Tag Archives: Crea Reitan

Rhodes (Van Doren) by Crea Reitan-review tour

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Rhodes (Van Doren) by Crea Reitan-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 27, 2026

Every high school has a bully who has gone unpunished.

Walking the halls of my high school after two decades reminds me why I’ve blocked those years from my memory. The walls hold secrets but perhaps none as potent as the woods behind the school where a life ended too soon.

I wasn’t able to make a difference then. But I’m not a frightened kid anymore. Bullies no longer scare me. It’s time to deliver long overdue consequences to those who have never been held accountable for their actions.

With my pack of wolf dogs and this blindingly bright fake boyfriend at my side, nothing can go wrong.

•••••

REVIEW:Rhodes is a sharp, satisfying little novella that digs into the kind of unfinished business most of us would rather leave buried.

The premise alone had me hooked…. Rhodes now an adult has returns to the halls of his old high school, (school reunion) but he’s no longer that scared kid who once watched something terrible happen in the woods behind the building, and who has decided the people responsible have coasted long enough without consequences. (You need to read to find out what it was 🫣)

That quiet, simmering rage is what drives the whole story, and as usual this author handles it with the same unapologetic edge that runs through the rest of the Van Doren books. And I loved it.

Rhodes arrives with his pack of massive wolf dogs animals that feel less like pets and more like living extensions of his will, and don’t forget Bennett (a fake boyfriend who is clearly there to serve as both cover and complication. 😜)

The dogs are pure chaos in the best way….. they give the quieter moments a feral energy that keeps the tension from ever fully settling. The fake boyfriend setup, meanwhile, starts as pure practicality and slowly reveals itself as something warmer and far more interesting than either man planned, (they remind me a little of Loren/Oakley)

The novella moves quickly, balancing the darker undercurrents of past trauma and present day reckoning with the kind of charged chemistry we have come to expect.

There is heat, there is possessiveness, and there is that particular Van Doren brand of loyalty that borders on the unhinged.

Yet the story never loses sight of the story, a man who has carried guilt and helplessness for twenty years finally deciding he is strong enough to do something about it.

Because it sits inside the larger family web, there are familiar faces and the comfortable sense of an established world, but the book still works as a self contained story.

If you already enjoy the Van Dorens, especially the protective, slightly feral energy that surrounds them, this one will have you smiling.

I finished it wanting more time with Rhodes and his strange, devoted little family of dogs and chosen people, which is exactly the feeling a good novella should leave behind.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous – meaning it’s not just all the men for one woman. There’s also some M/M action going on. When she can’t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center – and utterly swoon-worthy! Don’t ask her how many book boyfriends she has…

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (don’t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

Facebook Group / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Website /

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One Breath (Isle of Kala 2) by Crea Reitan – review tour

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💙💛One Breath (Isle of Kala 2) by Crea Reitan – review tour💛💙

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 13, 2026

Every note of longing tastes like Cash.

Falling in love with my best friend’s little brother is the biggest mistake I could possibly make. But Cash Ellis has hypnotized me since we were children. Every song I write is a love letter. A plea. Lamenting what can never be.

As my best friend gets angrier and more unrecognizable with each setting sun, I find that I’m taking solace in Cash’s company. I shouldn’t. It’ll prove my undoing. It’s only a matter of time before my one-time best friend finds out.

•••••••••

REVIEW: One Breath pulls me in from the very first line of the description, that quiet confession that every note of longing tastes like Cash.

There is something immediately intimate and painful about the way Onyx frames the story, as if the music itself has become both sanctuary and confession.

Falling for a best friend’s little brother is one of those classic forbidden setups that can feel overdone, yet here it lands with a particular ache because the history between them stretches all the way back to childhood.

Cash has always been the one who hypnotized Onyx, the constant undercurrent in every song written, every lyric shaped into a love letter that can never be delivered. That long, slow burn of unspoken feeling gives the story weight before it even properly begins.

What makes it so tense is the slow erosion of the friendship that once felt unbreakable. As the best friend grows angrier and more unrecognizable with each passing day, Onyx turns toward Cash almost instinctively, seeking the steadiness and understanding that used to come from elsewhere.

I love this author’s work, they have always been skilled at writing characters who are messy and human rather than perfectly heroic, and this setup seems tailor made.

The island setting of the Isle of Kala series adds another layer. I love this island and its inhabitants, is a sense of closed community and watchful eyes that heightens the stakes.

But secrets do not stay hidden long in places like that, and the knowledge that the truth will eventually surface creates a constant low level dread that sits beneath the romance.

The music element was a lovely addition. Songs as love letters, as pleas, as the only safe way to say the unsayable, give Onyx a voice that is both artistic and deeply personal. It turns the internal conflict into something external and lasting, something that will exist even if the relationship itself cannot.

I find myself most drawn to the quiet moments of it all. Onyx knows this will prove an undoing, knows the cost, and still cannot step away. That kind of helpless honesty is what stays with me after reading the description, I couldn’t put it down, I wanted to know more, even though I knew I would probably need a tissue 😢

It promised a story that does not shy away from the messiness of wanting someone you are not supposed to want, of finding comfort in the one place that will eventually cost you everything else. And it delivered that and more.

One Breath was a book that left me sitting with the characters long after the last page, still hearing the songs that were written for someone who was never supposed to know they existed. I loved it. And can’t wait to return to Isle of Kala.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous – meaning it’s not just all the men for one woman. There’s also some M/M action going on. When she can’t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center – and utterly swoon-worthy! Don’t ask her how many book boyfriends she has…

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (don’t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

Facebook Group / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Website /

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Hush Anonymous (Longwood U 5) by Crea Reitan-review tour

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Hush Anonymous (Longwood U 5) by Crea Reitan-review tour

 

Universal Links: https://geni.us/hacrrelease

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date. July 16, 2026

He’s mine and I’ll kɪll anyone who touches him.

Kylen

I created Hush Anonymous last year for me. Hanging onto trauma I can’t escape and being ridiculously self-conscious and shy doesn’t exactly create a recipe for losing my virginity. In the darkness where no one can judge me seems like the best place. Yet somehow, I manage to find myself a stalker in the darkness. Which isn’t so bad since he knows exactly how to take care of me.

Arek

My weakness is blushing boys and Kylen is exactly my type. I’m a little late realizing but now that I’ve had a taste, I’ll never let this man go. Thankfully, my stalking game doesn’t last forever and he’s willingly mine. He doesn’t shy away when I tell him I’ll kill anyone who tries to touch him. I bet he didn’t realize that the threat is retroactive.

•••••••••

REVIEW: Hush Anonymous by Crea Reitan is a deliciously dark and surprisingly sweet MM romance that completely won me over with its unique blend of vulnerability and fierce possessiveness.

Kylen’s story starts from such a raw place, he’s haunted by past trauma, is cripplingly shy, and using the anonymity of Hush Anonymous as a safe way to explore his desires.

His journey from hiding in the darkness to slowly opening up felt so real and deeply emotional. I loved how the book handles his self consciousness and healing without shying away from the intensity of his experiences.

Arek, on the other hand, is the ultimate obsessive dream (or nightmare, depending on your taste). 😜 His instant fixation on Kylen and unapologetic “he’s mine” energy, complete with deadly threats, brings a thrilling edge that had me hooked.
What surprised me most was how tender their connection becomes once the stalking phase shifts into something real and consensual. The way Arek instinctively knows how to care for Kylen, respecting his boundaries while unleashing that protective, possessive side, creates some incredibly steamy and heartfelt moments. Their dynamic is equal parts sweet and dangerous, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

Set in the Longwood U world, the book captures that intense university atmosphere with just the right amount of campus life mixed into the romance. The author delivers a story that’s spicy, emotional, and full of that addictive dark romance tension without crossing into unnecessary angst.

If you enjoy MM romances with shy, traumatized heroes finding their match in a dangerously devoted partner, stalking to lovers vibes, and a healthy dose of possessiveness, Hush Anonymous is an absolute treat.

It’s addictive, comforting in its own twisted way, and left me smiling through the heat.

I love this author and their work, I’ll definitely be recommending this book.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

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Penalty Shot (Winnipeg Avalanche 3) by Crea Reitan-review tour

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Penalty Shot (Winnipeg Avalanche 3) by Crea Reitan-review tour

Purchase Link: https://geni.us/pscrrelease

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 14, 2026

You miss all the shots you don’t take.

Denny

My world turns upside down when I’m thrust into single parenthood to my day-old son. Coming from a home where hatred and resentment thrived, I’m terrified of messing up my kid. Just when I’m at my lowest point, on the brink of drowning, a stranger shows up at my door and somehow, he makes it a little easier to breathe even as he makes the guilt in my chest a little louder.

Tyler

My world turns inside out with the loss of my sister – my best friend. I’m hours too late to say goodbye and by the time I get to the hospital, her newborn has already left with her fiance. Tracking them down isn’t as difficult as not falling for him. Everyday this man makes me fall a little harder as I search for the answers my sister took with her to an early grave.

••••••

REVIEW:Penalty Shot by Crea Reitan is one of those books that quietly sneaks up on you with its emotions and warmth.

It’s the third installment in the Winnipeg Avalanche Hockey series, and it delivers a tender, grief laden MM romance centered on two men learning to navigate sudden single parenthood, loss, and the slow bloom of unexpected love.

The story opens with Denny’s world shattering when he becomes a single father to his newborn son under heartbreaking circumstances. (Sally and Denny aren’t a couple, but Denny was stepping up for his little family.) Haunted by his own toxic upbringing filled with resentment and hatred, he’s terrified he’ll ruin his child. Just as he’s drowning in panic and exhaustion, Tyler appears at his door, the brother of Denny’s late fiancée. Tyler arrives reeling from his own devastating loss, hours too late to say goodbye to his sister, only to find his nephew already gone with the man she was going to marry. What follows is a beautiful, aching slowburn as these two strangers are thrown together by necessity and shared grief.

I loved both of these characters. Denny’s journey from overwhelmed and self doubting to confident, loving dad had me feeling like a proud mother watching her son navigate fatherhood….. You watch him grow through the little victories and quiet moments with the baby, all while carrying heavy guilt. Tyler is patient, steady, and incredibly supportive, even as he grapples with his sister’s secrets and his growing feelings for Denny.

Their relationship develops through late night feedings, shared responsibilities, and the hockey team’s wonderful found family support system. The teammates from previous books step up in meaningful ways that made me smile. I loved both this “Creaverse” everyone still visit’s 😊

The book balances heavy themes of grief, family trauma, and sudden parenthood, with sweetness, domestic warmth, and solid steam. The emotional intimacy often hits harder than the physical scenes, though those are nicely done too. There are touching moments where Tyler tries to keep his sister’s memory alive for the baby, and I loved that.

If you enjoy hurt/comfort stories, single dad tropes, hockey romances, and characters who choose to build something better than what they came from, this one delivers.

It’s comforting in its messiness and left me with that warm, satisfied feeling long after finishing.

A heartfelt, emotional, and very much worth picking up, highly recommended as usual from one of my favourite authors.

 

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie 🦋

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous – meaning it’s not just all the men for one woman. There’s also some M/M action going on. When she can’t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center – and utterly swoon-worthy! Don’t ask her how many book boyfriends she has…

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (don’t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

Facebook Group / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Website /

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Mister Van Doren (CEOs of Kink 1) by Crea Reitan -review tour

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Mister Van Doren (CEOs of Kink 1) by Crea Reitan-review tour

Purchase Link: https://geni.us/mvdcrrelease

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 7, 2026

Every secret has a dangerous consequence.

My son loses his damn mind when Bennett is injured in a hunting accident. This brings Doc Mark to my doorstep. It doesn’t take long to realize that Mark and I share something in common – kinks people only whisper about.

We negotiate an arrangement to live out our secret fantasies while Mark nurses Bennett back to health. Those fantasies leave Mark with his defenses lowered, and when Mark is attacked, I learn that my son takes after his father far more than I would have thought

This is a LGBTQIA+ story with content not intended for those under 18 years of age due to graphic scenes and situations.

Auden Van Doren and Doctor George Markanich (Mark)

•••••••••

REVIEW: This book is a delicious, high heat MM romance that dives straight into the shadowy, whispered desires of two powerful men who finally stop pretending.

Auden Van Doren is the classic billionaire CEO with a reputation, he’s the “slutty” one in the family (his words, not mine), the guy who never settles and keeps his private life very private.

When his son Rhodes completely unravels after Bennett gets hurt in a hunting accident, family doctor Mark (George Markanich) shows up to help.

What starts as medical care quickly turns into something far more charged.

The setup is brilliant, forced proximity while Mark nurses Bennett, combined with that electric moment when Auden and Mark realize they share the same dark, intense kinks that most people only fantasize about in secret.

They negotiate an arrangement to explore those fantasies safely while Mark is on site.

What follows is raw, primal, and unapologetically filthy…. chase scenes, power exchange, being overpowered and held down, all executed with intense chemistry and surprisingly thoughtful aftercare.

The spice is off the charts, but it never feels over the top. There’s real negotiation, consent, and vulnerability as Mark’s defenses come down.

I loved how Crea Reitan weaves this into the larger Van Doren universe. If you’re already hooked on the family (with their chaotic, protective, sometimes unhinged energy, Rhodes and his pack of massive wolves alone had me grinning), this feels like a natural extension.

Auden’s son takes after his father in ways that add a layer of danger and family loyalty when things escalate. The attack on Mark brings real stakes, blending the erotic with suspense without derailing the romance.

Auden is commanding and experienced but surprisingly reflective about his reputation and his relationship with his son. Mark is the composed, professional doctor who harbors these hidden, submissive/primal cravings, he’s breathtaking when he lets go.

Their connection is scorching hot, but also tender in the quieter moments.

At around 221 pages, it’s a quick, addictive read, perfect for “just one more chapter” sessions that turn into staying up way too late.

It’s not a slow burn slow build epic, it’s more like a tightly packed, intense novella length story with a lot of heat and some emotional payoff.

If you’re new to the Van Doren books, it still works as a standalone entry point into this kinky CEO world, (though if your not familiar, the characters it maybe a little overwhelming) i loved the family cameos 😊

I did love the mature MM romance (both men are established adults), heavy kink/BDSM elements (primal play, power dynamics, etc.), billionaire tropes with real bite, and a touch of danger/family drama.

Overall, I had a fantastic time with this one. It delivers exactly what the blurb promises, secret fantasies coming to life with dangerous consequences.

The chemistry between Auden and Mark is magnetic, the kinks are powerfully written, and it left me eager for more in the CEOs of Kink series.

If you enjoy Crea Reitan’s signature blend of chaotic family vibes, heartfelt moments beneath the filth, and unfiltered spice, this is a must read.

It’s steamy, addictive, and a great kickoff to a new kinky corner of the Van Doren world. 😜

Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for something primal and satisfying.

Copy supplied for review

🦋 Reviewed by Julie B

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous – meaning it’s not just all the men for one woman. There’s also some M/M action going on. When she can’t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center – and utterly swoon-worthy! Don’t ask her how many book boyfriends she has…

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (don’t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

Facebook Group / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Website /

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Dead Nights (Legacy of Deth 1) by Crea Reitan-review tour

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Dead Nights (Legacy of Deth 1) by Crea Reitan-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March

Everyone is a little broken

Dark Island holds secrets. In the summer months when the sunny weather draws in members of the boat club, the castle is filled with laughter and good times. As winter brings icy wind through Alexandria Bay, New York, the halls fall silent.

Four lonely hearts alone in the castle are drawn together by voices of the dead when they send up an alarm that someone is on the island who shouldn’t be. What begins with solitude has them coming together to protect their secrets.

If they can survive the harsh winter, the silent attacks in the night, and their own emotional baggage, there might just be a happy ending for the new year. IF they can survive.

•••••

REVIEW: Dead Nights by Crea Reitan is a new series, but still in her “Creaverse”. It’s a polyamorous MMMM romance that blends paranormal mystery, gothic isolation, and intense emotional/heated dynamics.

Set in a remote castle on Dark Island in Alexandria Bay, New York, during a brutal winter, it follows four broken men, Zephyr, Darwin, Matty, and Liam, who are drawn together by ghostly warnings of an intruder threatening their secrets!

The story unfolds through multiple POVs, which works well to showcase each character’s inner turmoil, past traumas, and growing connections.

The backstory is great…. a haunted, snowbound castle where the dead speak up to protect the living (or themselves?), silent nighttime attacks add suspense, and the men must confront their emotional baggage while fending off danger!

Tropes like hook ups to lovers, second chance (with Matty and Liam’s history), touch starved vulnerability, and “broken boys” are delivered with the author’s own flair, with Matty often positioned as the emotional center that binds the group.

The romance is central and steamy, you can expect high spice levels with elements like DP, group scenes, exhibitionism, and evolving poly dynamics that were 🥵 amid the tension.

The author’s ability to balance mystery, blood, emotion, and eroticism without losing pace makes her an automatic on click for me. The writing is as clear, well developed, and entertaining, with interconnected nods to Reitan’s broader “Creaverse” universe (familiar faces pop up and I love it).

If you’re into dark, atmospheric MM+ romance with paranormal elements, haunted settings, found family vibes, and unapologetic spice, this delivers.

It’s not light reading, expect graphic content, trauma, and intensity, (there are trigger warning, please read before coming in) but it promises a satisfying read…. if the group survives their winter of secrets!

Perfect for fans of poly romance and gothic-tinged suspense.

The “Creaverse” just keeps getting bigger and better. Cameos/mentions of past/present and possible future characters are given a mention..
How the author keeps it all in order I have no idea (but I do marvel at her way of thinking.)
Is this new series of hers a little darker? Possibly, but if you read her Van Doren series, then you’ll know those stories can be a little darker.

It’s a strong start to the Legacy of Deth series.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie 🦋

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous – meaning it’s not just all the men for one woman. There’s also some M/M action going on. When she can’t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center – and utterly swoon-worthy! Don’t ask her how many book boyfriends she has…

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (don’t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

Facebook Group / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Website /

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Graduation No Face (Longwood U) by Crea Reitan-review tour

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💜Graduation No Face (Longwood U) by Crea Reitan-review tour💜

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 5, 2026

Graduation implies a new beginning…

Jude

It’s unusual that I meet someone who becomes more than a fleeting acquaintance. Of all the places to meet such a person, at my cousin’s graduation party is my last guess. I’m so intrigued with him that I invite him with me to the boat club on Dark Island in Alexandra Bay for the summer.

Conner

I planned my entire future around getting drafted to the NHL but come graduation, no one wants me. Through a series of fortunate events, a frat brother brings me home and his hot cousin – professional hockey player – somehow takes an interest in me and while I’m still floundering for a future, I’m not upset to live in the present for a while.

Joining him at his boat club and staying in the castle is far too good to be true.

Because it is too good. One man takes an instant dislike of me and somehow, I end up inside the wall and before a group of masked people with knives in their hands as they discuss whether I get to live or die.

••••••

REVIEW:Graduation No Face by Crea Reitan is the latest installment in the interconnected Longwood U series. In fact most of her series are connected that way. Does it make for confusing reading? No, not really, but it does make your brain work trying to remember where you might have read about them 😉

This romance blends summer fling vibes, secret society intrigue, age gap tension, and high stakes danger in only 193 pages. It felt longer, we get a lot packed into those pages.

The story follows Jude, a professional hockey player who’s typically guarded and doesn’t form deep connections easily. At his cousin’s graduation party, he meets Conner, a recent college grad whose NHL draft dreams have just imploded, no team wants him, leaving him directionless and alone. 😞

Conner ends up tagging along to Jude’s family’s extravagant summer setup, a boat club on Dark Island in Alexandria Bay, complete with a castle like stay that’s luxurious beyond belief. Has something jogged in your mind? (Yes the island is mentioned in another book)😉

What begins as an intriguing, heat filled summer romance, Jude inviting Conner to join him, leading to instant chemistry and scorching encounters, quickly darkens and turns a little more sinister!

The plot weaves in mystery, threats, and revelations as the men navigate attraction, protection, and uncovering hidden truths tied to the island’s elite underbelly.

The writing keeps the pace brisk, intriguing build up and a satisfying unraveling of secrets, while blending lighthearted summer romance with darker edged tension.

If you’re a fan of MM romance with secret societies, age gap elements, hockey adjacent worlds, and a touch of danger, this hits the spot, intriguing, and emotionally satisfying without dragging us through pointless pages!

If you’re deep in Reitan’s universe, it’s a must read, if you’re new to the “Creaverse”, it’s a good place to start, with plenty of intrigue, and before you know it, you’ll be down this rabbit hole searching for “where did I read him? and what book?” 😜 And yes there are appearances/mentions of previous characters (the Van Doren series) and (For Puck sake series) and it’s also leading us into a new series on the island and Van Doren family.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie🦋

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous – meaning it’s not just all the men for one woman. There’s also some M/M action going on. When she can’t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center – and utterly swoon-worthy! Don’t ask her how many book boyfriends she has…

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (don’t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

Facebook Group / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Website /

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Contractually Yours by Crea Reitan-review tour

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Contractually Yours by Crea Reitan-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 19, 2026

Sign your love away…

Enfield

I never wanted an arranged marriage but to continue the spoiled lifestyle I live and support my three children, I sign on the dotted line with a plan to get what I want and ditch the wife. My parents have other plans and the woman I’m contracted to turns out to be a man. I’m livid.

Xavi

I’ve been looking forward to this day for years. After watching six older brothers get their happy endings, all I want is mine. But the man who walks through my door is angry, mean, and not interested. My happy ending is heartbreak instead.

••••••

REVIEW:Contractually Yours by Crea Reitan is a heartfelt, MM contemporary romance that delivers exactly what it promises, an arranged marriage gone wrong (or right?), grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and an emotional journey from resentment to love.

The story centers on Enfield, a man who reluctantly enters an arranged marriage to maintain his luxurious lifestyle and support his three children.

He’s furious when he discovers his intended spouse is a man, Xavi…. a sweet, optimistic soul who’s been dreaming of his own happy ending after watching his six older brothers find theirs.

What starts as anger, coldness, and a secret plan to “ditch the wife” (now husband) slowly transforms through forced proximity, heartfelt moments, and Enfield’s gradual shift from asshole to devoted partner.

This book shines in its classic romance tropes. The grumpy/sunshine contrast is spot on…. Enfield’s initial meanness and frustration clash endlessly with Xavi’s sunshine personality and chaotic, endearing energy. The slow burn is a sloooooooburn, with Enfield’s internal conflict over his sexuality, he lashes out with no thought of how it would hurt the other persons feeling.

The “a$$hole to swoon” moment was worth waiting for, watching Enfield soften, grovel a bit, and embrace his feelings had me finally letting my breath out.

The one redeeming thing about Enfield was his love for his children, (Enfield’s kids are part of his motivation and life), and the way he is can sort of explained as we meet his parents! I loved how he was with his kids, there were his priority.

Xavi, I think deserved a better partner, Enfield was vile to him, and I don’t think Xavi should have forgiven him so quickly (my opinion) he was just like a puppy that kept getting kicked! He held out hope that it would work, he almost gave up and quit! And his indifference to kids! I really thought that would be a sticking point, but the author solved that situation 🤐

As a standalone, it doesn’t require prior knowledge of Reitan’s other works (though she often connects characters across her “Creaverse,” with Xavi and Enfield referenced in other books like Rumor Has It). As you read the book, you vaguely remember the person, then all of a sudden I have the urge to go back and reread that book. (And then I get sucked down the rabbit hole 😜 and I practically rereading everything 😂)

If you’re into arranged marriage stories with a redemption arc, forced proximity, and a big HEA, this will hit the spot.

A solid, swoony addition to Crea Reitan’s growing list of queer romances. Perfect for fans of slow burn MM with grumpy heroes who fall hard.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

 

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous – meaning it’s not just all the men for one woman. There’s also some M/M action going on. When she can’t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center – and utterly swoon-worthy! Don’t ask her how many book boyfriends she has…

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (don’t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

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