks. I thought their past dynamic with Tack being a bystander to Vince being bullied was handled well and wasn't brushed away too quickly. Their relationship started off a little rough with Vince being really reluctant to let Tack in, even a little bit. But after they cleared the air, they really seemed to fall into each other so easily and I loved following them along the way. The side characters are also fantastic and I can't wait to read more in this series.
TW/CW: homophobia, bullying
Drag Me Up - R. M. Virtues
This is the first book in the Gods of Hunger series - a contemporary Greek myth re-imagining (this book follows Hades and Persephone). Hades is the owner of legendary Casino Asphodel but he does everything he can to stay out of the limelight and let his reputation and rumors about him swirl through the city of Khaos Falls. He pulls threads from the shadows and has his fingers on the pulse of the city - both legitimate and criminal business practices. Persephone is thrilled to have earned the spot in an acrobatic show and to finally be following her dreams of performing. Hades is immediately entranced by Persephone and the two share a connection that surprise them both. But when outside threats start closing in, their connection is put to the test. I really enjoyed this mafia-ish world that Virtures built and I'm so excited to continue reading on in the series. I'm pretty neutral on Greek mythology so up until about a year ago, I had no idea what a Hades/Persephone romance meant. So for me, I really enjoyed that the world was so well developed that I could still understand the relationships and dynamics without having to be really knowledgeable on the mythology. I completely adored Hades and Persephone as a couple - especially how soft Hades was for her. Their relationship was so supportive and caring from the very beginning and they're really solid all through the story. I really enjoy romances where the main couple is super solid and the source of tension comes from outside the relationship. There are a ton of characters introduced in this book, but I think Virtues does a great job of really focusing in on the handful that are important in this story while giving us just enough details on the other characters but not too much to overwhelm the reader.
TW/CW: stalking
Fall Into You - Georgina Kiersten
This FF short novella follows Imari as she relocates to the small town of Appeley after a traumatic and dramatic leaving her fiance at the alter. A few months after settling in, Imari runs into her childhood friend, Cassidy, and the two women have instant chemistry. Imari is initially hesitant to get into a new relationship so soon but her connection with Cassidy might just be once in a lifetime. This was a really great read and I enjoyed the small town, fall atmosphere. It is only 50 pages, but Kiersten packs so much information and characterization into those pages. I thought Imari and Cassidy worked really well together and their instant connection really came across well on the page.
Three of Hearts - Lillian Lark
This paranormal, MMF romance is the first in the Harpies of a Feather series and follows Zephyrine, Greg, and Asa. Greg and Asa were in a relationship but when Greg's inner wolf started to desire to search for another mate, Greg broke up with Asa despite still loving him. When Zeph literally crashes into Asa with Greg quickly following behind, the three of them find themselves in a fog of attraction. But Zeph is a harpy and harpies don't take mates, much less two of them. However, the attraction between the three of them is electric and they seem to work really well as a triad and the three of them decide to give a relationship between all of them a shot. I really enjoyed the world building and character development in this, but felt the pacing was a little off. This was insta-lust central and I felt like some of the more serious portions of the relationship didn't really make sense that they came so early on. Some of the more romantic-suspense elements toward the end also felt like they came on and then were resolved a little too quickly. I did enjoy the relationship building and how some of the internal issues were handled. We have some really great family moments that I enjoyed. I also really enjoyed the lore building that Lark wove into the story and I found it really easy to follow the various rules/abilities of these different entities. I think Lark does a good job balancing a second chance romance between Greg and Asa and the new romance with Zeph. This was a relatively short read at only 191 pages and I think if it was a bit longer, I would have liked to see more non-sex relationship building between our trio.
TW/CW: pregnancy, human trafficking, kidnapping
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