Daily Grind by Anna Zabo

****

A man discovers that love can show up when you least expect it—and in a much different form—in this piping-hot romance from the author of Due Diligence and Just Business.

Brian Keppler, owner of Ground N'At, the coffee shop beneath SR Anderson Consulting, doesn't have time for a relationship. His most recent girlfriend broke up with him because he'd become married to his shop, which is falling apart without his favorite barista, Justin.

As he struggles to stay afloat, the arrival of handsome British high-tech whiz Robert Ancroft becomes another complication. Rob quickly becomes a fixture at the shop with his sharp wit and easy charm, and Brian soon finds himself looking forward more and more to Rob's visits—to the point where his heart skips a beat when he walks in. 

But will Brian be able to come to terms with his previously unexplored sexual identity and find happiness now that he has a chance?

Source:  e-galley in exchange for an honest review.  

Daily Grind is a sweet, hot treat, just like your cappuccino! Daily Grind was my first Anna Zabo, so it can totally be read as a standalone, or you will be like me and have to go back and read Zabo's backlist.  :-)  If you've read Takeover, Due Diligence and/or Just Business, there's considerably less kink in Daily Grind, but it's still a smoking hot story.  I loved Brian and Rob!  Brian and Rob have great chemistry.  This is a gay for you romance by a couple of guys who have been burned by love in the past.  They are snarky and fun and watching them fall is thoroughly enjoyable!   

If you are a Zabo fan, then you will love getting Brian's story.  If you are new to Zabo, then feel free to start here or start with Takeover and work your way through.  You can't go wrong either way!  

~ Shel

His Royal Secret by Lilah Pace

* * * * 1/2

The first in an enchanting new male/male romantic duology from Lilah Pace, author of Asking for More and Begging for It ....

James, the handsome, cosmopolitan Prince of Wales, is used to being in the public eye. But he's keeping a king-sized secret...James, next in line for the throne, is gay.

He’s been able to hide his sexual orientation with the help of his best friend and beard, Lady Cassandra. Sometimes he feels like a coward for not coming out, but he daren’t risk losing the crown. If he did, the succession would fall on his deeply troubled younger sister, Princess Amelia. To protect her, James is willing to live a lie.

While on holiday, he meets Benjamin Dahan—a rugged international reporter with a globe-trotting, unattached life—who catches far more than James's eye. And when Ben is transferred to London, it seems fate may finally be smiling on James.

But what began as a torrid fling grows into something far more intimate and powerful. Soon James will have decide who he is, what he wants from life and love, and what he’s willing to sacrifice for the truth...

Review:

Sometimes I pick up a book thinking it will bring back the nostalgia of the romances I read in my late teens.  A book that may not propel me over the moon but still fills my need to for love, romance and a happy ever after.   Then I start reading and realize that am I not only getting to indulge like I hoped and planned but I get to experience some of the best story writing I’ve read in a quite a while.  His Royal Secret is one of those books.

This book includes more than a beautifully written love story.   James becomes Prince Regent in the beginning of the book and is essentially King until his grandfather recovers from a stroke.  The heightened responsibility highlights the intricacies of his life – family relationships, family politics, the monarchy’s relationship with the Church of England, etc.  Add to that a secret relationship with someone whose faith, nationality and career would be all be questioned if he were a woman let alone a man.  Ben’s life is complicated in different ways.   His growing attachment to James threatens a lifestyle and career path he has carefully constructed in order to avoid the trap that is commitment.   

I loved both of these men from the very start.  James’ private/human wants and needs contrast beautifully against the charming princely persona he wears for the public.  Meeting him as the man first and the prince second allows the reader to not only feel attached to him but also appreciate the complications of a life that, to an outsider, seems to be full of privilege and little else.  Ben’s dedication to honesty and doing what he believes in makes him a highly attractive character.  Add in the layers of vulnerability he periodically shows to James and the reader and he is downright swoon-worthy.  Together, James and Ben make a power couple that is impossible to ignore.

It’s obvious that I loved this one.  But it wasn’t just me.  This was the first book in a very long time that all three of us read.  And we ALL loved it.   We all had the same minor complaint.   It ends in a Happy For Now cliffhanger!  But…..the next one, His Royal Favorite, comes out August 16, 2016 (less than three weeks away!) so we don’t have to wait long for the conclusion of their story.  I’ll tell you a secret…..I read it already and it will wow you just as much His Royal Secret!   So don’t wait.  Read this one immediately!  And then pre-order the next because you will be on pins and needles wait for that HEA!

Nat

Screwball (Hard Hitters #2) by Linda Morris

* * *

Reviewed by Bel

Passion dominates the diamond in the second novel in this fun and flirty baseball romance series by the author of High Heat.

Paul Dudley, president of the Plainview Thrashers, is spinning out of control. Preserving his family’s baseball legacy in these tough times takes everything he’s got, and constant clashes with his father have left him struggling for authority over the team and even his own future. So when sports reporter Willow Bourne, a one-night-stand from a year ago, walks back into his life, he knows he can’t give into his feelings for her—no matter how strong they are.

Willow never expected to see Paul again, and she’s got her reasons for keeping her distance. Except the more time she spends around Paul, the harder it is to hide her secrets—or stop herself from falling head over heels.

As the sparks between them fly, Paul discovers what Willow has been concealing from him, leaving him with a difficult choice—keep the team his top priority or make his own legacy by following his heart…

I was skeptical initially about another reporter-meets-sports-star romance because there are so many of them, but this one is told from a slightly different perspective with the hero, Paul being the owner of a local team.

Willow's latest assignment for the sports blog she works for has her covering a local Indiana baseball franchise, the Plainvew Thrashers. Little does she expect to be hit with a blast from her past. Paul and Willow have met previously a year ago when they had a one-night stand in Florida and neither has forgotten that encounter. In Willow’s case it was really hard because that brief union left her with a memento of their hot, passionate night. They went their separate ways after that and it looked like they’d never run into each other again. Then Willow gets this assignment which is a good career opportunity and a chance to make something good come of it for herself and her child. When they meet again, it’s as if all the stars aligned to make it happen. This brings up mixed feelings for Willow who  wants to maintain professionalism and keep her private life to herself. She doesn’t even want to bring it up to Paul that he’s a dad. Paul on the other hand wants nothing more than to to have what he's been yearning for for the past year – to be with the girl that he let slip away.

Since they have to work on this article together and be on their best behaviour, they maneuver around each other rather awkwardly. Paul tries to get close but Willow tends to make excuses to push him away. She'd like nothing more than to throw herself into his arms but will Paul want the same thing once he finds out they share more than that one night? And as if things aren't complicated enough, there seems to be an interesting back story regarding the Plainview Thrashers and the team’s ownership which could propel the story in a far different direction. Will Paul be so amenable to the idea of them as a couple if she does her job right and exposes some unsavory details about the club?

Screwball was fun to read and I really enjoyed the setting. Like I said at the beginning, I felt it had a different tone since this time there’s no dealing with athletes’ egos (well, maybe the unruly team manager’s but he’s fun!). There's not a whole lot of angst –just two adults working out their problems and making compromises. Screwball is the second in the Hard Hitters series and since I’ve not read the first one, High Heat, I plan on correcting that soon!

~ Bel

Playing With Trouble (Capital Confessions #2) by Chanel Cleeton

* * * 1/2

The author of Flirting with Scandal presents her second book in a sexy contemporary romance series about three sisters in a powerful political family, the scandals that threaten to destroy them, and the passion that drives them…

The daughter of one of the Senate's most powerful figures, Blair Reynolds was ready to become the ultimate political wife—until she caught her fiancé cheating on her wedding day. Law school is a fresh start, her shot at putting the pieces of her life back together. That’s the plan, at least. Until trouble comes in the form of her Torts professor, the man whose arrogance infuriates her in class but haunts her private fantasies.

Graydon Canter had a fortune and a place on all the hottest "Thirty under Thirty” lists, until a series of personal missteps nearly destroyed his career. A year teaching at a D.C. law school is just the break he needs to get his life back in order, as long as nothing—and no one—trips him up.

When Blair and Gray are forced to work together, their explosive attraction becomes impossible to resist. But Gray’s demons have drawn him dangerously close to the edge, and Blair has spent her life playing by the rules. Will she break them for a shot at love?

Chanel Cleeton’s books are where I look to for sizzling chemistry and some heated drama. Don't worry things do work out but it's a lot of fun getting there.

Playing With Trouble finds Blair, Jackie's half-sister looking for a new direction in life after her wedding day fell apart in a very public way.  Embarrassed, lost and adrift, she enrolls in law school thinking that it's the answer. Gray is the professor who can't take his eyes of off Blair. She's out of his league but that doesn't stop him wanting her. He knows he should tread carefully since this job comes after some personal scandal of his own. 

I’d normally be uncomfortable about student-teacher relationships crossing the line but in this instance, both parties involved are older and have some life experiences behind them. I didn’t feel like one was taking advantage of the other. It’s just a case of right place, wrong time. Theirs is an immediate attraction and Cleeton doesn't squander any time in letting us know just how much they affect each other. 

I ended up liking Playing With Trouble more than Flirting With Scandal. The storyline doesn't play out between the sheets as much as PWT did. The big difference for me is that I felt more invested in the characters. I empathized with Blair and her effort to redefine herself. Coming from political royalty and being in the public eye while she's struggling to figure herself out isn't easy. And she's doing this without any emotional support from her parents. With Gray I simply wanted him to have his second chance at happiness after working so hard to straighten out his life. These are two very likable and sexy characters to root for. And now thanks to a special sneak peek of  Falling For Danger featuring Kate, Blair’s sister, things are going to heat up and I for one am counting down! 

~ Bel
          

Just Business by Anna Zabo

**** 1/2

From the thrilling new author of Takeover, a steamy new novel about having all the control—and losing it…

Note from the author: This is the followup to Takeover and features Justin and Eli. Sam and Michael are fairly important characters in this book as well.

Justin White may not look like an up and coming corporate superstar, but his new boss knows he has the smarts, grit, and determination to succeed. Now he just has to convince his company’s CFO, Eli Ovadia. Unfortunately, Justin can’t seem to keep his cool around the domineering Eli—and soon he finds himself taking their heat from the boardroom into the bedroom….

Still haunted by a tragic accident that left him with a wounded leg and broken heart, Eli has a need to be in control. But his desire for Justin makes him want to lose that control—and push them both far beyond their limits. But will his need to dominate Justin drive him away—or will Eli find a way to be the man he needs for both of them? 

Review:

Last year I had the pleasure of reading Takeover by Anna Zabo.  I fell hard for the MC’s, Sam and Michael and I couldn’t wait for Anna Zabo’s next book in the series.  Just Business is the story of Eli and Justin.  Eli is the CFO for Sam’s (of Takeover fame) new company.   Justin is the barista in the coffee shop below their office.  

Justin’s barista gig is just a side job until he finishes his MBA at Carnegie Mellon.  But when he overhears coffee shop regulars, Sam and Eli, discussing hiring an assistant, Justin is determined to get the job.   Taking a chance, he gives Sam his resume while serving his coffee.  Sam is impressed by his resume and his education enough to give him an interview. Eli, however, is not as impressed.  Justin’s painted nails and emo-style of dress does not fit into Eli’s box of what is considered acceptable in the business world.  But Justin is determined to land this job and shows up for his interview in his one suit. But he leaves the nail polish on just to piss Eli off.  Of course, he lands the job.

Eli doesn’t know why the new assistant bugs him so much.  Maybe it’s his lack of professional attire. Or to be more honest with himself, it might be that Eli finds Justin to be extremely attractive.  Especially when he follows through with requests with such a submissive air.  But it doesn’t matter.  One, Eli doesn’t do relationships.  Two, if he did, he certainly wouldn’t date a co-worker.  Particularly a co-worker that technically works for him.

As you can guess, there is no fighting their attraction to one another.   When the two of them meet, by chance, at a party hosted by others in the “scene”, they immediately begin an affair that quickly segues into a serious relationship that neither of them are quite ready for.  Eli hasn’t been in a relationship in a decade and Justin’s last relationship ended due to emotional and physical abuse.  Add those issues onto the fact that they work together and you have a perfect recipe for both angst and humor.

I loved so much about this book.  Both Eli and Justin were fun and complex characters.  They both had a sense of humor that could turn sexy at the drop of a hat.  Let’s just say that I will never look at office filing the same way again.  And it was fun to get a glimpse of Sam and Michael.  Sam being Eli’s boss and Michael being an old friend of Eli, it was natural for them to play a significant role in Eli and Justin’s relationship.

But my favorite part of Just Business was their relationship in the bedroom.  Eli is a Dom and Justin is a sub.  I haven’t read a lot of stories where the MC’s live the BDSM lifestyle. The few that I have read have been hit or miss.  I have to say that this is the best and hottest one I have read yet.  One of my pet peeves is how some books (certainly not all) portray BDSM relationships as the result of one or both parties compensating for some past tragedy.  As if only the most broken could possibly want to be in such a relationship.  But that is definitely not the case here.  Both Eli and Justin have their past issues, but the roles they wanted to play and did play were set long before those tragedies took place.   

If you are looking for a super-hot, sexy and empowering BDSM romance featuring two heroes, I can’t recommend this one enough.  Just Business is definitely in the running for my Top Ten of 2015.

Nat

My Cowboy Promises by Z. A. Maxfield

****

A real man needs a real love…

To become the man he’s meant to be, one cowboy will have to be the man he never wanted anyone to know he was…

Ryder Dent is a true-blue cowboy. A devoted son, husband and father, but one who is living a costly lie. When they were both young, Ryder and his closest female friend Andy thought they’d found the perfect solution to both their problems—she was single and pregnant, and he was secretly gay—so they got married and raised Jonas together.

When Ryder gets hurt at a party, his son’s new pediatrician comes to the rescue. The connection between Ryder and Dr. Declan Winters is sudden, powerful, and undeniable. Ryder loves Andy and the family they’ve created together—but they both need more. Can they pursue their hearts’ desire without destroying the life they’ve built and losing the son they love? 

Review:

When Ryder Dent meets the new town doctor the instant attraction he feels is overwhelming.  Unfortunately, Ryder is not only in the closet but he’s also married with a young son.  What the town doesn’t know is that Ryder and his wife and Andy don’t have a normal marriage.  When Andy found herself pregnant, she and her very best and very gay friend, Ryder Dent, decided to get married.  Andy wouldn’t have a bad reputation in her small town, no one would know Ryder was gay and baby Jonas would have two parents that love him very much.  And up until now, that plan was working just fine. Ryder loves his little family.  He and Andy may not have a traditional marriage behind closed doors but they are still best friends and their son is the most important thing in their lives.

But, for the first time in his life, Ryder is finding it difficult to fight the growing attraction he has for Dr. Declan Winters.  It becomes even more difficult when he realizes Declan is just as attracted to Ryder.  Add in the Andy’s encouragement to finally explore and find love and Ryder is confused as what comes next in his seemingly perfect life.   With the support of Declan and Andy, Ryder has to make hard decisions that could possibly turn not only his world upside down but also that of his 5 year old son.

I have never read a m/m romance from quite this angle.  Sure, many of them revolve around coming out.  But I can’t think of single story with such a unique scenario.  I loved Ryder.  The story is told in the first person from his POV so you get to know him well.  His quiet demeanor made me think of Matt Saracen in Friday Night Lights.  He’s rather naïve but everything he does is so steady and thoughtful.  And he is completely all in with this family he’s helped build with Andy. But his dedication to his idea of a normal family is sometimes his weakness because it is holding him back from being who he truly is.  Watching him slowly fumble along and come to terms with the fact that he can’t continue to live his outwardly beautiful life was painful and heartbreaking. 

As you can guess, there is plenty of angst in this story.  But there are some amusing moments as well.  Of course, one of my favorites is so inappropriate.  I’ll just put it out there that Ryder is 100% inexperienced which makes for a moment of awkward hilarity when Ryder and Declan finally have some “alone” time.

If you are a fan of cowboy romances (which I find myself being drawn to more and more often) and/or small town romances (we all know I adore those) I highly recommend picking up My Cowboy Promises by Z. A. Maxfield. 

Tryst by Alex Rosa

***

In this sensational New Adult debut by Alex Rosa, boyfriends are too much trouble. So what’s the harm in a little fun?

With an abusive relationship behind her, Skyler moves out of her Orange County apartment, changes her phone number, cuts ties with her friends, and moves in with her brother Josh, a talent agent with a spare room in his incredible house in Hollywood.

Josh is happy to take Skyler under his wing, but he has one rule: she can’t sleep with his roommate, Blake. That’s fine by Skyler. She doesn’t want a man in her life right now—and certainly not cocky Blake who’s with a different girl every night. But his all-American boy charm and his ripped model physique are difficult to refuse. Josh will never know if no one ever tells him. And a little secret now and then never hurt anyone…

I have mixed feelings about Tryst...  I enjoyed Blake, the uber-hot bad boy.  Skyler's best friend, Tucker was a hoot.  The brother, Josh felt fairly irrelevant, except as a road block to Skyler and Blake's relationship.  My mixed feelings stem from the fact that the story felt unfinished.  There seems to be unfinished business with Skyler's abusive ex; with Blake's career and the relationship between Blake and Josh after the events of Tryst.  

Notwithstanding the unfinished business, Tryst was a decent love story.  The brother's best friend theme is common in romances - an easy impediment to the burgeoning relationship of our hero and heroine - so it is easy for the books to run together.  Tryst stands out, because, in addition to this, there are the lasting ramifications of an abusive relationship and how a victim moves forward with relationships after removing him-or-herself from the abusive relationship.  Here, Skyler clearly has low self-esteem that makes her think she is not yet good enough for a "normal" relationship.  And Blake has self-esteem issues stemming from his promiscuous ways.  He feels that because of his player status he doesn't deserve Skye.  When it's all said and done, the characters grow and heal together, which is really what it is all about.

I'm hoping that Tryst was the start of a series, because I'm very interested in the story of Josh and Vanessa.  I can only hope that Skyler and Blake give them hell in their story.  :-)

~ Shel

One Night by A.J. Pine

***

When she lost it all, Jess decided to cope by living a lie. 

But you can’t keep on pretending forever…

Twenty-one-year-old Jess used to have everything—a loyal best friend, a boyfriend she loved, and a future that was right on track. But in a single night, her whole world changed.

Now, Jess lives for the impersonal connection of drunken hook-ups and to-go coffee cups in the morning. All she needs is one night to pretend everything is fine…until she meets Adam.

Thanks to a sports injury, gorgeous, charming basketball star Adam Carson is stuck in physical therapy at the hospital where Jess interns—giving her the perfect opportunity to see his sweet, considerate nature and making her realize that maybe she does want something more.

But while Adam might be the best thing that’s happened to Jess in a long time, letting him past her carefully constructed walls means letting him know what happened...and why he'd never want her for more than one night.

One Night poses an interesting situation, how does someone overcome a terrible loss and learn to forgive themselves and move on?  Jess gets through the day by keeping to herself, going through the motions at school and at her physical therapy internship and especially with guys, preferring drunken one-night hook-ups to relationships.  Which is why she has Carson firmly in the friend zone.

Basketball god, Adam, is drawn to Jess during his physical therapy for a knee injury, but she is clear that they are just friends.  She's clearly been through something awful, but she's not talking.  

Adam, despite being the popular jock, is the epitome of a good guy.  He's patient, kind and caring with Jess.  Jess, for her part, is a mess and is completely lost.  She's full of self-loathing, depressed and angry, very angry. These themes can be a little difficult at times, but it's an interesting story, with some twists and turns thrown in to keep you interested.   

~ Shel

Flirting With Scandal Teaser Blitz

Title: Flirting with Scandal

Author: Chanel Cleeton

Release date: May 19, 2015, Penguin/InterMix

Series: Capital Confessions #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

The author of I See London sets her sights on Washington, D. C., with a sexy new series about three sisters, the secrets they keep, and a powerful blog with a knack for exposing scandals...

Jackie Gardner knows all about dirty little secrets. The illegitimate daughter of one of the most influential senators in Washington, D.C., she grew up surrounded by the scandals and shadows of politics. Now that she's landed an internship with a powerful political consulting firm, she's determined to launch her career and take this city by storm.

William Andrew Clayton was born for politics. He knows the drill: work hard, play discreetly, and at all costs, avoid scandal. At twenty-six, his campaign for the Virginia State Senate is the first step to cementing his future. It's time for him to settle down, to find the perfect political spouse. He needs a Jackie Kennedy, not a Marilyn...

When Jackie meets Will in the bar of the Hay-Adams Hotel, sparks fly. But the last thing Will needs is to be caught in a compromising position, and an affair with a political candidate could cost Jackie her career. When what began as one steamy night, becomes a passion neither one of them can walk way from, they must decide if what they have is really love, or just another dirty little secret...

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Flirting with Scandal by Chanel Cleeton has it all. A sexy hero, strong heroine, delicious romance, sizzling tension, and plenty of breathtaking scandal. 
I loved this book!
- New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy

Scorching hot and wicked smart, Flirting with Scandal had me hooked from page one! Sizzling with sexual tension and political intrigue, Cleeton weaves a story that is as complex as it is sexy. Thank God this is a series because I need more!!
- New York Times bestselling author Rachel Harris

Sexy, intelligent, and intriguing. Chanel Cleeton makes politics scandal-icious. 
- USA Today bestselling author Tiffany King

Chanel Cleeton knocked it out of the park with Flirting with Scandal. The banter was refreshing, the political storyline captivating, and the sexual tension was through the roof. Smart, emotional, romantic, and sizzling hot--this book is fantastic!
- Christina Lee, author of the Between Breaths series

Chanel Cleeton delivers again! Featuring a strong heroine, a steamy romance, and juicy dose of political scandal, Flirting with Scandal is completely engrossing. Clear your calendars--you won't be able to put this one down! 
- Brenda St. John Brown, author of Swimming to Tokyo

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Teaser

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About the Author

Originally a Florida girl, CHANEL CLEETON moved to London where she received a bachelor’s degree from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Chanel fell in love with London and planned to stay there forever, until fate intervened on a Caribbean cruise and a fighter pilot with smooth dance moves swept her off her feet. Now, a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure.

Law school made Chanel realize she’d rather spend her days writing sexy stories than in a courtroom, and she hasn’t looked back since. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she’s happiest curled up with a book. She has a weakness for handbags, her three pups, and her husband. 


Chanel writes contemporary romances. She is published by Harlequin HQN, Penguin/InterMix, and Penguin/Berkley and is the author of the International School, Capital Confessions, and Wild Aces series.

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Takeover by Anna Zabo

* * * 1/2

Michael Sebastian thought Curacao would be the perfect place to have a little fun in the sun—and between the sheets. So far, no one has struck his interest, until Sam Anderson walks into the bar. With one look at his tense body and expensive suit, Michael knows that this is a man in need of release. And Michael is more than willing to lend a hand.

Shattered by the most intense sex he’s ever had, Sam has to face the facts—one night with a handsome, dominating stranger is all he gets before returning to the closet he’s been suffocating in for years. But when Sam starts his new job as the CEO of a failing technology company, he discovers that Michael is one of his new employees.

While Michael is desperate for another night with Sam, he knows he shouldn’t get involved with his boss, let alone another man who can’t accept who he is. But as they’re forced to work together to save the company, the desire sparking between them becomes impossible to ignore…



Review:

In a recent review I stated how I’m not a big fan of “love at first sight” stories.  But I do love stories about instant attraction that grow into something more.  So I guess I believe in magic just not that magic equates to love?  I don’t know.  There’s really no explaining how my bizarre brain works.  In any case…When Michael first sees Sam in that bar in Curacao there is definitely attraction.  And after a hot night and an exchange of power neither have experienced in years, they realize that it was a night neither will forget.  They might not know each other well enough to be in love with each other but they know enough to realize that they each have something the other needs.  If circumstances were different they might see where this relationship will go.  But Michael leaves for home the next day and Sam’s vacation is just starting.

Sam and Michael never expected to see each other again.  They didn’t even know each other’s last names.  But it’s a small world sometimes.  And that couldn’t have been more obvious when Sam shows up as the new CEO of the failing software company Michael works for in Pittsburgh.  A relationship in their current situation is impossible.  One, Michael is Sam’s employee.  Two, Sam is not out.  Sam made the decision to go back into the closet and lock the door when he decided on his career path.  Corporate America wasn’t ready for a gay CEO and Sam wasn’t willing to give up his dream of a successful career in the corporate world.  

But as I said, they each have something the other needs.   After managing and controlling every part of a company during the day, Sam wants nothing more than to surrender in the bedroom.  And Michael?  Well, he wants nothing more than to dominate in the bedroom.   Match made in heaven, right?  Almost.  There is that pesky business about Sam being Michael’s boss.  And then there is the ultimate deal breaker for Michael – Sam staying in the closet. 

I loved Michael and Sam’s dynamic relationship.  There was so much energy and intensity.   All of that emotion and sexual tension about jumped off the page.  The bedroom scenes in this book contain quite a bit of BDSM play.  That is the place Sam can let go and Michael is more than willing to oblige.  I don’t consider any of these scenes “hard core” but they ARE  hotter than hell.  Phew!

It wasn’t perfect.  I had a small yet noticeable issue with this book.  And that was the repetition of the word, “spine.”  Phrases like “Sam’s spine tingled” and “pinpricks ran up his spine,” were a bit overdone. 29 times overdone.  I got it the first time.  And just in case I’m really slow, I can forgive the second .  But 29 times?  Not cool.   There may have been repetition in other areas but that was the one that hit me over the head for some reason.   That’s really the only complaint I had.  And in the end it’s a small one.  A small one I can live with because Michael and Sam’s story is hot and sexy and romantic.  And when it comes down to it, hot/sexy/romantic is EXACTLY what I’m looking for in a romance.

Nat