Jesse’s Diner by Cardeno C. is a heartwarming May/December romance that is delightfully angst free. This sweet yet steamy addition to the Hope series can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend the entire series.

Loved the complicated leads and the organic romance which unfolded in unexpected ways for me. ... At novel's beginning I thought I knew Ash, aka Asshole ... But oh does his character grow! ... Ash is a unique romance hero in that his past isn't used to explain away his boorish behavior, instead Daniel accepts Ash and helps him see how much better a person he can be by loving Daniel. ... Daniel is just as stellar a character as Ash but in a totally different way. ... The romance between Daniel and Ash was absolutely captivating. Daniel is like an immovable wall of love that Ash runs up against and can't quite figure out. Ash is so used to having all the control that he can't imagine how calm, free-spirited and clumsy Daniel makes him not care about power and control. This dynamic steeps the novel in emotional and erotic intensity ... This novel could easily have been just Ash getting what he needed from a relationship but Daniel gets the anchor and home he's always craved. How the reconciliation happens perfectly shows Ash's character growth as well as how much Daniel needs Ash. ... This romance is like expensive chocolate with complexity and flavor without being too sweet. ... Something in the Way He Needs is my favorite Cardeno C. novel and will be on my re-read and favorite book shelves.

I don't think I have ever read a book by Cardeno C. that hasn't tugged at my heartstrings. Cardeno has a way of writing MCs that just pulls me in and makes me fall in love with them immediately. ... This book touched me so deeply for many different reasons.... It is so sweet to witness Emilio demonstrate the reasons he can't resist Spencer and even more wonderful to watch Spencer start to believe he is handsome. I love how Emilio helps Spencer get over a past trauma that is still causing side effects even now. One of the best parts of the story was the love and acceptance Spencer finally finds, not only from Emilio, but from his entire family. Emilio's uber-tough brothers, his loving sister and his parents all took Spencer in and adopted him into the Sanchez family. ... I love Cardeno's books and this one is no exception. Watching Spencer come out of his shell and seeing that there is more to Emilio than his great body was a fun ride, and it is one I plan on taking as many times as possible. Seriously, you will miss a wonderfully sweet romance if you miss this one!

While In Your Eyes is part of the Mates series, it can most certainly be read as a standalone. It is a lovely contemporary shifter read with engaging, fully realised MCs, and well developed secondary characters. I fell for Samuel and Korban and I had some really strong reactions to events in the book as well. It tugged at my heartstrings and it made me smile. The well named In Your Eyes delivers a well paced, gay shifter romance with much love and a HEA.

There are some very funny moments in this book...fleshlights...and the way that Reg just keeps pushing and waiting for that ah-ha moment cracked me up. There are also some very sensual moments and as always with this author they are beautifully written.....This is a perfect lazy day read when you want something that will interest you but not overwhelm you with angst.