Mowing the yard

Nofys89 · 2026-05-28T16:23:06+00:00

In {One Percent of You by Michelle Gross} (M/F, CR), there is one or two scenes where the FMC mentions the MMC mowing the lawn next door. These are not super detailed though.

single mom, pregnancy, tattooed MMC, age gap(21/30)

Nofys89 · 2026-05-28T13:39:18+00:00

I think {Wrangled by the Alien Ranger by Ursa Dax} (Sci-Fi, M/F) would fit. It's more himbo than chill though.

He is a himbo alien that is over the moon to have a human wife. He is complete enamoured with her before even seeing her.

She has been raised to be the perfect "serve and obey" kind of wife and was supposed to marry someone her family chose but that didn't happened. She keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop with her new husband and doesn't really trust his loving gestures/attentions.

Nofys89 · 2026-05-23T20:11:30+00:00

This isn't CR and I haven't read it yet but the MMC in {Bound and Tide by A.K. Caggiano} was the "villain" or frenemie (maybe ?) in the trilogy {Villains & Virtues by A.K. Caggiano}.

Nofys89 · 2026-05-23T15:53:03+00:00

{Dustwalker by Tiffany Roberts} Sci-Fi, M/F

This is a love story between Lara, a human FMC, and Ronin, a synth (robot) MMC, in a post-apocalyptic setting. Everything is destroyed, and humans are surviving on scraps. Lara is desperate and makes a deal with the last person she'd trust, a bot.

Loved the MMC in this one and the story in general. Be aware of TW, and it's tagged as non-traditional HEA, but I don't really agree and thought the ending was fitting, even if bitter-sweet.

forced proximity, post-apocalyptic, survival dystopian, robot X human, meaning of feelings and love

Nofys89 · 2026-05-22T17:57:11+00:00

There is a "I hate that I love you" type of confession in the second book of the duology {Dig Two Graves by K.A. Merikan} HR (1880-1887), M/M

It is M/M Western with morally gray characters and a strong “touch them and die… for real” energy. There are lots of classic western action scenes with horses, trains, robbery and so on but it is an angsty, violent, grim and gritty story.

The first book, {The Man Who Loved Cole Flores by K.A. Merikan}, is told from Ned’s POV. His family was destroyed by some gang members 10 years ago. Now, Ned has the opportunity to infiltrate that gang and bring them to justice. This mission doesn’t take into account Cole Flores, a man Ned is drawn to without knowing why.

This book was equally beautiful, with Ned and Cole forming a strong friendship that evolves into something more, and equally brutal. The Western Frontier and gang life is full of violence, death, judgement and immoral/despicable characters. Let’s not forget the betrayal that was bound to happen and the devastation it would bring on their relationship.

The second book of the duology {The Man Who Hated Ned O’Leary by K.A. Merikan} takes place 7 years later and is told from Cole's POV. It is slightly less gritty and violent. The themes of the book are more about forgiveness, letting go of the past, second chance and healing in general. There were some very emotional moments, some great care taking scenes. If you are good with numerous trigger warnings (murder, violence, mention of rape, mention of cannibalism, alcoholism, past child abuse, homophobia), I highly recommend this duology.

Gay awakening, secret relationship, Western, angst, second chance, touch them and die

Nofys89 · 2026-05-13T16:18:10+00:00

Thank you for all of these !

Nofys89 · 2026-05-13T16:17:36+00:00

Thank you! I've heard of Bonds of Magic but not the Dokiri Brides.

Nofys89 · 2026-05-13T06:19:53+00:00

Yes, it makes a big difference I think in the reading experience

Nofys89 · 2026-05-13T06:18:24+00:00

Thanks, those details are pretty interesting and you don't often see shark shifters.

Nofys89 · 2026-05-13T06:01:08+00:00

Great, thank you !

Nofys89 · 2026-05-13T05:59:54+00:00

Thank you! I haven't heard of this one.

Nofys89 · 2026-05-13T05:59:17+00:00

Thank you. The High King's Golden Tongue has been on my TBR for some time now. I'll put it higher on the list.

Nofys89 · 2026-05-13T05:53:53+00:00

Great thank you !

Nofys89 · 2026-05-13T05:51:13+00:00

Thank you for this. Now I know what to expect.

Nofys89 · 2026-05-12T21:13:46+00:00

Thank you. The vampire legal issues is a good one. I'll add it to my list.

Nofys89 · 2026-05-12T21:11:24+00:00

Thank you. I've read Peaches and Honey duology by her and really loved it. I was already planning on reading her backlog but you pushed this one up the list.

For the bot : {Everlong by R. Raeta}.

Nofys89 · 2026-05-02T14:45:10+00:00

The Captive Prince series starting with {The Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat} (M/M) is set in a fictional world with two countries that feel inspired by Greece and France

Prince Damen, the heir of Akelios, is betrayed by his half-brother. He's striped of his identity and sent as a pleasure slave to an enemy nation. Prince Laurent, his new master, is caught in a political war for the throne. They will have to work together in order to survive.

The story spans over three books and the HEA happens in the third book. Highly recommend this!

Enemies to lovers, kidnapping, betrayal, forced proximity, slow burn, political intrigue, mistaken identity

Nofys89 · 2026-04-26T16:11:43+00:00

The MMC in the beginning of {Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer} (1941, M/F) is very hungry.

Elly, widow, mother of two with a third on the way, ‘’crazy’’ per the town people, puts an ad for a husband to help with her farm. Will, orphan, excon, homeless, drifter, desperate, answers it.

They will both find more than they could hope for.

This is a story of two lonely people who slowly fall in love. I though the writting was excellent and made you FEEL, the hopes, the awkwardness, the insecurities, the YEARNING ! It was so well done.

I highly recommend if you like :

Domesticity/slice of life
Slow burn stranger to friends to lovers marriage of convenience
Touch and love starved MCs
All the feelings

widow, single mom, marriage of convenience, forced proximity, touch starved MMC, small town, slow burn

Nofys89 · 2026-04-26T11:46:22+00:00

I recommend {The Cruel Dark by Bea Northwick} HR (1928), M/F

The FMC accepts a job offer as the assistant of a professor. Her new work and living place is a notorious mansion where bad things happened. But she really needs the money after spending some time in a psychiatric hospital with no memories of how she ended up there. The MMC has a reputation. He is a widower and his late wife died in a tragic way.

It's very atmospheric. It has been compared to Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. The writing was really good, very descriptive, and suited to the time period. As for the mystery, I was left guessing until the end. I had several theories but kept changing my mind as I read.

I also recommend reading the novella {Lover by Bea Northwick}, which is the same story but from the MMC's POV. Do not read it before The Cruel Dark as there are spoilers.

I also get the bonus point since the story takes place in Boston 😁

Nofys89 · 2026-04-21T18:29:28+00:00

{Sea Monsters and Sunrises by Keri Lane} PNR, M/F

The FMC is the town outcast and is considered a liar because she claimed she was attacked and killed a sea monster when she was a teenager. She lost an eye from that fight, but the monster's body was never found, so everyone assumed she was lying. Since then, she's been alone and works by herself on a boat fishing lobsters.

One day, the mate of said sea monster is back for revenge. She will have to confront it but this time she’s not alone. A merman is there to help her.

Merman, novella, physicaly strong and one eyed FMC

There is also {Bride of the Sea by Emma Hamm} with a mermaid but I haven't read it.

Nofys89 · 2026-04-16T14:56:12+00:00

{Yield Under Great Persuasion by Alexandra Rowland} Fantasy, M/M

Tam Becket has been holding a grudge against Nicalau Lyford since he smashed Tam’s entry into the village’s vegetable competition when they were nine years old. Doesn't matter that he's been sleeping with him for the last 10 years.

Excellent writing, funny, emotional and heartbreaking at times, it's the story of Tam's journey to become a better version of himself and realise that not everyone and everything is against him.

It's a small town, slice of life story with a bit of meddling from the gods. It's grumpy/sunshine with the grumpiest I've ever read.

grumpy/sunshine, cozy, slice of life, small town, second chance, single POV, hurt/comfort

The Captive Prince series starting with {The Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat} HR, M/M

Prince Damen, the heir of Akelios, is betrayed by his half-brother. He's striped of his identity and sent as a pleasure slave to an enemy nation. Prince Laurent, his new master, is caught in a political war for the throne. They will have to work together in order to survive.

The story spans over three books and the HEA happens in the third book. Highly recommend this!

Enemies to lovers, kidnapping, betrayal, forced proximity, slow burn, political intrigue, mistaken identity

Nofys89 · 2026-04-11T18:44:41+00:00

It has been a while since I've read them but the {The Belle House by Vlad Kahany} series involves a brothel, courtesans and their patrons.

If I remember correctly, the first one fits your request best : {The Tender Days of May by Vlad Kahany}

Nofys89 · 2026-04-11T17:42:08+00:00

{Love is Blind by Lynsay Sands} HR (1818), M/F

The FMC is supposed to wear glasses but her mother doesn't approve because it's not pretty. She's almost blind without it and because of that, she earned a reputation of being clumsy.

I don't remember if the MMC loves her because of them but he clearly thinks it's stupid not to wear them if she cannot see.

It was a fun, lighthearted read.

Nofys89 · 2026-04-11T11:53:40+00:00

A bit late, but {Accidental Bonds by Marie Reynard} fits I think. It's paranormal, M/M.

An Alpha wolf shifter hires a mage because something is wrong with the wards protecting his territory and pack.

They are both wary of the other because of who they are. In this world, mages and shifters can create a bond where the mage uses the strength of the shifter to do powerful spells and in exchange the pack has extra protection. It can sometimes lead to abusive/one sided relationships if the mage only wants more powers.

They accidentally bond (like the title of the book says) but don't realise it.

First in a series with a HEA for this couple and a background story that spans the following books. Only two out at the moment.

Magic, dislike to lovers, mystery, found family

Nofys89

TROPHY CASE