Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time
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Join the CBR18 Book Bingo Reading Challenge—Now Underway!   

Matti was so likeable. You could cut him in half like fresh bread and he’d be warm all the way through.

Swordcrossed by Freya Marske

June 18, 2026 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

“Matti,” said Luca, breathless, “if there’s a man alive who would not be responding like this, who would not be going insane looking at you, with you doing that, then he’s either tragically committed to women or so lacking in taste that there’s no helping him at all. ― Freya Marske, Swordcrossed Luca balanced the words in his mouth, enjoying the anticipation. He looked Matti in the eye and said, with the pure heat of honesty: “I’m fairly certain I want you to wreck me. […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Romance Tagged With: blackmail, duels, fluffy fluffy goodness, Freya Marske, gay romance, historical romance, LGBTQ romance, low angst, M/M historical romance, queer romance

carmelpie's CBR18 Review No:23 · Genres: Fiction, Romance · Tags: blackmail, duels, fluffy fluffy goodness, Freya Marske, gay romance, historical romance, LGBTQ romance, low angst, M/M historical romance, queer romance ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

My spellcheck changed “orc” to “orca” and now I want to read that book.

A Vow to Heal (Vows of Unity #1) by Lionel Hart

April 16, 2026 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

Korik does not fit in. With the recent alliance between elves and orcs, he is the only healer in his town. Shy and withdrawn, he focuses on doing a good job and helping the town’s residents. He is tall and gangly, and is more fit to work one-on-one as a healer than as a soldier or tradesman. After successfully delivering the elf prince’s child, Korik gains the trust of the local nobility. They ask him to accompany two elves south, captain Varen and his pregnant […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Romance Tagged With: elves, epic journeys, forced proximity, friends with benefits, gay romance, he's a lover not a fighter, LGBTQ romance, Lionel Hart, low angst, omegaverse, opposites attract, orcs, queer romance, road trip romance, Slow Burn Romance

carmelpie's CBR18 Review No:20 · Genres: Fantasy, Romance · Tags: elves, epic journeys, forced proximity, friends with benefits, gay romance, he's a lover not a fighter, LGBTQ romance, Lionel Hart, low angst, omegaverse, opposites attract, orcs, queer romance, road trip romance, Slow Burn Romance ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Come for the tea, stay for the kisses.

The Raven Door by Amy Crook

March 20, 2026 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

Greyson is a student in his final year of university. He’s shy and has a bit of a complex as he has never been in a relationship, and he has never been in love. Before he graduates and goes out into the world, he wants to know what love feels like. He saves up his money for a love potion, hoping that the experiment will grant him the insight he desires. Greyson goes to Aedan, a local Earth witch and a specialist in love spells […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance Tagged With: Amy Crook, cozy romance, gay romance, Love potions, novella, queer romance, slow burn, witch

carmelpie's CBR18 Review No:14 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance · Tags: Amy Crook, cozy romance, gay romance, Love potions, novella, queer romance, slow burn, witch ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

We’re two worlds apart.

Rocking the Cowboy by Skylar M. Cates

March 9, 2026 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

Jed is happy. He has his ranch, his horses, and his sister, and his niece. His good-for-nothing father Buddy only contacts Jed when he needs something. After leaving the ranch in Jed’s care, Buddy reinvented himself as entertainment royalty. One of the stars he manages, Remy Sean, needs someplace to lie low and recuperate after an attack during his last concert. Jed doesn’t want anything to do with Buddy, but instead of saying no, he sees an opportunity to negotiate. If Buddy agrees to escort […]

Filed Under: Romance Tagged With: child performers, city vs. country, fish out of water, gay romance, grumpy sunshine, LGBTQIA+ characters, opposites attract, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), queer romance, rockstar romance, Skylar M. Cates, Slow Burn Romance, stage fright

carmelpie's CBR18 Review No:11 · Genres: Romance · Tags: child performers, city vs. country, fish out of water, gay romance, grumpy sunshine, LGBTQIA+ characters, opposites attract, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), queer romance, rockstar romance, Skylar M. Cates, Slow Burn Romance, stage fright ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Elastic tension lashed their cars together across space, alone on the road, nothing in his head but grief and freedom.

Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo

February 26, 2026 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

Andrew held the clutch and eased onto the gas, pushing revs while the digital readout reminded him to hold it, wait for the right moment to explode. Sam’s fingers touched the rim of the moon hanging in the sky. A shudder ripped across the bones of Andrew’s forearms, terror and delight and the promise of risk bringing him to life. ― Lee Mandelo, Summer Sons For fuck’s sake Andrew. Is there anything in this scenario that feels heterosexual or well-adjusted to you? ― Lee Mandelo, […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery Tagged With: American History, angst, Classism, curse, dark academia, drug use, Fighting, gay awakening, gay romance, Ghost Stories, homoerotic behaviour, Lee Mandelo, LGBTQ author, LGBTQ romance, murder mystery, Nashville, psychic abilities, queer romance, self-destruction, sexual tension up the wazoo, street racing, Tennessee, toxic friendships, toxic relationships, Toxic Romance, transgender characters, transgender main character, trauma bonding

carmelpie's CBR18 Review No:9 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery · Tags: American History, angst, Classism, curse, dark academia, drug use, Fighting, gay awakening, gay romance, Ghost Stories, homoerotic behaviour, Lee Mandelo, LGBTQ author, LGBTQ romance, murder mystery, Nashville, psychic abilities, queer romance, self-destruction, sexual tension up the wazoo, street racing, Tennessee, toxic friendships, toxic relationships, Toxic Romance, transgender characters, transgender main character, trauma bonding ·
Rating:
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“Even when you have it rough, never forget to be good to others. Because that kindness comes back around again.”

The Love We Share by Hina Ten

February 3, 2026 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

Machi is a young man looking after a sweet two-year-old, Kokoa, by himself. With no job other than survival sex work, he is homeless, couch surfing, and ill when he faints in the street and is helped by Mihiro. Mihiro remembers him from high school and offers to let Machi and Kokoa stay with him until Machi is back on his feet. Machi has had a hard life and is leery of the offer, assuming that Mihiro only wants him to stay so that he […]

Filed Under: Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Romance Tagged With: gay romance, Hina Ten, manga

GentleRain's CBR18 Review No:48 · Genres: Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Romance · Tags: gay romance, Hina Ten, manga ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
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Recent Comments

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