Hey readers!

Once again another year draws to a close and that means it’s also time to come out with the annual list of the top books that have been read over here on this blog too!

2022 has been a strange year to say the least when it comes to books, and part of it feel like it’s because towards the end here I’m feeling kind of burnt out with Fantasy-genre titles…but the thing is I don’t WANT to be! It feels like a breakup that you’re trying everything in your power to not have happen, but part of you also just feels like maybe you need to take a break and recoup later on?…Just try and pretend that makes sense for my sanity.

Despite my seemingly falling out with whimsical tales of fae and magical realms, one thing that will always remain is my appreciation for those SPICY romance titles! I love some extra flavoring in my books, and I can confirm that most if not all my reading choices this year definitely included some of that, some more than others!

Without further ado, below is the list of my top reads of 2022, and they are in no particular order.

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1. The Extracurricular Activities Trilogy: by Neve Wilder

What a steamy trilogy this was! By far the best MM romance books I’ve read this year, and Neve Wilder definitely gained a fan in me with these! They’re a quick, hot and totally sexy college romance trilogy if you’re at all interested! And trust me, you should be.

To see my review of book #1 – Want Me – Click HERE

To see my review of book #2 – Try Me – Click HERE

To see my review of book #3 – Show Me – Click HERE

To see my Fancast/Dreamcast for the whole trilogy – Click HERE

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2. The Ravenhood Trilogy: by Kate Stewart

Flock was pretty good, but oh man is Exodus a wake up call, like WOW does a whole lot happen in that book and it takes you on a whirlwind of a ride! I was warned, and while I wasn’t a weeping mess I definitely was in a major book hangover after all that after reading…which is ironic considering I read these to try and get over another book hangover!

To see my review of book #1 – Flock – Click HERE

To see my review of book #2 – Exodus – Click HERE

To see my review of book #3 – Finish Line – Coming Soon!

3. Tricky Magic Series (Not Complete): by L.L. Campbell

This is a fun and steamy paranormal romance series that’s come out recently, and it’s been really fun to get to know the author on #bookstagram too! The plot feels more of a character-driven story, but a major highlight are the steamier scenes, and the author does an incredible job of adding some paranormal flair to them as well. See for yourself why the MMC is referred to as “Shadow Daddy.”

To see my review of book #1 – Tricky Magic – Click HERE

To see my review of book #2 – Tricky Princess – Click HERE

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4. Hook, Line, and Sinker: by Tessa Bailey

This was a great sequel to “It Happened One Summer” that I read in a single day! It didn’t have as much of a “Schitts Creek” feel to it, but the romance so easily swept me away and I couldn’t put it down until I finished it! Tessa Bailey definitely gained a fan in me over these books! And I also really like how they appear sweet and innocent with these covers, but have some steam to them too!

To see my review of Hook, Line, & Sinker – Click HERE

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5. These Wicked Lies: by Miranda Joy

This was an impressive debut novel from an author I’ve gotten to know on #bookstagram as well, and while she herself is a total sweetheart, her book definitely shows a darker tone full of twists and turns and questioning of who to trust…It’s a lush, exotic island setting with soul stealing magic, and with how this book ends, PLENTY of sexy thrills!

To see my review of These Wicked Lies – Click HERE

To see my Fancast/Dreamcast of the series so far – Click HERE

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6. House of Sky and Breath: by Sarah J. Maas

Absolutely zero surprise that an SJM book is on my list…I mean, do I really need to explain why on this one?

To see my review of House of Sky and Breath – Click HERE

To see my Fancast/Dreamcast of the series so far – Click HERE

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7. The War of Two Queens: by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This book is the fourth installment in the popular “From Blood and Ash” series, but upon its release received some MAJOR controversy…I go more into the specifics in my review that you can click and see below, but I can say this was still a thrilling addition to this hot and addicting series!

To see my review of The War of Two Queens – Click HERE

To see my Fancast/Dreamcast of the series so far – Click HERE

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8. Sea Of Ruin by Pam Godwin

This book gave me total “Outlander-meets-Pirates of the Caribbean” vibes and it was a nicely paced adventure from start to finish! Definitely a dark romance that might not be for everyone, but I will admit that Pam Godwin has totally convinced me that she is a great writer with this book alone! I’ll definitely be checking out her other stuff thanks to how I enjoyed this!

To see my review Sea of Ruin – Coming soon!

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10. On These Black Sands (Aisling Sea #1): by Vanessa Rasanen

If you like pirates and mermaids and fae and found family and slow burn romance and the close proximity/there’s only one bed trope, you definitely have to check this book out! It starts off slow, but once things really take off, the adventure really begins! It also really makes you want to re-watch the Pirates of the Caribbean movies too!

To see my review of On These Black Sands – Coming soon!

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10. Gild (Plated Prisoner #1): by Raven Kennedy

I started 2022 with this title because there is so much hype surrounding this series, and so many of my bookstagram friends love them, so I thought I’d give it a try and see what all the fuss is about. It’s slower paced than I liked, and there’s absolutely no romance in book 1, but the scene is definitely set with this first installment in the ever-popular King Midas Retelling series.

To see my review of Gild – Click HERE

To see my Fancast/Dreamcast of the series so far – Click HERE

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Thanks for Reading!

— Nick Goodsell

Fancasts/Dreamcasts

My Fancast/Dreamcast: The Extracurricular Activities Trilogy by Neve Wilder

November 11, 2022March 7, 2023 nicholasjgoodsell

Whaddup readers, it’s time for another Fancast/Dreamcast post, and this time it’s for what has to be the spiciest, steamiest, sexiest set of books I’ve read this year! Neve Wilder totally gained a fan in me with how hot these books got, they’re seriously some of the best MM new adult romance I’ve read out there, not that my list is incredibly extensive in this regards, but someday!

BEWARE OF SPOILERS IF YOU HAVENT READ THESE YET

Each book featured a different couple, and book 1 actually started off as a collection of short stories in a newsletter that gained major popularity before being brought together and published as one full length novel. Nate and Eric star in book 1, Chet and Mark star in book 2, and Sam and Jesse star in book 3!

If you want some spicy MM romance action, I can’t recommend these books enough!

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To see my review of book #1 – Want Me – Click HERE

To see my review of book #2 – Try Me – Click HERE

To see my review of book #3 – Show Me – Click HERE

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Here is my Fancast/Dreamcast for the Extracurricular Activities Trilogy:

Nate: Ryan Ball

Ryan is a model that is total eye candy on Instagram, and exactly how I imagine the down to earth and slightly awkward Nate to look like in book 1. If he looked like this, I can see why Eric became so into him!

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Eric: Charlie Matthews

Image courtesy of dnamanagementgroup.com

Eric is described as being dark haired with green eyes and a hot build even if he’s on the slimmer side, so this model Charlie Matthews is immediately who I thought of to play Eric!

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Mark: Zane Phillips

I’ve recently discovered Zane Phillips, and I’m obsessed…He might be the only reason I have to check out The Legacies on the CW network, even though I believe The Vampire Diaries DID NOT need a second spin-off show! It also helps that he’s gay in real life too, so he’d be perfect for a role in these books if they were to make it into a film/show!

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Chet: Eric Guilmette

I’m basically making this fancast into a men’s appreciation catalogue, but honestly who’s complaining??? I don’t remember much of what Chet is described as, but I’m obsessed with Eric over on Instagram, so I honestly just pictured him as Chet in my head. This one may or may not be all that accurate, but hey, I’m good with using Eric to my imagination with these books!

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Sam: Matt O’Brien, or Andre Lamoglia

Matt O’Brien, image courtesy of the model’s Instagram account

Andre Lamoglia, image courtesy of popbuzz.com

Sam is basically described LITERALLY as a human golden retriever/yellow lab, and whoever would play him needs to look the part! Matt is guy I found on social media who I imagine Sam looking like, BUT there’s also a new hottie named Ivan on the Spanish Netflix drama, Elite, who’s played by Andre, and I get serious heart-eyes whenever he smiles, just like how I’d imagine I would for Sam!

Jesse: Alex Espenshade

Jesse is a sassy skinny ginger who was also really hard to cast! No one came to mind right away for me as to who I could picture playing him! This male model has an adorable look to him that I could see Jesse as, but consider this a place holder until I find someone who I deem more perfect!

Thanks for Reading!

— Nick Goodsell

Erotica, LGBT, New Adult, New Adult Romance

My Review: Want Me (Extracurriculars #1): by Neve Wilder

June 5, 2022June 20, 2022 nicholasjgoodsell

Publish Date: May 6th, 2019
Number of Pages: 304 Pages
Publisher: Kindle Edition
Genre(s): New Adult Romance, LGBT, Erotica

Total Star Rating: 4.25 Stars

That’s not handholding. That’s like … hand fucking. Or hand seduction. Your hand is seducing mine and my hand has zero game. It’s just gonna hop into bed with yours without dinner or a drink first. Maybe I need to give it a lecture about standards.”
– Neve Wilder, “Want Me”

What It’s About:

The official synopsis:

Two roommates. One calculus exam. A whole lot of extracurricular activity.

Nate:
Living with four other guys, it’s bound to happen.
Every guy’s been caught taking care of business at least once, right?
It shouldn’t be a big deal.

But I don’t know Eric as well as my other roommates, and things are a little awkward now.
He’s a loner. A mystery. Quietly confident. Smart.
Sexy as hell.

I’ve been happily subsisting on the typical frat guy diet of booze and sorority girls.
But the way Eric looked at me that night?
There was something there.
Something that’s got me curious.
Something that’s stirring up feelings I thought I’d left behind for good.

Something that’s making me think I’m not as straight as I thought I was.

I can’t get him off of my mind.
I don’t think I want to.

So when he offers to help me study for a midterm, I take him up on it.

It’s innocent.
Probably. Maybe.

There’s no way I could’ve known what it’d start…

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Lately I’ve been in a reading slump, which I’m starting to notice is a normal thing for me in the spring time. Maybe it’s how the weather is nicer so I’m more likely to be out and about, and life just gets busier because of it to the point where I’m not concentrating as much on the books I read, and I feel the struggle with high octane, fantasy genre stories…

…this is where I turn to hot, quick, mindless smutty books to ward off the slump!

After DNFing several books prior to this one, I was relieved when I flew through this one no problem at all! It’s exactly what I’m looking for when I’m in this reading mood.

This MM romance book is HOT. Plain and simple. There’s so much sex in this story I almost want to say it’s ridiculous, but I enjoyed it way too much to even complain about it!

The story revolves around Nate and Eric, two college guys who are also roommates in the same house with three other guys living with them. Nate gets caught by Eric when he’s….taming the dragon? Having some fun with “Jill?” Whatever you want to call it, but after the initial shock, there’s a curiosity that grows between them, and then the extra push is when Nate needs help with an algebra exam coming up…Eric is right there to help him out in more ways than one!

The story is told through Nate’s perspective, and he’s an absolute delight to follow along with. His commentary is hilarious, and he’s a pretty standup guy who’s awkward and charming and easily likable. Eric is a lot more mysterious and alluring at first, and part of you questions his intentions at first, but he grows on you too as you get to know him better.

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I didn’t know a lot about him beyond that he was majoring in structural engineering. And currently minoring in confusing my dick.“
– Neve Wilder, “Want Me”

What I Liked:

There Is SO Much Sex! I mean….we’re talking hot AF hooking up in almost every chapter!! There definitely wasn’t a shortage of spice in this book!
There Wasn’t A Random Break-Up Right Before The End! One thing I see all the time in romance novels is that dramatic breakup the couple always has to have right towards the end…like a secret gets out or there’s some last minute drama that comes between them, and luckily this sort of thing happens earlier in the book! It was refreshing because I’m always like “Okay….we know they’re gonna end up together…cut the shit!”
The Banter & Dirty Talk! Eric is a sexy dirty mouthed bastard, and I love him for it! The conversations between him and Nate are a highlight, no doubt!
Its Hilarious As Much As It Is Sexy! This goes with the banter a little bit, but even the narration with Nate telling the story was pretty funny! The author really knew how to sound like a guy in college!

What I Didn’t Like:

There Wasn’t As Much Build Up With Other Main Characters for The Next Books…this one is kinda nit-picky, but hey, I have to include something in this section at least! There wasn’t a whole lot of development with many other characters except for maybe Marc, but he’s off screen—or page?—so often that it doesn’t feel like he does much…the author throws subtle hints that more is to come with some drama with Marc and another character, but it’s barely touched on to the point that this book feels like it could just be a standalone because it didn’t really make you feel a whole lot for the other characters.

Conclusion:

Overall, this book was EXACTLY what I needed after DNFing several books prior to it! It was hot, sweet, quick, and sexy as hell with some equally cute and tender moments between the two main characters!

There’s two more books to make this a trilogy, and while the author didn’t build up the other characters quite as much as I’d liked, the fact that this is the steamiest book I’ve read this year so far is what makes me want to keep reading and see what happens next!