A romance develops between Lee and Cole on a cruise ship under interesting circumstances. Once the cruise is over, they need to decide if the relationship can survive.

I enjoyed this story and really liked both of the characters. The mystery of Cole’s friend on the cruise was just a minor part of the plot, but served as a backdrop for some of Cole’s behavior. Since Lee just went through a break-up, he’s sensitive and tends to take Cole’s actions personally. Their dialogue and interactions were presented in a realistic light. It wasn’t all sweet talk and roses. There was also some very minor kink in the steamy hot sex scenes.  I liked how the author continued the story after they left the cruise and entered the real world. You usually see somebody at their best on a vacation, and it was nice to see their relationship strengthen in a more realistic setting.

It felt like the author had a longer story to tell, but wanted to keep it short. Many of the chapters ended in the middle of a scene. We were always updated on the results through the next chapter, and I never felt lost. It was just an interesting writing style that took a bit of time to get used to reading. I liked it since it kept the story focused and kept it from feeling repetitive.

Book Blurb

Billy thinks he might be gay and a submissive. Gareth saves Billy from making a really bad mistake in his quest to find out. This leads to a fun weekend and the beginning of something more serious.

I really enjoyed both of the characters. Gareth knew how to push Billy a bit without causing any duress, but at the same time giving Billy a safe chance to discover what he did or didn’t like. Gareth was very protective of Billy which made the scenes that much sexier. I enjoyed their conversations, and I also enjoyed how perfectly the author captured their emotions. The descriptions she used to describe their feelings and sensations made me feel like I was there. The story was the perfect mix of dialogue, internal thoughts, and sex to find a permanent place on my “read again” shelf.

Book Blurb

I love watching two people who are truly meant for each other find their happiness together.

Andy is struggling with so many different aspects of his life and desperately needs some help. Ethan takes being in control very seriously. After Ethan hires Andy, they quickly discover that they’re attracted to each other and decide to give a relationship a chance. Now they have to see if they can work through a few issues to find their happy ending.

Andy wants to be an actor, but he isn’t having very much luck landing a role. When his family moves away, he decides to stay to follow his dream, but he’s struggling to make his own place in the world. Unsuccessful at acting, he spends his time working at part-time jobs to put food on the table. Getting an interview at an upscale hotel for a bartending job is an opportunity he can’t pass up even though he’s never bartended before.

Meeting Ethan becomes the opportunity to change his life for the better. Andy needs to be grounded and needs some serious direction in his life. He doesn’t take great care of himself or his home. Ethan knows what he wants and won’t settle for less. Although he’s extremely strict at work, he’s highly respected by his employees and management.

Ethan’s not used to dealing with somebody as cavalier as Andy, but he’s drawn to him just the same. While this relationship wouldn’t work for everybody, it definitely was perfect for these two. Ethan liked to be in control, and Andy craved it, both in and out of the bedroom. Ethan was also a bit of a sadist and enjoyed inflicting pain on Andy. In addition to bondage and spanking, there was also an interesting use of a pinwheel and lemon juice. Having Ethan as his boss creates certain restrictions in their relationship which added some additional stress. However, the biggest angst came from Andy trying to decide whether he truly wanted the type of control Ethan needed to exert. It was interesting listening to Andy as he worked through this issue.

I adored this sexy romance with its amazing dialogue that convinced me without a shadow of a doubt that these two men were meant for each other. I couldn’t put the book down until I finished it.

Originally reviewed for The Romance Reviews. Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
Book Blurb