Review: Tempt Me

Tempt Me by Mia Monroe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



OMG you guys! It's here - IT'S HERE!!!!!!!!



This is the Best Friend's Brother/Brother's Best Friend that I NEEEEEEEDED in my life! I've been waiting for this book since the moment I knew that's what we were getting, and boy did it deliver! Tempt Me is book five in Mia Monroe's Tattoos and Temptation series and can be totally read as a standalone, but if it's the first you read I guarantee you'll want to love on all the rest of the crew and devour the series!

"A lot has changed since you left.”

“I imagine so. I’ve changed too.”

“I would hope so in ten years. I’m looking forward to seeing you.”

He means as a friend. Just a friend.

“Me too.”

Felix and Apollo were the sweetest, and yet filthiest, and I was LIVING FOR IT! You knew Apollo was bound for a great love based off all the times we were shown he was looking for love, but that he was exploring his new revelations about his own sexuality. We knew that he had this wonderful best friend, but what we didn't know was that that best friend had a brother ten years his junior who had been infatuated with Apollo since he was a boy trying to tag along with them.



And there was NO DRAMA with this one from the brother - NONE and I can't tell you how important that was to me. Most brother's best friend have some kind of drama involved where the brother is almost always unsupportive of the connection at first. Lucien was supportive vocally to his brother even though Apollo didn't know he'd offered that acceptance to his brother. He wasn't surprised that Felix was attracted to Apollo. He'd seen the crush as a teen but he recognized that they are both adults and they'd been apart from each other for a decade, separated by an ocean's distance. But that's beside the point... Let me tell you why I love Felix...



Felix Marchand, I see you and I hear you and I ADORE you! You are unapologetically you - and that's what I want to see in a character. Felix embraces every part of himself, embraces his freedom to be and wear whatever he chooses. He sees beauty in things rather than gender and wears what makes him feel pretty not what is expected of him - and he will not compromise on that anymore!

That philosophy extends to Apollo. If we’re going to be friends, then he has to accept me for who I am. I’ll never compromise on that again.

Felix has spent the last ten years working in his birthplace, France, and there he felt he had to hide and conform to be appealing to partners and others. He refuses to tone himself down and I LOVE IT!

Also, even before Mia confirmed who her muse was for Felix, I was hearing Pierre Boo in my head for Felix. Excellent choice!



It was fabulous to see Apollo open his heart to Felix with a little help from former leads like Luca and Jude. This whole series shows friendships that are like a big, wonderfully diverse family and I wish I could just go live right there with them! I've said this numerous times, so it shouldn't be a shock to you all now. That's what happens when you build your world storytellers, the connections are deep and real between this group and I am invested in all of them! ***See later note, just cause!!!!***

Let's have some of my...


Favourite Lines -

Let’s see. Do I remember Greek god Apollo? His shiny black hair, piercing dark eyes, and knee weakening smile? Do I remember how his deep voice vibrated in me like bass turned up too high? Do I remember the electricity that shot through me the time he let me touch his tattoo? Do I remember the first crush my gay little heart ever had? Do I remember the fantasies I had that he would somehow see me as an adult and fall madly in love with me regardless of the fact that he is frustratingly straight?

“Yes, well groping…and stuff…is an adequate way to determine one’s preferences.”

I raise an eyebrow. “An adequate way to determine one’s preferences?”

He releases a jittery laugh. “That did not sound very American twenty-something-year-old, did it?”

“No.”

“Any man who does not want me as I am, is not the man for me. I love who I am. All the parts of me.”

“To me, anyone who says a man who is feminine is a negative thing, is threatened by female power. Alternatively, you may think, innately, that being feminine means being weak because we have been taught this, no? Despite the overwhelming examples of women showing they are indeed far from weak. It is a narrative meant to make truly weak people feel strong.”

“Ah. I see. Briar was so respectful. He asked for my pronouns. No one in Paris ever asked me that question. Americans are so awake, no?”

Apollo grins. “Woke. The term is woke.”

“Americans are woke? That is not grammatically correct.”

“No, it’s not.”

Side Note - this made my grammar loving heart very happy!

"I am a man. I am not adorable.”

“But pretty is okay?”

He grins. “Yes, because I am. I reject that adjectives are gender specific. Men can be pretty, and women can be handsome. Men can be graceful and elegant, and women can be suave and distinguished. I go out of my way to be pretty because it makes me happy.”

“I got a nice ass though.”

Felix laughs. “You do. I have looked.”

I have a nice dick too, but I should probably keep that part to myself.

How could I sleep when the feeling of his lips burned on mine all night?

“Gah, Felix, you’re so amazing. What did I do in this life to deserve you?”

“You existed. That is all you had to do.”

“You’ve always liked me?”

“Always. You were how I knew I was gay.” I laugh. “My entire romantic experience has been shaped by memories of you. I have looked for someone who made my insides melt with a smile, like you do. Someone who looked at me the way you did even though I knew you saw me as a child, as just Lucien’s baby brother, but still, the way you looked at me made me feel special. Seen. I always wanted that, but I did not find it until you looked at me again.”

“What was that for?”

“You were listening to me.”

“Of course, I was. I always listen to you. You’re my favorite sound, Felix.”

“I spent hours imagining that you could see me as a man. Desire me. The way that I am. A little chubby, a lot fem, sassy, and French. Obsessed with baking and lingerie. But I love hard, Apollo, when I love. What has been missing from every relationship was you. All I have ever wanted is to love you and have you love me back.”

“I can’t believe this is happening. I am shaken.”

I tilt my head. “Shaken?”

“Genesis taught me.”

“Ah. I think it might be shook.”

His brow furrows. “I am shook?” He nods. “Ah, yes, that is it. It does not make sense, but that is slang, right?”

“Right. So, I got you shook, huh?”

I could read a book of just grammar jokes *shrugs*







Mia, I have some lingering questions... So I'm gonna ask them now and this is my later note in case any of you were wondering!

1) What about Grey and Mitsu????



2) Is this the last we're going to see of the Black Heart/Dulce Santo staff? Because it kind of sounded like it was in your post since you're starting a new series and I'm like... I NEED MORE!!!!! There's still some stories here!!!!



3) Most importantly...

WHAT ABOUT GREY AND MITSU?!?!?!???




Run - don't walk, RUN -



And one-click this one today! I promise you, you won't regret it and then maybe you can help me pester for a story for Grey & Mitsu because I wanna know. I NEED TO KNOW!!!



View all my reviews

Review: Free Me

Free Me by Mia Monroe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Are you interested in being tied up?”

Tate’s reaction startles me as he visibly shivers in front of me, his breath releasing in a puff. “Whew.” He laughs shyly. “I guess I am.”

You know, there's something so beautiful about Shibari and whenever I get a story that includes rope play it's almost always a guaranteed good time. There's something so beautiful about the knot work that has always caught my attention.



Free Me definitely did just that! This is another fabulous outing in Mia Monroe's Tattoos and Temptation series, the third in fact, but it can be read as a standalone and not lose a thing! It's the quiet ones that usually surprise you, and let me tell you Tate's story definitely surprised me in the best possible way! You do get to see our faves from previous stories in the series and my love for them all just grows with every new word I read.

“We used to spend every waking moment together, lots of sleeping ones, too.”

“Oh?” Gen asks. “Spill the tea, darling.” He winks.

Nix chuckles. “We were kids, Gen. We had sleepovers.”

“Oh, right. Yawn.”

I shake my head. “Always about sex with you.”

“Sex is life, boo.”

“Amen,” Cairo says. “Preach, Sister Gen.”

When you have friends like this - and I have a couple so I know what it's like - everything is soooooo much more fun!

You've probably noticed that I have a fondness for Best Friends to Lovers - not even just the regular old Friends to Lovers but I mean like this is my BFF whom I happen to fall in love with is quickly becoming my jam. Tate and Nix have that, but they also have a Second Chance (kind of) happening and that's something that was beautiful to see. Not everyone gets to keep their bestie when they come out, especially not if there was some reciprocated attraction in the moment and a freak out from the bestie later. Heck, a lot of the time you don't even get to keep your family. Nix and Tate were inseparable as kids but that coming out moment at eighteen was what broke them apart. To watch them come back together and learn that their feelings for each other have grown so much despite time and distance? These two were meant to be and it's definitely true that it's better late than never. But also - Good things come to those who wait.

Nix and Tate are fire baby! Some of the scenes are just off the charts how hot they are, I have a feeling this is going to be on my all time favourites list for rereads.

Here are some of my...


Favourite Lines -

“It’s a gay rite of passage,” Gen says, smiling. “We know the best places to eat, to party, and to shop. We are icons of everything tasteful.”

“Mm, I’ve seen some pretty sketch gays in my day,” Cairo adds, shooting a disdainful look at nothing. “Some ratchet boys out there.”

“I didn’t say it was inherent good taste,” Gen explains. “I said it was a rite of passage. When you learn the ways of the masters you transcend basic-bitch level.”

“How do I know if you’re right for me? Is there like a quiz on Buzzfeed or something? ‘How to Find the Right Shibari Artist For You.’”

“Can I have like ten more minutes before you undo me?”

You could stay like this forever if I had my way.

“I’ve never been able to decide if I like the ropes more or the marks they leave.”

“Because I like my pastries the same way I like my men-sweet and tempting.”

I bite my lip to prevent laughing while Jude has to cough to cover his laughter.

“Oh.” Greyden’s face flickers with understanding. “I like my pastries the same way I like men, too.”

Jerica looks up confused.

“All of them,” he continues.

“Then please, for the love of all gay things, touch me.”

“So, the phone?” Pauly asks. “A love interest?”

“Kind of. What gave me away?”

“Because the only things that produce a look like the one I saw on your face are love interests and double cheeseburgers. Maybe chocolate cake.”

I decided it didn’t matter if I was gay or bi or pan or anything else. What mattered is that I was happy.

This series just keeps getting better! Hurry up an read this one so that you can wait for the next installment with me so I won't be alone in my impatience!



This one ticked all the boxes for me and left me with warm, happy feelings. So take my advice -

Run, don't walk, RUN and one-click this baby today! You won't regret it!



View all my reviews

Review: Catch Me

Catch Me by Mia Monroe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OK, so, you're in love with your best friend. You don't really know it yourself, and they definitely don't know it but you're on the I'm-sort-of-attracted-to-you train and you just think it's never going to stop at the station but you love your friendship so you hold on for dear life.

Meanwhile, there's this guy and he's making moves on your friend but kinda making moves on you too, only your friends have to point that out to you because you're oblivious to it because of your jealousy that he's flirting with your friend and stealing his attention.

"This isn’t like you. Where’s my go-with-the-flow Cairo?”

He’s hiding behind the jealous-as-fuck-someone-is-going-to-steal-you-away-from-me-before-I-figure-out-how-I-feel-about-you Cairo.

But he's fire and you totally want him too, you just wish he wasn't flirting with your friend.



What does that sound like to you? Sounds like a recipe for a polyamorous masterpiece to me!



Now that I've poorly summed up Cairo, Genesis and Luca's story, you need to understand that Catch Me is book four in Mia Monroe's Tattoos and Temptation series and while this MMM love fest can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, this is the first one that I will say I recommend having read the other books in the series first. Why you ask? Just because I think you get a deeper understanding of the way these guys act around each other like the men of Black Heart and Dulce Santo have had the chance to see for the last 3 stories. Now, if you don't read them first and you start right here, you'll just love Luca and his pretty boys more once you've seen the lead up and hints that were dropped from the very beginning. (That was masterfully done Mia! I applaud you for it!)



What you have here is a beautiful, sexually and emotionally charged story of three men who learn just how much their heart's capacity to love is and how they fit together perfectly to give something the others are needing in a relationship. Luca is just a sweet southern boy with this huge heart and a dream to make Cairo and Gen his - and it's one hell of a ride! I was so sure that this was going to be an easy FWB transition for them but there were some twists that I didn't see coming. And Genesis, the little glam diva that he is, is stubborn AF when it comes to admitting his feelings. Cairo was just oblivious to his own feelings and Luca's intentions, but Gen has seen it all along from Luca and wanted more with Cairo for so long that my heart hurt and I wanted to wrap him up in blankets. Honestly, I wanted to wrap all of them up in blankets at some point in the story - and you know how I love my blankets!!!



Let's have some of my...

Favourite Lines -

I refuse to look down. The water distorts things anyway. I don’t want to see a dick unless it’s mine to play with, and neither of their dicks fall into that category. Pretty sure. Probably.

Danger, will.i.am, or whatever that show was way before my time.

Swallowing hard, I focus on the mirror and brushing my teeth, ignoring the fight-or-flight response that kicks in every time Luca looks at me with those sweet blue eyes full of unspoken promises of more. It’s just that I don’t want more. I want everything to be like it is. Cairo’s role is permanent bestie. Luca’s role is fuck buddy. My role is dick receptacle. That’s it. Nothing beyond that. Everything gets fucked up with more.

Saturday nights are for fucking. Mornings are for working.

“Tell me about you and Gen.”

“It’s complicated.”

“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”

“Why does everyone say that?”

“Because we can tell?”

When I wanted every part of my life entwined with every part of his, the good and bad and mediocre, I knew.

Why can’t I be a normal person who appreciates and loves having two gorgeous, sweet guys in my life? Why can't I tell them that I want to be here every night with them, and that I want…oh fuck. I cough as the thought hits me like a truckload of stolen Balenciagas.

This is what normal, well-adjusted single people do. They go on dates. Or maybe I’m not single. I’m in a relationship. I think. Possibly. I should clarify that but eww, feelings, and eww, talking and expectations. Eww.

I hit the buzzer, then stand in the doorway and wait for the elevator doors to open. When they do, my mouth drops. Luca is wearing dress slacks, a button-down shirt, and a tie. A motherfucking tie. And he’s carrying, oh my fucking gay god, a bouquet of flowers. For me.

Oooh, okay, with that southern drawl? I’m dead.

I’m not fit for love. I couldn’t do it if I tried. My love is full of thorns and snares and will only result in everyone’s demise. I should tell them. Let them go. Tell them to stop waiting for my heart to thaw because it isn’t there anymore. It’s not covered in ice. It’s gone. Ripped from my chest by too many men who never cared. Left out to wither away until nothing was left.

If someone would have told me six months ago that this would be my life, I would have kicked them in the shin with my best Balenciaga boots.

Book Five is coming (soon!!!!) and I'm dying for it already! It hits some of my favourite tropes, so hurry up and one-click this baby today! Then you can wait impatiently with me!



Trust me, you won't regret it!




View all my reviews