The Prolific Works YBBB Giveaway Review #2

The YBBB (Your Book Boyfriend's Boyfriend) Prolific Works Giveaway was a massive gift to readers at the beginning of 2022. 114 authors got together to giveaway novellas. Some of these were linked to new or established series, some were standalones, but all of them were a wonderful gift to their readers - new and old. I believe the Giveaway will run for all of 2022 so be sure to check it out. It can be found here: YBBB Giveaway

I claimed 86 of the 114 of the books on offer, some authors I've known and loved for a while; others I've heard good things about, but never read; and a few that I've never read or really heard that much about, but the stories sounded so good! My plan is to read and review these books in batches over the next few months.

My original plan was to group according to theme or genre, or something to give them a common link. However, I suffer with paralysis of choice, so to make it easier on myself, I've completely taken choosing what to read out of my hands. The books have their own collection folder on my Kindle and using a random number generator, I read whatever number comes up. This may (will) lead to odd collections of books, but perhaps that's half the fun!

This group is a perfect combination: one well known and loved author, one I am familiar with, and one brand new to me author!

I hope you enjoy taking this crazy journey with me!

Misconduct ~ Lynn Van Dorn

Lynn Van Dorn is one of my favourite authors because whether it is Jacob being charged with birdslaughter, or Maxie being flamboyant and fabulous in red sequins, her books are just plain fun to read!

Misconduct is a novella (probably closer to a short book size wise) that incorporates the worlds of two of the author's series with a character from each featuring in the story: North Shore Stories (Ryan) and The Oleander Chronicles (Jacob). I absolutely loved catching up with Jacob again. He's such a great character, and it was fun to watch him interact with Maxie.

Maxie and Derek are complete opposites personality-wise. Derek is steady and stable. He is older and more confident in his place in the world, he provides stability to Maxie's more flamboyant world. Their chemistry was electric and immediate, with neither of them able to ignore the draw to the other.

Lynn Van Dorn has a beautiful writing style. Her words grab you from the first sentence and keep you enthralled to the end. I really enjoy her ability to weave a story with a lot of humour and heart, and enough heat to make your eReader steam!

My only complaint was that I wanted more!

I would have happily read another hundred or so pages of this story and still felt that it was too short. It was just so much fun to read!

There was no need to have any prior knowledge of either series to which Misconduct is related. Although I have North Shore Stories on my TBR, I haven't read them. While I have read the two books of The Oleander Chronicles, and characters in the second book, Rebound, feature in the story, it's not a huge disadvantage not to have this background. Of course, if you have read these other series, particularly Rebound, then it does add an extra layer of humour when Maxie and Jacob discuss characters and situations from that world, but it's certainly not essential.

On a side note, Rebound was one of the funniest books I read in 2021, and I highly recommend it!

Misconduct is the ultimate opposites attract, workplace romance. It is a story packed with heartwarming emotion, plenty of humour to keep a grin on your face, and more than enough heat to keep your cheeks pink. It's a fantastic and fun read, and I highly recommend it!

North Shore Stories (narrated by Michael Ferraiuolo):

Book 1: Damage Control is available in ebook and/or audio

Book 1.5: Be My Mistake is available in ebook and/or audio

Book 2: Daddy Issues is available in ebook and/or audio

The Oleander Chronicles (narrated by Michael Ferraiuolo):

Book 1: Reunion is available in ebook and/or audio

Book 2: Rebound is available in ebook and/or audio

Forever Asher (Mayberry Protectors #0.5) ~ Rhys Everly

Forever Asher is a prequel to Rhys Everly's new Mayberry Protectors series. It introduces some of the players and sets the scene for the rest of the series. This book left me wanting more of this series! I love stories involving private security/vigilante-style groups. Add in the fact that it seems that they are all going to be ex-SEALS or other special forces, and it's a case of SIGN ME UP!

Maddox has been discharged/retired from the SEALS due to the side effects of a traumatic mission. He moves to Mayberry for a fresh start. He finds work in a bar with an old teammate who, unbeknownst to Maddox, is the leader of a protector group that he is putting together to fight various wrongs in the community. A group he wants Maddox to join.

Maddox's best friend and teammate, Asher, drives him to Mayberry, where he plans to stay for a while to see Maddox set up. Asher is out and proud gay, and his attempt to distract Maddox has an unforeseen result that makes Maddox question his sexuality!

However, improbable, I really enjoyed this story! I absolutely loved that once Maddox made up his mind, there was no deterring him, and it was Asher that was pushing back, wanting him to be sure. This story was pure relaxation. It was light with no angst, and it was simply a delightful way to spend an hour or two! There was a small suspense plot, but this was primarily to set up the group and see how it may work in future books. It also introduced the main characters of the first full book in the series, and just from what I read in this book, I can't wait to read their story!

Forever Asher needs to be taken for what it is. A beautiful story of two childhood best friends, where the 'straight' friend realises that what he's been looking for has been in front of him the whole time. I really, really enjoyed this story, and I can't wait for the first full book, Mother Parker, which is released later this year.

Mayberry Protectors:

Book 0.5: Forever Asher

Book 1: Mother Parker is available for preorder in ebook

Cursed is the Worst (Mythmatched # 2.5;

Mythmatched World # 8.5) ~ E.J. Russell

E.J. Russell is a new to me author, and Cursed is the Worst is a lovely introduction to her writing style and the Mythmatched World.

Cursed is the Worst is a cute story about a swan shifter, Kiran, cursed with the ultimate form of clumsiness and his attempt to learn to dance for his sister's wedding. His determination to not show up his ballerina sister leads him to a demon dance teacher, Taj, and when that fails, to an act of desperation that has hilarious consequences.

This story was just really, really fantastic experience to read! It was light, funny, and romantic. It was a great escapist read, and it was just what I needed during a really heavy work week.

The heat level was low with just a couple of intimate scenes (clothes on). The focus was on the romance and the events of the story. Although I generally like a bit of heat and steam in my stories, I didn't miss it here. The story was so engaging and refreshing that I was carried away with the troubles of Kiran and Taj and just needed to know how it would all work out.

Cursed is the Worst is technically mid-series novella, but it can be read as a standalone. I had no previous knowledge of the prior series storylines and had no problem following along. Undoubtedly, if you have read earlier books in the series, you will likely recognise names and know backstories, but it wasn't necessary to enjoy Cursed is the Worst.

This novella is an absolute delight to read. If you are looking for a light but engaging read, you really can't go wrong with E.J. Russell's Cursed is the Worst.

The Mythmatched World is made up of three series (in reading order)

Fae Out of Water (narrated by Joel Leslie):

Book 1: Cutie and the Beast is available in ebook and/or audio

Book 2: The Druid Next Door is available in ebook and/or audio

Book 3: Bad Boy's Bard is available in ebook and/or audio

Supernatural Selection (narrated by Greg Boudreaux):

Book 1: Single White Incubus is available in ebook and/or audio

Book 2: Vampire with Benefits is available in ebook (audio late March/April)

Book 3: Demon on the Down-Low is available in ebook (audio later this year)

Mythmatched (narrated by Greg Boudreaux):

Book 1: Howling on Hold is available in ebook and/or audio

Book 1.5: Possession in Session - free story - see end of books for details

Book 2: Witch Under Wraps is available in ebook and/or audio

Book 2.5: Cursed is the Worst