Moonlight Cherries by Alexa Piper

Alexa Piper's Moonlight Cherries has such a romantic and sweet vibe while still having darker content. 

From the blurb:

"I couldn’t change that I was…attracted to a guy I’d watched getting murdered on the subway."

Amory lives a quiet life as a waiter. The Moonlight Diner is the home he found after he was kicked out and disowned by his family for no other crime than who he loves.

Amory's life is shaken to its very foundations after a chance meeting that has Amory witness a murder--except the man who dies in Amory's arms doesn't stay dead.

Far from being a ghost, Soyer is very real. He pulls Amory into a world in which magic exists and wreaks havoc on the life of unsuspecting people. But within what remains of the spell that touches both their lives, Amory and Soyer may just find love.

Warning: This m/m romance contains sexual content only suitable for mature audiences. It also contains graphic depictions of violence, past experiences of homophobia experienced in adolescence, and allusions to conversion therapy.

Jacquie's Review:

Moonlight Cherries was unique and utterly charming. It was impossible not to fall in love with Soyer like Amory did.

From the start Soyer is devoted, caring and careful with shy Amory. He's sweetly possessive, but would never harm a hair on Amory's head.

There's some darkness and violence in the book, but it's offset with so much sweetness.

I really want more from this world, we are given crumbs like Amory. Just enough for things to make sense, but I get the feeling there is a rich world in hiding underneath.

There's a wealth of great side characters like Elias and Ben that I already adore.

I'm glad I picked this one up.

Rating: 5 Stars

Janet's Review: 

Moonlight Cherries is the first in an exciting new series, Phoenix Immortal. Amory and Soyer’s story starts off with a bang. I totally fell in love with Amory and Soyer! Soyer’s romance of Amory was swoon worthy! I loved the way Soyer courted him.  

Amory is sweet and shy, an innocent really. Soyer is an old soul completely enamored with Amory. Loved, loved, loved their banter, chemistry, connection, romance!! 

Overall, a fantastic read that is well written with pacing that hooked me. Highly recommend. 

Rating: 5 Stars

Jacqueleen the Reading Queen's Review:

Alexa Piper is a new to me author and this book came highly recommended from two of my lovely bookish friends. I'm looking at you Jax and Janet ;). Jax described how there was just something special about Moonlight Cherries and I have to say I wholeheartedly agree. I loved every moment of reading this book. It was just so freaking romantic! The whole dynamic of a centuries old immortal of great power falling for the innocent and oh so sweet Amory was beautiful. All the old fashioned statements and shows of affection were utterly swoon worthy. There truly is something to be said for a good old fashioned wooing and every time Soyer called Amory his heart my eyes about burst into hearts themselves.

"𝓨𝓮𝓼, 𝓘 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝓱𝓲𝓶, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓲𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓽𝓸𝓸 𝓶𝓾𝓬𝓱, 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓶𝓾𝓬𝓱."

Soyer was not alone in his sweet thoughts about his lover as you can see from the above quote. These two were besotted with one another. It didn't matter that Soyer was essentially an assassin for hire. Or that he was part of another world so to speak. He treated Amory like he was precious, like the sun rose and fell solely because of him. How could Amory not fall head over heels for him after never having experienced a true loyalty and devotion like that in his life. Hell, I might have fell a little in love with Soyer myself by the time I was done with this book. Add to it the fact that Soyer is also a bit of a bad boy? I was a total goner.

"𝓐 𝓫𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝓘 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝔀𝓪𝓵𝓴 𝓪𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝔂𝓸𝓾... 𝓐 𝓫𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝓘 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓷𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓪𝓵𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷’𝓽. 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷’𝓽 𝓵𝓮𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓰𝓸, 𝓐𝓶𝓸𝓻𝔂.”

Now this one ends with a sort of soft cliffhanger. We're left with a lot of questions, and the plot is left open ended with the assumption that there is more to come. I hope that means the more to come is happening sooner than later because I already miss these characters and I only just finished. This will definitely not be my last Alexa Piper book.

Rating: 5 Stars

Angel's Review:

I am about a year late to this fantastic book, and I'm asking myself why it took me so long to read this. The blurb intrigued me right away, I just had to read this. Especially considering Amory fell for the guy he saw die..? That was a really intriguing concept. One that I hadn't read before, and one I'm really glad Alexa created. I've read other books by Alexa and they always do a great job with creating mystical creatures that still feel human and realistic. While I was reading this I couldn't help think "well... That could happen, this could be real, that theory could be accurate.. etc" Alexa's writing makes you ponder that line between what's 'real' and what's fantasy, and I love going on that journey. 

This book has been my favorite book of Alexa's by far!

I have a soft spot for books that contain a lot of scenes involving food, and to have a book that primarily takes place in a diner? That's a superb combination for me, and I was pulled into this book right away. I did nothing but read this book, I had to know what was going to happen, and I was as curious as Amory was... I needed to know what Soyer was.. How did he die but still live? 

I really enjoyed all the twists in turns that occurred in this story, they were all done really well and I loved how you couldn't really predict them coming. They were total surprises. And that twist at the end?! That made me so excited and eager for the next book, which I am now off to read. 

I highly recommend you read this incredible book but beware.. it'll make you want to go to a diner, and have some cherry pie. 

Rating: 5 Stars

Moonlight Cherries is available to buy as an ebook and paperback wide.