READING: Trust (Temptation #3) by Ella Frank

Publication date: May 2 2015
Published by: Ella Frank
Genre: MM, Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 

TRUST – verb: to believe in the reliability, truth, or strength of another.

Up until now, Logan Mitchell has never had much of a reason to trust anyone.
Having struggled with a self-identity crisis throughout college, he’s spent the years since then creating a sophisticated facade to present to the world.
It’s an armor he thought was impenetrable—until he met Tate Morrison.
The gorgeous, headstrong bartender he’d sat across from only months ago has taken a tight hold of his heart, and Logan is discovering that it’s time to let go. 
It’s time to let someone inside.

After years of placing his dreams on hold for his family, Tate has finally chosen to do what makes him happy and follow his heart. 
The one thing he never would’ve imagined was that it would lead him into the arms of a man—and not just any man—the striking, never-takes-no-for-an-answer Logan Mitchell.
Tate has fallen hard, and as his world is turned on its axis and they move forward together, he finds his life becoming more entwined with the confident, successful lawyer.

Even though neither man expected the other, it’s time to trust in their relationship—but not everything comes so easily…

I didn't write a review for Trust the first time around because honestly I didn't know what to write without giving away A LOT.

Moving in together That part was kind of fun; it reminded me of Ball&Chain when Ty asks Zane repeatedly to marry him. Although, in B&C Ty and Zane's relationship was way more developed that T&L's and Ty didn't get "upset" when Zane kept saying no. Logan is like that though, you either take him or leave him. He puts something in his mind and won't rest until he wins. And he pushes and pushes. Tate obviously wants to move in with him, but I can completely understand where he comes from. Going through a horrible marriage obviously taught him a lot, and he definitely does not want to be a kept man. He wants to prove himself to a very intimidatingly successful person like Logan, and I get it. Logan gets it too, even though his knee jerk reaction to rejection is frustration. Tate's accident Oh my God. Even though I've seen the "hospital" gimmick one too many times in books, this one was truly devastating. I didn't realise how painfully in love with Tate Logan was up until that moment. It was the only moment we get to see Logan so emotionally raw and it was beautiful. When Tate said "Tell Logan yes" before he went into surgery UGHH!! I was shattered!

Mirror sex scene Need I say more? Longer and hotter sex scene I've ever read. Foreplay just goes on and on and on and on. In the best possible way. Frank knows how to write steamy sex scenes, but this one just takes the prize.

What I didn't like was all the Chris nonsense, hence the low rating. It was made into such a big deal in the beginning and the resolution was bleh. Also, I am so glad Frank decided to write more books in the series, because that ending made me want more of L&T instead of giving me closure!

READING: Take (Temptation #2) by Ella Frank

Publication date: July 8 2014
Published by: --
Genre: MM, Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 

TAKE – verb: to reach for and hold in one’s hands or get into one’s possession, power or control.

Logan Mitchell is a man who’s always been more than happy to take what he wants. It’s a philosophy that’s proven lucrative in both his business and personal life, and never was it more apparent than the night he laid eyes on Tate Morrison. After pulling out all the stops and convincing the sexy bartender to give him a try—he’s hooked.
Now, Logan finds himself in a predicament that demands more from him than a smart-ass answer and his innate ability to walk away when things get too deep.
He has a choice to make, and it’ll force him to do something he’s never done before—take a chance.

Tate Morrison knows all about taking a chance. He took the biggest one of his life the night he showed up at Logan’s apartment to explore his unexpected reaction to the man.
Ever since then, he’s thought about little else.
At first he was convinced his attraction was based solely on his body’s curiosity. But the more time he spends with the silver-tongued lawyer, the more Tate realizes that their physical chemistry is only the beginning.
He’s starting to catch a glimpse of what life with Logan would be like, and it’s one full of excitement and satisfaction—a far cry from what he had in the past with his soon to be ex-wife.

Each man will face their fears as they begin to understand the true meaning of give and take. Their feelings for one another will be tested, as will their very beliefs. But now that they’ve found love where they least expected it, will they be brave enough to reach out and take it? 

Um, can we just talk about that cover?? 😏 🍑

2nd read (Sep 5 2018)

Opinion pretty much unchanged. I may have liked it a bit more the second time around, I'm guessing because of how familiar I was with the characters having read all 6 books, and how some things I just got used to after a while. Once again, I loved Tate's meet with his family and everything that came after that-absolutely heartbreaking and beautiful. L&T's reunion seems more meaningful the second time around, and more of a turning point in their relationship. But again, you get that only if you have read all 6 books.

1st read (Aug 23 2018)
Again, like Try, Take was a mix of good parts and bad parts. Maybe not so much bad parts, but parts that I had no interest in.

First half I really didn't care for, especially game night. I thought it was silly and over the top. All the other characters we were introduced to where all very similar to Tate and Logan, either very sassy or quite demure, so nothing really exciting there

45-60% I really liked-the scene when they visit Tate's family is so heartbreaking, and what followed after was equally sad. I like when these two separate - what can I say, I love me some angst!- because when they reunite, it's always perfect! I thought their texting scene at Logan's cabin was very romantic and cute. 

Then the sex started again. Let me just say here that I have no problem with sex scenes, but I am finding myself liking the parts without it more. I just need a bit of a break between, what is seems to me mostly gratuitous, sex, and more plot and character development. Also, what I don't like is the overdramatisation of stupid, unimportant situations, and the absolute brush off of crucial ones. 

The ending, albeit unexpected, felt like a cheap shot. You don't get to see what really happens that night until Trust, which is a bit annoying, but I guess she needs to fill the next 4 books somehow!

READING: Try (Temptation #1) by Ella Frank

Publication date: November 12 2013
Published by: --
Genre: MM, Adult, Romance, Erotica
Rating: 

Try – verb: to make an attempt or effort to do something or in this case…someone.

Sex. Logan Mitchell loves it, and ever since he realized his raw sexual appeal at a young age, he has had no problem using it to his advantage. Men and women alike fall into his bed—after all, Logan is not one to discriminate. He lives by one motto—if something interests you, why not just take a chance and try?

And he wants to try Tate Morrison.

Just coming out of a four-year marriage with an ex-wife from hell, a relationship is the last thing on Tate’s mind. He’s starting fresh and trying to get back on his feet with a new job at an upscale bar in downtown Chicago.
The only problem is, Tate has caught the unwavering and unwelcome attention of Mr. Logan Mitchell – a regular at the bar and a man who always gets what he wants.

Night after night Tate fends off the persistent advances of the undeniably charismatic man, but after an explosive moment in the bar, all bets are off as he finds his body stirring with a different desire than his mind.
As arrogance, stubbornness and sexual tension sizzles between the two, it threatens to change the very course of their lives.

Logan doesn’t do relationships. Tate doesn’t do men. But what would happen if they both just gave in and…tried?

2nd read (Sep 1 2018)

I was so obsessed with L&T, that when I finished True, I started reading the series from the beginning. Even though not much time has passed since I first read Try (not even half a month), there were still some things I remembered quite differently.
For example, I thought that Tate's seduction in the beginning of the book (all the bar scenes) lasted less the second time around, consequently make the GFY transition less "realistic" (using the word very liberally here). Maybe because I knew what was going to happen and I was flying through it. 

On the other hand, things that bothered me the first time around, e.g. T&L having sex all the time and not actually talking, I didn't mind now, just because I knew that the matter of not knowing each other at all is covered in the next book.
All in all, still liked it a lot-L&T's chemistry is unreal.

1st read (Aug 21 2018)

As soon as I started reading Try, I was sure it would become my new obsession. Right from the start, it grabs you and throws you for a loop. It doesn't hesitate even for a second; action is swift, scintillating and very seductive. My fingers were literally burning holes on the side of my Kindle and I didn't want to let go till I read the whole thing.
That being said, I am going to break Try down in parts because, as I much as I wanted it, it wasn't equally as good.

20-25%: Perfection. I absolutely loved it. It all takes place in one setting, revisited over and over: the bar where Tate works. Logan, a lawyer working in a nearby building, frequents the bar for a drink after work. When he sees Tate behind the bar for the first time (he's new) he knows he's done for. And thus begins the most amazingly titillating and sensual game, as Logan relentlessly chases Tate who is *gasp* straight. The scenes are all dialogue, with Logan and Tate behind different sides of the bar: Logan is completely shameless and depraved. He is very confident, very persistent, he won't stop until he gets what he wants. 

Tate is... well, let's say he's not like Logan. He is flattered by Logan's attention at first, but nothing more than that. He even gets angry at Logan when the man becomes too forward with him. He tells him to back off and leave him alone many times, but to Logan it’s just an invitation to keep trying. So, it's not one of those GFY books where the straight guy sleeps with another man almost immediately. It takes a LOT to convince Tate, who is struggling with all these new feelings he didn't even know he was capable of having. Even though I knew that he would finally back down (duh), the emotional journey he went through, his anger and frustration as he tried to, unsuccessfully, brush off his feelings, was very believable and interesting to me, because you don't see that kind of detail in character development in an erotica novel. Overall, the first 20-25% of Try was exhilarating, electrifying, pure magic. I would read it again and again and again.

Approximately 30-50% As soon as the chase was done and Tate relented, we get to see the plans Logan has for him. He invites Tate to his apartment and asks him to "Just try". Tate, still very tormented and conflicted about what to do, he decides to go and see what happens because no matter how much he tries, he just can't keep away from Logan. Here we reach the erotica part of the book, where Logan is pretty much giving Tate an 101 lesson in sexual acts between two men. I know that sounds kinda cold and technical, but it's anything but. Tate is very receptive, as Logan's passion and lust drives him crazy. I really enjoyed this part as well, coming down from the absolute high that was the previous part and witnessing Tate's timid and at times embarrassing attempts to come to terms with his life being turned upside down. Logan is slightly changed, being a little more patient and tender with Tate, scared that even the slighted wrong move will drive him away. Now, on his turf, and seeing Tate slowly lose his inhibitions and fully respond to him, he is more than committed to showing Tate how it is to be in bed with him.

Half way until the end From here on out, the book is mostly all about sex. I know this is an erotica book, but I couldn’t help but be a little fed up with Logan and Tate solving their problems with shoving each other against walls/desks/beds and going at it. And there are some serious problems they definitely need to work out, problems that deserve a bit more communication and character bonding.

However, the author is fully aware of that at all times, having the characters admitting not knowing anything about each other because they are so viciously attracted to each other, that they just want to have sex. Even when Tate gets angry at Logan and rightfully so, Logan grovels and begs a bit, but still in a sexual context, making it into a game, asking Tate to forgive him multiple times during sex and Tate always denying him. That leaves a lot of unresolved issues in the end, which will have you reaching for the second book.

Try is an emotional whirlwind of a book. Very erotic and sensual, but with a very interesting story, and characters with an undeniable electrifying chemistry.
However, and if I’m being honest, there were some situations in Try that I haven’t encountered before in an MM book, nor did I think I would ever encounter:

1. Over-the-top possessiveness/jealousy – not quite a turn on if it’s this exaggerated (especially coming from two people that barely know each other). Made me cringe, more than anything

2. Backing people on walls even though they clearly said no-if that were to happen in an fm book, it would be considered a sexual assault, the MC would be declared a creepy, sick asshole, and I would have dropped the book like it was hot.

In Try, I was frustrated by the fact that it didn’t bother me as much as it would in an fm book. I don’t know what that makes me, possibly a huge hypocrite. I always thought one of the main reasons MM books have such a big female audience, is because they make women feel safe while reading them. I don’t know if Logan’s aggressive initial approach can be considered as sexual assault. As Tate says numerous times “I’m an adult, I can say no anytime”. Problem is, he does say it, but Logan chooses to ignore it and in the end, it’s all put down to playful lust. Tate never thinks Logan assaulted him, on the contrary, he gets off on the other man’s confidence and how much he seems to want Tate. This whole matter just had this nonchalance air around it, and I think part of it has to do with gender. Men can take care of themselves, right? Tate could punch Logan, Logan would never go anywhere near him again, and everything would be resolved that easily. No big deal.
Regardless of gender, there are some lines that should not be crossed, and writers should be extra careful when it comes to these matters, imo. 

READING: Bewitched by Bella's Brother by Amy Lane

Publication date: August 11 2010
Published by: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: MM, Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit
Rating: 

Sebastian Craig and Isabella Bryne have been best friends for five years in the Neverland of academia, and that's where they're planning to stay. So when Bella's brother, Asa, offers them a rent-free summer in his gorgeous home before they move to their next college and degree, they jump at the chance. It looks like a good deal at first... but there's more to Asa than meets the eye, and Sebastian finds himself suddenly hip-deep in complicated, grown-up problems and the frightening, bemusing prospect of having a family that will miss him when he's gone.

When the best summer of his life finally ends, Sebastian has to make a difficult decision between staying in perpetual childhood forever, and facing adulthood—with all of its joys and fears. It seems that when Sebastian and Bella came up with a master plan for the future, they didn't count on Sebastian being bewitched by Bella's brother.

Kinda cute, but not quite.

Lane is a much beloved author in the mm community and this is the first book of hers I pick up, for the sole reason it was mentioned in another book as an inspiration for a dog's name of all things.
Obviously, this is one of Lane's earliest books and her story telling only gets better later, if the ratings are any indication. And don't get me wrong, her writing was good and the story was interesting-gay friend meets best friend's brother and they spent a tumultuous summer together, but it was all a bit much. 
Sebastian, Bella (taken after band Bell&Sebastian, that was pretty cool) and Asa were all extremely beautiful. Breathtakingly so. Sebastian was 27 years old, was about to do his second PhD and he worked at Barnes&Noble (and too pretentious for my taste). Him and Bella have been the best of friends for 5 years and he has never met her brother, Asa, until now. Asa's house, where B&S would spent their summer, was of course mansion-like. 

You see the pattern here? It was all too extravagant and not believable. It was hard to relate to their "real world" problems when they themselves were so unrealistic. The book read more like a romance from another era, than a (relatively) modern mm romance. 
Asa and Sebastian's relationship was pretty quick and straightforward-angst free, which I liked. All the "problems" in their lives came from other stuff, which were resolved very easily. Bella and Sebastian's relationship was also nice, even though I couldn't bring myself to like Bella. 

Also, Asa has a 7 year old, and I am usually not fond of kids in romance books, but this one was alright.
To be honest, I wanted to drop BBBB after page 10. But because of my obsession to not ever leave a book unfinished, I pushed through and I actually finished it all in one sitting. I kinda got in the flow after a while and I was curious to see what would happen. 

A couple of sex scenes just to spice things up, but nothing you haven't read before if you're a hardcore mm reader.

I guess I would recommend this book to those who are into Fabio/harlequin-like romances, but in the modern world.

READING: The Truth About Reily by Henrietta Clarke

Publication date: July 10 2013
Published by: Bottom Drawer Publications
Genre: MM, Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 

Riley Aylworth’s life has been completely devoid of intimate contact since a fire three years ago left him with horrific facial scarring, so when he finds an ad for a phone sex service, he decides to give it a call. Except that the number is not a phone sex service—it’s the revenge Cameron Kirkwood’s ex-boyfriend took on the uptight advertising executive after Cam forgot their anniversary and accidentally put him in the hospital. Needless to say, after thirty-nine disturbing calls seeking phone sex, Cameron is at the end of his tether and yells at his fortieth caller. What he doesn’t expect is for Riley to hit redial and yell right back.

Meanwhile, Cam is haunted by the scarred blond he seems to be seeing everywhere, and Riley can’t get the handsome brunet who always seems happy to see him out of his mind. It’s a shock to both men to realise that the guy they’re falling for over the phone is also the man who brightens their day with just a smile; but it’s one thing to let a stranger smile at you and quite another to let him close enough to see into your soul. If Riley can’t break down the walls in his mind and believe that Cameron loves him in spite of his scars, their relationship may be doomed before they’ve even had a chance to kiss.

This book had so much potential: lovely story, with plenty of room for character development without sex always getting in the way since 90% of the book is phone conversations between the MCs. However, it fell flat for me and it was a bit childish imo, something that I didn't expect from a book with that kind of premise.

I didn't have a problem with Cam, apart from the complete lack of his history/past. We literally learn 2 things about him: his family disowned him, and his ex's name is Chris. Still, he was definitely more likable than Riley, who:

1. survived a terrible fire that left the left side of his face disfigured
2. is in pain because he's terrified what other people think of him
3. because of that he hasn't been intimate with anyone for 3 years
4. is a hipster/flamboyant writer who writes in cafes

and I still couldn't bring myself to like him!
Look, I'm not even going to begin to imagine what it is like for a person to have to go through a terrible ordeal like that, and what it did to his self esteem(we are told that Riley was a bit of a player pre-fire). And I get his initial hesitation to meet Cam in person, I really do.
But within reason. His insistence on not meeting Cameron face to face became, from a matter of self loathing, to a matter of self absorption real fast. Poor Cameron had all the patience in the world (he was a saint, imo) and when he found himself falling in love with Riley and he asked him out on a date, Riley got angry and upset because he didn't respect his boundaries. What freaking boundaries?? You had phone sex a bunch of times and you sent him nude, and may I say very lewd pictures, which someone else shot btw! After Cameron being rejected a couple of times for a meet, Riley's behavior was almost laughable. I tried to be sensitive and understand him, but it was impossible. 

Like I said, 90% of the book is comprised of phone conversations between Riley and Cam "getting to know each other". I don't think they did, tbh. Riley was obsessed about Cam never finding out who he is, and Cam was trying to appease, what sometimes seemed like, a stubborn child. Some conversations dragged on longer than necessary, making them awkward and stiff. Hey, I love Ewan as much as the next girl (top 5 for sure) but that was just too much, even for me! Also, I don't like it when writers make their characters have the same interests as them, and throw a bunch of pop culture references around, which some readers have no idea about. It's cool when you add a couple here and there (you draw from your experiences, after all) but this one had tons. It's like the writer is telling me "look how cool I am, I like this and this and this" and I am really not interested. I also have a thing about adding song lyrics in a book, unless it's very well done and it fits the story and characters. Otherwise, I find it corny as hell.

That being said, TTAR had its moment, but not enough to make me like it. Shorter, more to the point with a more likeable MC, would have been much better. 

Mark of Cain by Kate Sherwood

Publication date: May 20 2014
Published by: Samhain Publishing 
Genre: MM, Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Religion 
Rating: 

When a man is consumed by hatred, is there anything left to love?

After a tough day of counseling sessions, Anglican priest Mark Webber is looking forward to a relaxing dinner at a local restaurant. When he sees who’s bellied up to the bar, though, he reaches for his cell phone to call the police.
It’s Lucas Cain, the man who killed Mark’s brother three years ago. Apparently he’s out of jail and hanging out with his old crowd, which has to be a breach of parole, right?

Pulled over upon leaving the bar, Lucas blows a clean breathalyzer and hopes this isn’t a harbinger of things to come. He’s ready to build a sober, peaceful life. His friends aren’t ready to let him move on, though, and he ends up taking refuge in an Anglican half-way house.

Thrown together, Mark and Lucas find common ground in the struggle to help a young gay man come to terms with his sexuality—and the fight against homophobic townsfolk. As attraction grows, the past is the last stumbling block between them and a future filled with hope.

I am so disappointed. I wanted to love this book because it started out great. There was so much potential for a good story there, Lucas's past, his relationship with Sean and his connection to Mark.

However, Lucas and Mark didn't start really talking to each other until around 65-70%! There were kept apart for the majority of the book, doing their own thing. Their individual stories were both well done, but that's not what I was looking for. I appreciate the fact that their history is so bad that it takes double the time than your average enemies-to-lovers conversion. What bothered me was that there was no interaction between the two MCs whatsoever until they suddenly felt things for each other. They worked in the farm together a couple of times (I am guessing more, but reader was never shown them) and then at 70% you have the first indication of romance. Again, I didn't want them to be all over each other from the start (Lucas did kill Mark's brother, let's not forget that tiny detail) but at least show me these two being together and talking and getting to know each other. And not near the end because it doesn't really cut it. It makes it even less believable actually, Mark falling so hard for his brother's murderer after almost zero interaction.

I knew it would be a hard issue to tackle and I thought that the author would be so spot on in the beginning, but I lost interest around halfway in and found it difficult to connect with the characters and buy into their love story after that. 

READING: Mark Cooper vs America by Lisa Henry and J.A. Rock

Publication date: January 2 2018
Published by: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Genre: MM, New Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 

Mark Cooper is angry, homesick, and about to take his stepdad’s dubious advice and rush Prescott College’s biggest party fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi. Greek life is as foreign to Aussie transplant Mark as Pennsylvania’s snowstorms and bear sightings. So, when the fraternity extends Mark a bid, Mark vows to get himself kicked out by the end of pledge period. But then he’s drawn into Alpha Delt’s feud with a neighboring fraternity.

Studious Deacon Holt is disappointed to learn Mark’s pledging Alpha Delt, his fraternity Phi Sigma Kappa’s sworn enemy. Mark is too beautiful for Deacon to pass up an invitation for sex, but beyond sex, Deacon’s not sure. He wants a relationship, but a difficult family situation prevents him from pursuing anything beyond his studies.

Mark and Deacon’s affair heats up as the war between their fraternities escalates. They explore kinks they didn’t know they had while keeping their liaison a secret from their brothers. But what Romeo and Juliet didn’t teach these star-crossed lovers is how to move beyond sex and into a place where they share more than a bed. That’s something they’ll have to figure out on their own—if the friction between their houses, and between Mark and America, doesn’t tear them apart.

2nd read (Nov 22 2018)

💗💗💗💗💗💗
Just as good, if not better! 

Mark Cooper will always be one of the sexiest MCs in MM history, hands down. I don't know how Lisa Henry & JA Rock came up with Mark's character and what her inspiration was, because we sure as hell don't have guys like that down here in Melbourne, I'll tell you that for free! I am now convinced that he is a figment of her imagination, but a girl (or boy) can dream, eh?

Being able to describe a book that includes men in women's knickers, dirty sex in public places, paddling and anal fisting as beautifully sweet, just goes to show what an amazing writer Lisa Henry is. She can write the most romantic story in the dirtiest context and you still go "awww" in the end. 
Mark and Deacon were perfect together. Mark's personality reminded me of a spin top that would perpetually spin and spin further and further away from its centre, if not blocked by an obstacle strong enough to stop its crazy reeling. That obstacle was Deacon. Steady as they come, always ready to listen and never judge or embarrass, but just being there for Mark whenever he needed him, even early on. Does that sound boring? Ha! Deacon is anything but! He gives as good as he gets and he rivals Mark in kinks. And Mark is preeeeetty kinky!

If you're looking for a hot and spicy MM college romance, with perfect writing and amazing sense of humour to boot, this is definitely the book for you.

Just picture it:A very young Chris Hemsworth playing Mark in a hypothetical Mark Cooper versus America movie shot in early 2000s? Hell yes!


1st read (Aug 4 2018)

Can I just officially declare Henry as one of my absolute favourite mm writers?
I love everything she writes; how she builds her characters and their relationship, how she knows when to be serious and when to be hilarious (love her sense of humour) when to write cheecky-kinky scenes and when to write sweet and loving ones.
The total lack of angst in this one was very refreshing. Just two college guys meeting each other and gradually falling in love. They each have their baggage and they help each other to try and work them out. Mark and Deacon's relationship is a loving and sweet one, being occasionally spiced up by Mark, who is a complete firecracker(Aussie, what can I tell ya?) Deacon is the opposite- more serious, almost somber at times. Together, they are perfection!
Unputdownable, amazing read!

READING: Shattered Glass by Dani Alexander

Publication date: January 31 2012
Published by: Dani Alexander
Genre: MM, Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Suspense, Funny
Rating: 

A male prostitute, a mangy cat, a murder and a maniacal mix-up that threatens his career, his impending marriage and his life. Nothing is going as planned for Austin Glass.

Austin—seems to have it all. At least on the surface. A loving fiancee. A future with the FBI and a healthy sized trust fund. He also has a grin and a wisecrack for every situation. But the smile he presents to everyone hides a painful past he’s buried too deeply to remember. And his quips mask bitterness and insecurity. Austin has himself and most of the whole world fooled. Until he meets someone who immediately sees him better than he sees himself.

As events unfold and Austin’s world unravels, he finds himself pushed into making quick life-changing decisions. But can he trust Peter or what’s happening between them when each meeting seems to be just a series of volatile reactions?

Wow, reading this book is an experience all on its own. Completely different than any other mm (or fm) I have ever read. I have to applaud the author for that, managing to write something so unique and original, which in this day and age, is basically impossible.

Shattered Glass is not your typical sweet mm romance. It is not your typical dark and violent mm romance, either. For those who like hot mm romances, this will probably not be for you, for the sole reason that it focuses more on the story and the characters, than the relationship part. Don't expect super hot and sexy scenes, but it's not lacking in spice. Also, don't expect one of these over glamourised relationships either, where MCs sex scenes play out like wet dreams. We're talking embarrassing stuff being said, very awkward moments, and I really appreciated it that the author kept it real and didn't cower from it. What I actually found sexy was how wonderfully embarrassed Austin was about almost everything he did, but because of his total devotion to Peter he was willing to embrace the shame and the awkwardness and try things completely out of his comfort zone, even though they made him cringe inwardly. For a spoiled brat, Austin was the epitome of selflessness. 

Austin and Peter are hard men to like and root for. Austin is a rich, entitled smartass, with a sensitive streak a mile long, and Peter is manipulative and untrustworthy, but also very loving. I have to hand it to the author for making these two not only work, but making the reader want them to work so desperately, even though they weren't even convinced they should be together. This is still a HEA (of course), but it had enough bumps in the road to make you think it might actually not be, and that was very interesting.
The one problem I did have with this book was how much convoluted the story was. All the stuff with illegal immigrants and drugs and who is who and who did what to whom, was all very unclear and I felt like I had no context most of the time. I think the author's plans for the story line were very ambitious and the execution was not great.

Overall, kudos for writing something so unconventional and particular. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I would totally recommend it (already have :)