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Str8 B8
Work has been a little hard to come by recently for builder Tom Ryder. When a friend tells him about the wad of cash he got for starring in an adult video, Tom seizes the opportunity. Besides, his friend said his co-star was really hot, so Tom is definitely not seeing a downside.
Until he arrives for the shoot and finds out his friend glossed over one important detail—Tom’s co-star is a guy.
Denny Bailey is only a few months away from finishing the dissertation for his master’s, but that doesn’t mean he can’t find time for his ‘other’ career, especially when it helps him pay off his student loans and keep body and soul together. Life as an adult performer is fun, there are no strings... What could be more perfect? And this latest arrival is definitely ticking most of Denny’s boxes, even if he is a skittish straight guy. That’s fine. Denny can handle that.
Until the next day when Tom Ryder walks into Denny’s favourite coffee shop—and he isn’t smiling.
All it takes is one afternoon to change both their lives, in ways neither of them could ever have imagined...
Until he arrives for the shoot and finds out his friend glossed over one important detail—Tom’s co-star is a guy.
Denny Bailey is only a few months away from finishing the dissertation for his master’s, but that doesn’t mean he can’t find time for his ‘other’ career, especially when it helps him pay off his student loans and keep body and soul together. Life as an adult performer is fun, there are no strings... What could be more perfect? And this latest arrival is definitely ticking most of Denny’s boxes, even if he is a skittish straight guy. That’s fine. Denny can handle that.
Until the next day when Tom Ryder walks into Denny’s favourite coffee shop—and he isn’t smiling.
All it takes is one afternoon to change both their lives, in ways neither of them could ever have imagined...
361 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2023
272 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
About the author
K.C. Wells
159 books1,862 followersK.C. Wells lives on an island off the south coast of the UK, surrounded by natural beauty. She writes about men who love men, and can’t even contemplate a life that doesn’t include writing.
The rainbow rose tattoo on her back with the words 'Love is Love' and 'Love Wins' is her way of hoisting a flag. She plans to be writing about men in love - be it sweet and slow, hot or kinky - for a long while to come.
If you want to follow her exploits, you can sign up for her monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cNKHlT
You can stalk – er, find – her in the following places:
E-mail: k.c.wells@btinternet.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCWellsWorld
Twitter: @K_C_Wells
Website: https://www.kcwellswrites.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/k.c.wells
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/k-c-w...
And for those who like things a little hotter?
There's KC's alter ego, Tantalus, who writes gay erotica.
The rainbow rose tattoo on her back with the words 'Love is Love' and 'Love Wins' is her way of hoisting a flag. She plans to be writing about men in love - be it sweet and slow, hot or kinky - for a long while to come.
If you want to follow her exploits, you can sign up for her monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cNKHlT
You can stalk – er, find – her in the following places:
E-mail: k.c.wells@btinternet.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCWellsWorld
Twitter: @K_C_Wells
Website: https://www.kcwellswrites.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/k.c.wells
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/k-c-w...
And for those who like things a little hotter?
There's KC's alter ego, Tantalus, who writes gay erotica.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
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March 8, 2023Dnf. I’m getting tired of this fucking closet. The MC has an ex wife married to a woman and he’s best friends with them, he also has a male best friend, very open-minded (if not gay or bi, I didn’t stick around long enough to find out) and with whom he shared a gay experiment in college and yet he’s so terrified to be bisexual that he gets annoyed when the best friend mentions their encounter from college, saying that ppl grow up and move over that “phase” eventually and he snaps at the guy for bringing it up.. 🙄 I’m pissed off , bye
May 2, 2023
This is a serious weakness of mine: Porn romances.
Don't get me wrong, I love sweet, monogamous romances, even polyamorous romances, as long as they're not simply 'open' relationships. I love characters to be faithful.
But then there is this specific little romance niche where characters who work as porn actors fall in love - and have to make things work.
Now, I do know that real life porn actors do fall in love and have committed relationships where they can separate love/commitment from sex. I get that, but it's not relatable for me. So a porn romance that I enjoy needs to have characters who want their lover to be theirs and who struggle with the fact that they share intimacy on screen with others.
And this was really nicely done with our MC Tom Ryder here (that's his actual name, by the way, not a porn alter ego, LOL). Tom is a straight (*cough*) divorced construction worker running his own one man business in the UK. Sadly (and reading between the lines I wanna say thanks to Brexit) the economy is down and new contracts are hard to get. Things are so bad actually, that he can barely pay the bills and get food on his own table.
A friend makes a daring suggestion and recommends doing porn, giving him a business card for a guy who does 'construction worker' pornos, which would be a great fit for, well, construction worker Tom.
So we have the usual wheels turning in Tom's head ('I can't do that or can I?') until he makes a decision and agrees to do a presumably straight porno to improve his finances.
However, as the title suggests, he runs into a straight bait type of production where no female actor shows up for the group sex, so it's either Tom doing 'things' with a male actor or going home without any money. It's a bit of a weird set-up. In any case, Tom has sex with actor Denny and even though this is all new for him, he finds it pretty exciting (and says farewell to heterosexuality pretty quickly).
The thing is, actor Denny (aka Luke Thighwalker, the worst porn alias in history) has a tragic romantic history with a straight 'gay for pay' co-star and doesn't want to ever fall for one of them again.
However, fate throws both men together again and again, on and off set, and with Tom's growing affection for Denny and Denny's crumbling resolution to keep Tom at a distance, things do turn into a romance after all.
I really liked this story. Tom is a super likable guy. He does honest, hard work and is a silent brooding type with a huge heart. He has a close relationship with his ex-wife who married a woman and is trying to conceive a baby through artificial insemination. It's quite a touching background. It also makes his motive for doing porn a pretty good-natured one.
I didn't really get into Denny's head and I think his porn career was not logical in many places (he apparently did all kinds of extreme porn things, like fisting etc, but as he was studying for a degree in management, he didn't want his future boss to see that kind of content, so he stuck to 'normal' porn at the time of this story. That's not very logical to me. The internet doesn't forget and anything out there will be visible for a future boss who takes the initative to look for that kind of stuff, LOL.)
It was also a bit funny how Denny on his own seemed to be quite a standard romance character who claimed that he loved sex and enjoyed his porn career, but seemed actually happiest when he was sitting in his favorite cafe and writing his dissertation. I also liked his close relationship with his grandma.
The writing in this story isn't as stellar as I hoped it would be. After all, First by KC Wells is one of my all time favorite books. 'Str8 B8' did not even bring me near the excitment I had for 'First'.
Still, I can definitely say I enjoyed reading it despite its flaws. It dealt with the porn subject well, all things considered. And Tom's character development was a pleasure to observe.
Oh, and stupid of me to mention this last: The sex is scorching hot!
4 stars!
Don't get me wrong, I love sweet, monogamous romances, even polyamorous romances, as long as they're not simply 'open' relationships. I love characters to be faithful.
But then there is this specific little romance niche where characters who work as porn actors fall in love - and have to make things work.
Now, I do know that real life porn actors do fall in love and have committed relationships where they can separate love/commitment from sex. I get that, but it's not relatable for me. So a porn romance that I enjoy needs to have characters who want their lover to be theirs and who struggle with the fact that they share intimacy on screen with others.
And this was really nicely done with our MC Tom Ryder here (that's his actual name, by the way, not a porn alter ego, LOL). Tom is a straight (*cough*) divorced construction worker running his own one man business in the UK. Sadly (and reading between the lines I wanna say thanks to Brexit) the economy is down and new contracts are hard to get. Things are so bad actually, that he can barely pay the bills and get food on his own table.
A friend makes a daring suggestion and recommends doing porn, giving him a business card for a guy who does 'construction worker' pornos, which would be a great fit for, well, construction worker Tom.
So we have the usual wheels turning in Tom's head ('I can't do that or can I?') until he makes a decision and agrees to do a presumably straight porno to improve his finances.
However, as the title suggests, he runs into a straight bait type of production where no female actor shows up for the group sex, so it's either Tom doing 'things' with a male actor or going home without any money. It's a bit of a weird set-up. In any case, Tom has sex with actor Denny and even though this is all new for him, he finds it pretty exciting (and says farewell to heterosexuality pretty quickly).
The thing is, actor Denny (aka Luke Thighwalker, the worst porn alias in history) has a tragic romantic history with a straight 'gay for pay' co-star and doesn't want to ever fall for one of them again.
However, fate throws both men together again and again, on and off set, and with Tom's growing affection for Denny and Denny's crumbling resolution to keep Tom at a distance, things do turn into a romance after all.
I really liked this story. Tom is a super likable guy. He does honest, hard work and is a silent brooding type with a huge heart. He has a close relationship with his ex-wife who married a woman and is trying to conceive a baby through artificial insemination. It's quite a touching background. It also makes his motive for doing porn a pretty good-natured one.
I didn't really get into Denny's head and I think his porn career was not logical in many places (he apparently did all kinds of extreme porn things, like fisting etc, but as he was studying for a degree in management, he didn't want his future boss to see that kind of content, so he stuck to 'normal' porn at the time of this story. That's not very logical to me. The internet doesn't forget and anything out there will be visible for a future boss who takes the initative to look for that kind of stuff, LOL.)
It was also a bit funny how Denny on his own seemed to be quite a standard romance character who claimed that he loved sex and enjoyed his porn career, but seemed actually happiest when he was sitting in his favorite cafe and writing his dissertation. I also liked his close relationship with his grandma.
The writing in this story isn't as stellar as I hoped it would be. After all, First by KC Wells is one of my all time favorite books. 'Str8 B8' did not even bring me near the excitment I had for 'First'.
Still, I can definitely say I enjoyed reading it despite its flaws. It dealt with the porn subject well, all things considered. And Tom's character development was a pleasure to observe.
Oh, and stupid of me to mention this last: The sex is scorching hot!
4 stars!
March 12, 2023
This delivers a realistic bisexual awakening with a twistt
I like the respect shown to sex workers and the gay porn industry here, not too much of a surprise from this author though as she always handles this type of narrative with care.
I also felt Tom's bisexual awakening was thoughtfully done and gave a realistic portrayal of the confusion and internal debate that must arise, especially given the situation here.
Denny is a sweetheart but not too much of a 'perfect character' to make things too easy or feel like the story progresses too smoothly.
The meet-cute delivers on both steam and with an interesting mix of feelings and shame on Tom's part and a lot of interest and wariness on Denny's.
Both of them have things they're hiding, or aren't willing to share but as they cross paths again and again, each slowly opens up more and they develop a friendly banter which disguises their feelings.
For a lot of this book I felt frustrated with Tom, at the same time as completely understanding his situation. Denny wasn't blameless either, a good conversation about his situation wouldn't have gone amiss.
I liked the secondary characters a lot, although Tom's decision to help out his ex-wife was one I thought needed a bit more exploration.
Overall though, this made me smile and I loved that they managed to work through the difficulties and the Epilogue was just lovely.
I like the respect shown to sex workers and the gay porn industry here, not too much of a surprise from this author though as she always handles this type of narrative with care.
I also felt Tom's bisexual awakening was thoughtfully done and gave a realistic portrayal of the confusion and internal debate that must arise, especially given the situation here.
Denny is a sweetheart but not too much of a 'perfect character' to make things too easy or feel like the story progresses too smoothly.
The meet-cute delivers on both steam and with an interesting mix of feelings and shame on Tom's part and a lot of interest and wariness on Denny's.
Both of them have things they're hiding, or aren't willing to share but as they cross paths again and again, each slowly opens up more and they develop a friendly banter which disguises their feelings.
For a lot of this book I felt frustrated with Tom, at the same time as completely understanding his situation. Denny wasn't blameless either, a good conversation about his situation wouldn't have gone amiss.
I liked the secondary characters a lot, although Tom's decision to help out his ex-wife was one I thought needed a bit more exploration.
Overall though, this made me smile and I loved that they managed to work through the difficulties and the Epilogue was just lovely.
July 13, 2023
I've loved reading this author's books for many years, and it pains me to say that this one just didn't work for me. I can appreciate what the author was trying to do here, and what she was trying to bring across with her characters, but the way this story went just didn't work for me.
It's not the porn I object to. It's certainly not the bisexual awakening. It's the way Tom initially gets baited into doing gay porn. It's the way that he dithers and dallies and generally avoids analyzing his own feelings. It's Tom's continuous public denial that he likes men, even after he's admitted it to himself, going as far as getting angry when anyone questions his heterosexuality, including his best friend with whom he had a dalliance in college. It's the way Tom is so fucking afraid that his lesbian ex-wife and anyone else will just hate him if he admits his bisexuality. It's the way that Tom says some really thoughtless things that almost lose him the guy he loves. It's that Tom is so far in the fucking closet that he's in Narnia.
Maybe I'm just tired of the trope. Maybe it's that the relationship dynamic felt off.
Or maybe it's a case of "it's not the book, it's me". Either way, I didn't enjoy this. YMMV.
It's not the porn I object to. It's certainly not the bisexual awakening. It's the way Tom initially gets baited into doing gay porn. It's the way that he dithers and dallies and generally avoids analyzing his own feelings. It's Tom's continuous public denial that he likes men, even after he's admitted it to himself, going as far as getting angry when anyone questions his heterosexuality, including his best friend with whom he had a dalliance in college. It's the way Tom is so fucking afraid that his lesbian ex-wife and anyone else will just hate him if he admits his bisexuality. It's the way that Tom says some really thoughtless things that almost lose him the guy he loves. It's that Tom is so far in the fucking closet that he's in Narnia.
Maybe I'm just tired of the trope. Maybe it's that the relationship dynamic felt off.
Or maybe it's a case of "it's not the book, it's me". Either way, I didn't enjoy this. YMMV.
May 1, 2024
RECENSIONE A CURA DI ELYXYZ
Confesso che, leggendo la sinossi, mi ero fatta un’idea diversa di quello che poi ho effettivamente trovato, ma la storia è riuscita a sorprendermi in positivo.
Tom Ryder è un costruttore edile trentacinquenne, che lavora da solo nel campo della ristrutturazione. Purtroppo la concorrenza sta diventando spietata e il suo conto in banca è sempre più in rosso, tanto da non sapere come sbarcare il lunario, fino a che Andy, un amico di vecchia data e sempre al verde, gli suggerisce di provare con i film per adulti. A lui ha fatto comodo, perché anche Tom non dovrebbe approfittarne?
Ed è così che Tom accetta e si presenta con un nome d’arte per il suo primo ruolo, peccato che, ad un passo dal cominciare una scena a tre, la ragazza prevista non ci sia e lui dovrebbe avere un incontro intimo con un altro ragazzo per rattoppare l’imprevisto.
L’ultima volta che Tom ha sperimentato qualcosa con un altro maschio era solo un adolescente curioso, e poi aveva accantonato la faccenda, perché si reputa etero – ha una ex moglie a testimoniarlo –, ma il bisogno di soldi e l’impulsività lo spingono ad accettare comunque in quel frangente, scoprendo solo poi di essere stato un po’ ingannato sia dal regista sia dall’attore partner, sia dall’amico Andy.
Il punto è che, nascosto sotto vergogna, imbarazzo e negazione, la cosa a Tom è piaciuta, e anche parecchio. Anche se non intende riprovare perché non fa per lui, benché i soldi facili gli facciano davvero comodo.
Denny, l’altro nostro protagonista, ha venticinque anni e sta per finire il suo master, sta giusto completando la tesi e ha un mucchio di debiti studenteschi da ripagare, senza contare che non ha un lavoro che renda giustizia alle sue fatiche mentali, perciò fare film per adulti è il suo modo di sopravvivere.
Continua sul nostro blog!
Confesso che, leggendo la sinossi, mi ero fatta un’idea diversa di quello che poi ho effettivamente trovato, ma la storia è riuscita a sorprendermi in positivo.
Tom Ryder è un costruttore edile trentacinquenne, che lavora da solo nel campo della ristrutturazione. Purtroppo la concorrenza sta diventando spietata e il suo conto in banca è sempre più in rosso, tanto da non sapere come sbarcare il lunario, fino a che Andy, un amico di vecchia data e sempre al verde, gli suggerisce di provare con i film per adulti. A lui ha fatto comodo, perché anche Tom non dovrebbe approfittarne?
Ed è così che Tom accetta e si presenta con un nome d’arte per il suo primo ruolo, peccato che, ad un passo dal cominciare una scena a tre, la ragazza prevista non ci sia e lui dovrebbe avere un incontro intimo con un altro ragazzo per rattoppare l’imprevisto.
L’ultima volta che Tom ha sperimentato qualcosa con un altro maschio era solo un adolescente curioso, e poi aveva accantonato la faccenda, perché si reputa etero – ha una ex moglie a testimoniarlo –, ma il bisogno di soldi e l’impulsività lo spingono ad accettare comunque in quel frangente, scoprendo solo poi di essere stato un po’ ingannato sia dal regista sia dall’attore partner, sia dall’amico Andy.
Il punto è che, nascosto sotto vergogna, imbarazzo e negazione, la cosa a Tom è piaciuta, e anche parecchio. Anche se non intende riprovare perché non fa per lui, benché i soldi facili gli facciano davvero comodo.
Denny, l’altro nostro protagonista, ha venticinque anni e sta per finire il suo master, sta giusto completando la tesi e ha un mucchio di debiti studenteschi da ripagare, senza contare che non ha un lavoro che renda giustizia alle sue fatiche mentali, perciò fare film per adulti è il suo modo di sopravvivere.
Continua sul nostro blog!
April 21, 2023
You know what, it’s been a while since I’ve read a classic old school problematic m/m romance! I’ve been reading the quality stuff recently, I guess… so this was a change. 😂
Ah, there’s nothing like a premise written to hinge on not quiiiiiite consensual sex which the book absolutely tries to handwave away. When you have to give your MC multiple lines of dialogue in multiple unrelated scenes through the book so he’s on record saying he’s okay with it, he knows he could have left at any time, he doesn’t feel at all manipulated (by the plans that to create multiple unrelated situations in which he was pressured to have sex with people on camera, all of which was concealed from him until it would be uncomfortable for him to say no)… not to mention the friend that repeatedly brings up their past sex as teenagers even though the MC is clearly very uncomfortable with it and asks him to stop mentioning it multiple times… yet as far into the book I’ve read, the MC is written to never consider dropping this guy as a friend and in fact seems to be written to have no other friends except his ex and her wife….
Look I’m not anti-dubcon but you the author gotta make me believe *you* know what you’re doing, and you’re doing it *on purpose*. So when I’m reading this stuff and going “hmmm… she really thinks that line fixed it, huh” …that’s a red flag lol.
I will very charitably say if the author was trying to write dubcon, it doesn’t succeed bc it doesn’t sufficiently acknowledge the negative effects of being in these situations on the MC’s psyche (which is a key feature of dubcon). Instead it just comes across like it’s supposed to be fine to coerce someone into sex they’re not totally comfortable with, and as long as you can get them to verbally indicate it was fine afterwards then you’re totally in the clear. Which uh….. I’ve got some bad news for ya! That’s a real yikes scenario out here in reality!
Ofc I don’t think this author was trying for ~dark~ in actuality… unfortunately this book just gives very strong “the MC is the author’s sex doll” vibes. Idk I mean it’s clear by this point in the book that the author has absolutely no interest in depicting a realistic interiority for the character she’s created. I just don’t understand how as an author you can write this and not see the issue? If, at least, you are envisioning your MC as a fairly realistic person in a real world-ish setting, which is what this book appears to be aiming for? (i.e. the class/economic struggles of the characters, the IVF subplot, etc.)
So I guess I should say when I say “classic old school”… this book apparently came out last month. So classic only in its bad vibes lol. (Not to mention the gender essentialism which I truly thought was being referenced to be subverted… but then it wasn’t. It was just… how this author thinks people normally talk and think, I guess.)
This was one of those books where I kept reading as long as I did mostly because I was entertaining myself with my headcanon of where things would go if the MC could take charge of their own destiny rather than being forced into the story arc the author has chosen for them. Anyway, DNF @ 58%. I just can’t do it anymore, I feel too bad for the MC, he shouldn’t have to go through this! (The second star is for him! Good luck out there buddy!)
Ah, there’s nothing like a premise written to hinge on not quiiiiiite consensual sex which the book absolutely tries to handwave away. When you have to give your MC multiple lines of dialogue in multiple unrelated scenes through the book so he’s on record saying he’s okay with it, he knows he could have left at any time, he doesn’t feel at all manipulated (by the plans that to create multiple unrelated situations in which he was pressured to have sex with people on camera, all of which was concealed from him until it would be uncomfortable for him to say no)… not to mention the friend that repeatedly brings up their past sex as teenagers even though the MC is clearly very uncomfortable with it and asks him to stop mentioning it multiple times… yet as far into the book I’ve read, the MC is written to never consider dropping this guy as a friend and in fact seems to be written to have no other friends except his ex and her wife….
Look I’m not anti-dubcon but you the author gotta make me believe *you* know what you’re doing, and you’re doing it *on purpose*. So when I’m reading this stuff and going “hmmm… she really thinks that line fixed it, huh” …that’s a red flag lol.
I will very charitably say if the author was trying to write dubcon, it doesn’t succeed bc it doesn’t sufficiently acknowledge the negative effects of being in these situations on the MC’s psyche (which is a key feature of dubcon). Instead it just comes across like it’s supposed to be fine to coerce someone into sex they’re not totally comfortable with, and as long as you can get them to verbally indicate it was fine afterwards then you’re totally in the clear. Which uh….. I’ve got some bad news for ya! That’s a real yikes scenario out here in reality!
Ofc I don’t think this author was trying for ~dark~ in actuality… unfortunately this book just gives very strong “the MC is the author’s sex doll” vibes. Idk I mean it’s clear by this point in the book that the author has absolutely no interest in depicting a realistic interiority for the character she’s created. I just don’t understand how as an author you can write this and not see the issue? If, at least, you are envisioning your MC as a fairly realistic person in a real world-ish setting, which is what this book appears to be aiming for? (i.e. the class/economic struggles of the characters, the IVF subplot, etc.)
So I guess I should say when I say “classic old school”… this book apparently came out last month. So classic only in its bad vibes lol. (Not to mention the gender essentialism which I truly thought was being referenced to be subverted… but then it wasn’t. It was just… how this author thinks people normally talk and think, I guess.)
This was one of those books where I kept reading as long as I did mostly because I was entertaining myself with my headcanon of where things would go if the MC could take charge of their own destiny rather than being forced into the story arc the author has chosen for them. Anyway, DNF @ 58%. I just can’t do it anymore, I feel too bad for the MC, he shouldn’t have to go through this! (The second star is for him! Good luck out there buddy!)
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May 12, 2023I’ve seen this book on my Homescreen so often but I only realized what the title means a bit into the book.
Straight Bait as that is literally what happens.
A guy who believed to be straight is short on cash and his friend tells him about a good deal shooting porn. He is baited into believing
1. It will be with a woman
2. It will be an mfm scene
Then he is told that the woman cancelled and whether he’s fine fucking the other lad there because well he’s already there
The other MC is in on it and literally thinks
In addition to this scene being extremely iffy on a consensual level (it’s made up with the fact that the baited MC baits the other one later on, no worries)
- who’s gonna say no? - this book had a lot of filler. Things were described in minute detail at times. The MCs spend a lot of time thinking about each other but not much interacting.
The visit of the grandma and the groveling just felt majorly plot-holy and in addition we are baited with a fisting scene to never get one!
Oh and they
And the HEA tied up too neatly.
Gosh this review reads like I had a lot of feelings on this :D
NSFW infos:
one guy who is out and gay (25, student, vers)
One guy who thought he was straight (35, builder, vers)
First time together is while doing porn
Threesome
Flipfucking
Straight Bait as that is literally what happens.
A guy who believed to be straight is short on cash and his friend tells him about a good deal shooting porn. He is baited into believing
1. It will be with a woman
2. It will be an mfm scene
Then he is told that the woman cancelled and whether he’s fine fucking the other lad there because well he’s already there
The other MC is in on it and literally thinks
Please take the bait. Please take the bait. Please take the bait. (P.39)
In addition to this scene being extremely iffy on a consensual level (it’s made up with the fact that the baited MC baits the other one later on, no worries)
- who’s gonna say no? - this book had a lot of filler. Things were described in minute detail at times. The MCs spend a lot of time thinking about each other but not much interacting.
The visit of the grandma and the groveling just felt majorly plot-holy and in addition we are baited with a fisting scene to never get one!
Oh and they
And the HEA tied up too neatly.
Gosh this review reads like I had a lot of feelings on this :D
NSFW infos:
one guy who is out and gay (25, student, vers)
One guy who thought he was straight (35, builder, vers)
First time together is while doing porn
Threesome
Flipfucking
May 8, 2023
*** 2.5 Stars ***
I can't put my finger on it, but there was just something about this dynamic and relationship that didn't read genuine to me.
I can't put my finger on it, but there was just something about this dynamic and relationship that didn't read genuine to me.
July 12, 2023
3.5 rounded down, because it’s just not a 4-star read
NGL—pornos
leading to love’s a great trope.
Sweet, surprising, hot.
NGL—pornos
leading to love’s a great trope.
Sweet, surprising, hot.
January 2, 2025
Voto 4,5 ❤️
K.C. Wells è un’autrice molto amata, i cui libri rappresentano una garanzia di storie dolci e dense di erotismo. “Str8 B8”, a mio avviso, si pone un gradino più in alto, in quanto, oltre alla dolcezza e alla sensualità, ha posto anche molta attenzione alla sensibilità e alla fragilità dei due protagonisti, il cui approccio nei confronti delle relazioni sentimentali è a volte un po’ complicato, ma finisce per mostrare quanto desiderio di amore e comprensione abbiano entrambi.
Tom Ryder è un costruttore di trentacinque anni, che sta attraversando un momento lavorativo particolarmente complesso. Infatti, si trova ad affrontare una concorrenza agguerrita che, pur con standard qualitativi decisamente inferiori ai suoi, gli sta sottraendo parecchie occasioni di lavoro, rendendo la sua agenda praticamente vuota. Disperato, si lascia convincere dal suo migliore amico Andy a girare un video porno, convinto che non ci sarà nulla di male nel fare qualcosa del genere, soprattutto se gli permetterà di guadagnare un po’ di soldi. Ciò che Tom non si aspetta è di avere come partner sul set un ragazzo al posto di una ragazza, una situazione inizialmente imbarazzante per il bel costruttore, che si è sempre considerato etero, dopo aver relegato nel dimenticatoio qualsiasi esperimento adolescenziale. Tuttavia, girare una scena con un ragazzo attraente e intrigante come Denny si rivela talmente piacevole da sconvolgere la mente di Tom, tanto che, da quel momento, la sua vita prenderà una svolta decisamente inaspettata.
Denny Bailey è uno studente brillante che sta completando un master in ambito finanziario e ben presto dovrà affacciarsi nel mondo del lavoro. Nel frattempo, cerca di guadagnare i soldi necessari per pagarsi gli studi dedicandosi a un’attività piacevole e nello stesso tempo remunerativa, ovvero girare video per lo studio del suo amico Ari, oltre che per il suo profilo di Onlyfans. Denny non ha avuto una vita facile, con due genitori che non lo hanno mai sostenuto nella sua scelta di proseguire gli studi e con un ragazzo che lo ha ferito profondamente. Per questo motivo, preferirebbe non lasciarsi coinvolgere sentimentalmente da un uomo etero che potrebbe spezzargli il cuore, nonostante si sia sentito molto attratto da Tom fin da quando lo ha visto entrare nello studio di Ari, così timido e spaesato. Eppure, più conosce Tom, più non riesce a fare a meno di frequentarlo.
“Str8 B8” è un romanzo con un avvio decisamente bollente. I primi approcci sul set tra Tom e Denny mostrano, infatti, una chimica talmente intensa da non poter essere ignorata, nonostante il bel costruttore cerchi continuamente di negare ciò che prova. Tuttavia, questo legame erotico e passionale finisce per evolversi in un’amicizia amorosa, all’interno della quale entrambi si muovono con i piedi di piombo, pieni di dubbi e ripensamenti, nonostante la loro connessione sia particolarmente evidente.
K.C. Wells, con la sua scrittura semplice, ma efficace e intrigante, ha delineato due protagonisti testardi e timorosi, pronti a sostenersi a vicenda, all’interno di una storia che riesce a coinvolgere passo dopo passo, man mano che sentimenti e consapevolezze si sviluppano.
Tom si rende conto di non aver mai capito cosa sia il vero amore. Da giovane ha sposato la sua migliore amica Deb, con la quale ha sempre avuto un rapporto speciale, perché tutti avevano cercato di convincerli che fosse la cosa migliore. Il matrimonio ha quasi rovinato la loro amicizia, ma dopo il divorzio hanno recuperato ciò che stavano perdendo, continuando a essere un punto di riferimento l’uno per l’altra. Tom è un uomo generoso e affabile, sempre pronto a intervenire in favore delle persone che ama, impaurito dai sentimenti che Denny gli fa provare e che lo costringono a rivedere tutte le sue convinzioni.
Denny è un ragazzo che colpisce per vivacità e malizioso entusiasmo, dietro cui, tuttavia, nasconde profonde ferite che lo hanno reso disilluso nei confronti dell’amore. Fiero di come sia riuscito ad andare avanti nonostante la totale mancanza di appoggio economico e morale dei genitori, sente di aver trovato una famiglia con i suoi coinquilini, che lo appoggiano in ogni sua scelta di vita, mentre vorrebbe cercare di stare più vicino a sua nonna, l’unica parente che lo abbia compreso e sostenuto. Mentre si dedica alla sua tesi di master e alle sue attività preferite, non può fare a meno di coinvolgere Tom in ogni aspetto della sua vita, nonostante vorrebbe tenere le distanze e porre un freno ai suoi sentimenti. La paura rischia di allontanarli, per cui dovranno capire per cosa vale la pena lottare.
“Str8 B8” è un libro molto bello, denso di erotismo, ma nello stesso tempo ricco di riflessioni sull’amore, sulla riscoperta di sé, sull’importanza dell’amicizia e del sostegno di una famiglia che prescinde dai legami di sangue.
K.C. Wells è un’autrice molto amata, i cui libri rappresentano una garanzia di storie dolci e dense di erotismo. “Str8 B8”, a mio avviso, si pone un gradino più in alto, in quanto, oltre alla dolcezza e alla sensualità, ha posto anche molta attenzione alla sensibilità e alla fragilità dei due protagonisti, il cui approccio nei confronti delle relazioni sentimentali è a volte un po’ complicato, ma finisce per mostrare quanto desiderio di amore e comprensione abbiano entrambi.
Tom Ryder è un costruttore di trentacinque anni, che sta attraversando un momento lavorativo particolarmente complesso. Infatti, si trova ad affrontare una concorrenza agguerrita che, pur con standard qualitativi decisamente inferiori ai suoi, gli sta sottraendo parecchie occasioni di lavoro, rendendo la sua agenda praticamente vuota. Disperato, si lascia convincere dal suo migliore amico Andy a girare un video porno, convinto che non ci sarà nulla di male nel fare qualcosa del genere, soprattutto se gli permetterà di guadagnare un po’ di soldi. Ciò che Tom non si aspetta è di avere come partner sul set un ragazzo al posto di una ragazza, una situazione inizialmente imbarazzante per il bel costruttore, che si è sempre considerato etero, dopo aver relegato nel dimenticatoio qualsiasi esperimento adolescenziale. Tuttavia, girare una scena con un ragazzo attraente e intrigante come Denny si rivela talmente piacevole da sconvolgere la mente di Tom, tanto che, da quel momento, la sua vita prenderà una svolta decisamente inaspettata.
Denny Bailey è uno studente brillante che sta completando un master in ambito finanziario e ben presto dovrà affacciarsi nel mondo del lavoro. Nel frattempo, cerca di guadagnare i soldi necessari per pagarsi gli studi dedicandosi a un’attività piacevole e nello stesso tempo remunerativa, ovvero girare video per lo studio del suo amico Ari, oltre che per il suo profilo di Onlyfans. Denny non ha avuto una vita facile, con due genitori che non lo hanno mai sostenuto nella sua scelta di proseguire gli studi e con un ragazzo che lo ha ferito profondamente. Per questo motivo, preferirebbe non lasciarsi coinvolgere sentimentalmente da un uomo etero che potrebbe spezzargli il cuore, nonostante si sia sentito molto attratto da Tom fin da quando lo ha visto entrare nello studio di Ari, così timido e spaesato. Eppure, più conosce Tom, più non riesce a fare a meno di frequentarlo.
“Str8 B8” è un romanzo con un avvio decisamente bollente. I primi approcci sul set tra Tom e Denny mostrano, infatti, una chimica talmente intensa da non poter essere ignorata, nonostante il bel costruttore cerchi continuamente di negare ciò che prova. Tuttavia, questo legame erotico e passionale finisce per evolversi in un’amicizia amorosa, all’interno della quale entrambi si muovono con i piedi di piombo, pieni di dubbi e ripensamenti, nonostante la loro connessione sia particolarmente evidente.
K.C. Wells, con la sua scrittura semplice, ma efficace e intrigante, ha delineato due protagonisti testardi e timorosi, pronti a sostenersi a vicenda, all’interno di una storia che riesce a coinvolgere passo dopo passo, man mano che sentimenti e consapevolezze si sviluppano.
Tom si rende conto di non aver mai capito cosa sia il vero amore. Da giovane ha sposato la sua migliore amica Deb, con la quale ha sempre avuto un rapporto speciale, perché tutti avevano cercato di convincerli che fosse la cosa migliore. Il matrimonio ha quasi rovinato la loro amicizia, ma dopo il divorzio hanno recuperato ciò che stavano perdendo, continuando a essere un punto di riferimento l’uno per l’altra. Tom è un uomo generoso e affabile, sempre pronto a intervenire in favore delle persone che ama, impaurito dai sentimenti che Denny gli fa provare e che lo costringono a rivedere tutte le sue convinzioni.
Denny è un ragazzo che colpisce per vivacità e malizioso entusiasmo, dietro cui, tuttavia, nasconde profonde ferite che lo hanno reso disilluso nei confronti dell’amore. Fiero di come sia riuscito ad andare avanti nonostante la totale mancanza di appoggio economico e morale dei genitori, sente di aver trovato una famiglia con i suoi coinquilini, che lo appoggiano in ogni sua scelta di vita, mentre vorrebbe cercare di stare più vicino a sua nonna, l’unica parente che lo abbia compreso e sostenuto. Mentre si dedica alla sua tesi di master e alle sue attività preferite, non può fare a meno di coinvolgere Tom in ogni aspetto della sua vita, nonostante vorrebbe tenere le distanze e porre un freno ai suoi sentimenti. La paura rischia di allontanarli, per cui dovranno capire per cosa vale la pena lottare.
“Str8 B8” è un libro molto bello, denso di erotismo, ma nello stesso tempo ricco di riflessioni sull’amore, sulla riscoperta di sé, sull’importanza dell’amicizia e del sostegno di una famiglia che prescinde dai legami di sangue.
March 8, 2023
I’ve been a KC Wells fan for quite a while now, so of course I was eagerly awaiting this story. In my opinion, it was not as emotionally hard-hitting as other books by this author that I have read, but it was still a very enjoyable read. There was a bit of angst, though not too heavy a dose, and as happens in many burgeoning relationships much of that could have been avoided if Tom and Denny would have just opened up more to each other.
I really liked Tom—I totally understood the situation he was in and why he took his friend’s suggestion of earning some quick money in a not-so-traditional way. I really got why it was hard for him to fathom Denny’s clinical approach to sex, since like Tom I also need that emotional connection.
The thing is, Tom and Denny had the chance to get to know each other outside of the filming, and were able to connect in more than a physical way…so while yes, there are several hot and steamy scenes thanks to the adult video aspect, those are not truly the focus here—the focus is obviously on the development of a relationship between the two men. The bond that evolved between them didn’t feel quite as solid as I would have liked by the time they came to their dramatic confrontation scene and then the resolution, but overall I was okay with how things came about.
Str8 B8 was a solid 4-star read for me, and if you’re a fan of bi-awakening stories, or like M/M romance featuring workers in the adult film industry, you’ll likely enjoy this story as well. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and explicit sexual content (I mean, you knew that would be the case, right?).
I really liked Tom—I totally understood the situation he was in and why he took his friend’s suggestion of earning some quick money in a not-so-traditional way. I really got why it was hard for him to fathom Denny’s clinical approach to sex, since like Tom I also need that emotional connection.
The thing is, Tom and Denny had the chance to get to know each other outside of the filming, and were able to connect in more than a physical way…so while yes, there are several hot and steamy scenes thanks to the adult video aspect, those are not truly the focus here—the focus is obviously on the development of a relationship between the two men. The bond that evolved between them didn’t feel quite as solid as I would have liked by the time they came to their dramatic confrontation scene and then the resolution, but overall I was okay with how things came about.
Str8 B8 was a solid 4-star read for me, and if you’re a fan of bi-awakening stories, or like M/M romance featuring workers in the adult film industry, you’ll likely enjoy this story as well. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and explicit sexual content (I mean, you knew that would be the case, right?).
March 17, 2023
“I’m sorry. You’re right. That was rude. I must be more tired than I thought.”
“Long day?” He huffed.
“Long, hard, struggly kind of day.”
Denny smiled. “‘ Struggly’?”
“Hey, it fits, all right?”
“Someone needs to add it to the Oxford English Dictionary. Good word.” — Tom Ryder and Denny Bailey
Warnings: In K.C.'s words... "This book contains material that is intended for a mature, adult audience. It contains graphic language, explicit sexual content, and adult situations." I have nothing to add.
Str8 B8 is just a really nice May-September romance between struggling builder Tom Ryder and masters student Denny Bailey. It is sex heavy, playing with porn and OnlyFans. The idea of gay for pay is an important part of the plot. While Denny is an openly proud gay man, Tom considers himself heterosexual, previously married to his best friend, Deb. I like the characters, I like the tension. It makes sense and doesn't feel artificial. It is a case of if you two spent more time talking and less time *insert euphemism of your choice here* things would have been much simpler. It is a simple but effective plot in that manner. The epilogue and final chapter are just gorgeous. Wrapping everything up in a satisfying manner. 4.5🌟 rounded down not sure what could have been improved but it doesn't feel like a 5🌟. I recommend this if you are a fan of the genre, especially if you are a fan of K.C. she does not disappoint with this.
I'm not going to talk about Tom and Denny, others will have done that. The support cast is well-balanced and effective. They create a plot outside the relationship and framing for Tom's happiness. Providing him with multiple avenues of revenue by the end of the book. Ari is the boss of both Denny and Tom, he is an ally of Denny's and wants nothing more than to get Tom back on his sets. Tom's greatest ally is his ex-wife Deb and her wife Sharon. I really like these two women. I love their relationship and the care they clearly have for Tom. Denny has his four roommates Robin, Meena, Lisa and Chris. Chris is fantastic, he is all quirk and protective of Denny as needed. It is, as usual, the women in the story that make it. Carol and Susan in particular are gorgeous, both are older and strong and supportive and everything Denny needs in his life (and in Carol's case other adult entertainment workers).
I want to say there are open lies at the start of this. The title Straight Bait (St8 B8) is because the producer openly lies to the straight actors to get them to his sets, the bait is the wad of cash they are offered to the scene. It's an ugly trick. Tom has a friend that conveniently doesn't reveal the full details of his experience, there are reasons for this but it is unsettling. Yes, Andy's actions are in the blurb but Ari's are not. Tom does get the final choice to proceed but the money and Denny's physical appeal are irresistible bait (as they are for so many). The quote I used as the title for my amazon review was "And would you do it for money again? Or just because you liked it?" words by Ari Metcalfe after the first time Tom engages in a performance for the adult entertainment industry. It's really early in the book.
Tom goes from all but male experience virgin to a threesome with Denny and another porn star, Jack in about a fortnight. It is quite a fast development. I mean this whole thing is about comfort in your own skin and knowing your limits. Physical trust is key, emotional trust is where this kinda falls over. I appriciate the variations in the smut. It is well executed as required for a book that leans so heavily on that as coded to its premise. There is one scene, in particular, I cannot wrap my head around the physics of it but who cares about practicalities when it is that impressive.
Some random notes
• Tom was beginning to feel everyone he knew was sinking into quicksand, dragged down by the clutching claws of debt and worry that curled around the ankles, digging their talons into flesh, determined to pull their victim under. — I just really appreciate the visual this creates. (Tom)
• I'm quite glad this is written as a standalone, I don't know how you could build a series around these support characters. It could end up in a place dangerously close to saviour complex.
• Denny's porn star name made me laugh way harder than it should have.
• Tattoos too. Fuck. Denny wanted to trace over them with his tongue. — All I will say to this is that Denny is a man after my own heart. I'm only sad that we never got to see Denny indulge in this. (Denny)
• I liked the lovely if perhaps oversized section breaks. Cameras. But as I was reading an arc they may of been resized prior to the full publication.
• The skin around her eyes crinkled and she beamed. “Didn’t you get the speech? He always tells new guys the same thing. You’re adults, an’ if it feels good, an’ you’re not hurtin’ anyone, then what’s wrong with enjoyin’ life’s experiences?” She made a clicking noise with her tongue. “You take my grandson. He can’t make his mind up. One week he could be datin’ a girl, the next week it’s a boy… Every time I mention it, he rolls his eyes an’ says ‘Grandma, life’s too short.’” — I really like Carol. She makes me smile. It's even better when you find out how and why she ended up in the position she did. (Carol)
• I enjoyed the inclusion of porn star martinis. If you want a recipe, I found one on Splash of Taste which I think presents well.
• “Somewhere out there is an exceptional man who’ll accept that porn is work like everything else, a job I can do, then leave it on the doorstep when I get home.”
“I take it you haven’t met him yet. Mr. Exceptional, I mean.” Tom tilted his head to one side. “Are you looking for him?”
Denny smiled. “Nope. If it’s meant to be, he’ll find me." — This is a moment of foreshadowing clearly but I like it as an exchange and it says a lot about what it will take for happiness for Denny. It is a feel simple thing Denny wants but it is also not. Jealousy is a thing. (Denny and Tom)
• K.C. once again takes us back to the Isle she calls home, the Isle of Wright. Showing us a different side this time. A more touristy angle than outings in previous books. I quite appreciate the inclusion of the walk down memory lane for Denny and spending time with Grandma Susan.
I want to add something of a warning here, there is a discussion of failed IVF treatments and the sense of deep loss that comes with that. I know women who have experienced that and do not enjoy reading it in fiction. The woman suffering this is close to Tom, one of the MCs, she is his ex-wife and part of the reason he agrees to some of what he does in the adult entertainment industry. Adding my standard warning for any book that features sex and cameras, even though this is looking at sex and cameras in a professional context. If you are going to combine sex and cameras in the real world please, please think seriously about deleting them. You never know how emotions will change. If love will turn to hate and those stunning images of an intimate moment will become back mail. I don't do this to shame. I do this because I'm fully aware of the dangers that revenge porn, often a non-criminal offence, poses.
Apologies for the messy and possibly probably useless review.
“What it boils down to is, we see sex from two different perspectives.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know you, but I’d be willing to bet you only take a woman to bed when you’re in a relationship with her. Probably a relationship that you’re hoping will develop into something more than casual. Am I right?” Tom stared at him. “Yeah.”
“So it’s more than sex— emotions come into it too. But for me? I do my best to keep a lid on my emotions. It’s just sex. I get to meet some gorgeous guys, we have fun, we get paid, we go home. End of story.” — Denny Bailey and Tom Ryder
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
A representative gif:
“So what is the issue here? Is it ‘shock horror, I kissed a guy’ or more a case of ‘shock horror, I kissed a guy and I liked it?’ A guy you might be attracted to?” — The gif is from & Juliet. One of the characters is called May. The song they are singing... Katy Perry's I Kissed a Girl, which morphs into I Kissed a Boy. (Deb)
April 29, 2024
3.5 stars
carino ma forse avevo aspettative troppo alte
carino ma forse avevo aspettative troppo alte
April 7, 2023
I have enjoyed a lot if this author's previous work, and on the surface, this story ticks many of my boxes......
However, I just couldn't engage with the characters. Although both MCs are likeable, I found myself not really caring about either of them.
I will probably try this book again later. There is a good chance it was me not the book, but for now....
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
However, I just couldn't engage with the characters. Although both MCs are likeable, I found myself not really caring about either of them.
I will probably try this book again later. There is a good chance it was me not the book, but for now....
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
Read
March 5, 2023I had the idea for this book a couple of years ago.
Then, it was going to be a novella. Something hot and sexy.
All that changed when I started writing it.
For one thing, it's an 87.2K word novel now.
For another, there was so much more to Tom and Denny.
Yes, it's about the porn industry, but it's not all about porn.
And yes, it has heat, but also a lot of heart.
Expect secondary characters that aren't cardboard cutouts.
At its heart, this story is about a blossoming friendship that begins in the weirdest of places - a porn studio - and becomes so much more.
It's been a while since I wrote a book set in the UK, and this one is set in London.
Epsom and Wimbledon, to be exact.
I also got an education when it came to text speak.
Hope you enoy these two...
Merged review:
I had the idea for this book a couple of years ago.
Then, it was going to be a novella. Something hot and sexy.
All that changed when I started writing it.
For one thing, it's an 87.2K word novel now.
For another, there was so much more to Tom and Denny.
Yes, it's about the porn industry, but it's not all about porn.
And yes, it has heat, but also a lot of heart.
Expect secondary characters that aren't cardboard cutouts.
At its heart, this story is about a blossoming friendship that begins in the weirdest of places - a porn studio - and becomes so much more.
It's been a while since I wrote a book set in the UK, and this one is set in London.
Epsom and Wimbledon, to be exact.
I also got an education when it came to text speak.
Hope you enoy these two...
Then, it was going to be a novella. Something hot and sexy.
All that changed when I started writing it.
For one thing, it's an 87.2K word novel now.
For another, there was so much more to Tom and Denny.
Yes, it's about the porn industry, but it's not all about porn.
And yes, it has heat, but also a lot of heart.
Expect secondary characters that aren't cardboard cutouts.
At its heart, this story is about a blossoming friendship that begins in the weirdest of places - a porn studio - and becomes so much more.
It's been a while since I wrote a book set in the UK, and this one is set in London.
Epsom and Wimbledon, to be exact.
I also got an education when it came to text speak.
Hope you enoy these two...
Merged review:
I had the idea for this book a couple of years ago.
Then, it was going to be a novella. Something hot and sexy.
All that changed when I started writing it.
For one thing, it's an 87.2K word novel now.
For another, there was so much more to Tom and Denny.
Yes, it's about the porn industry, but it's not all about porn.
And yes, it has heat, but also a lot of heart.
Expect secondary characters that aren't cardboard cutouts.
At its heart, this story is about a blossoming friendship that begins in the weirdest of places - a porn studio - and becomes so much more.
It's been a while since I wrote a book set in the UK, and this one is set in London.
Epsom and Wimbledon, to be exact.
I also got an education when it came to text speak.
Hope you enoy these two...
January 24, 2024
Again my kindle decided for me that I was done at 70% and I kind of am. I’d been wanting to read this for ages and finally bought it 😭💔 but it’s just okay.
Straight guy Tom goes to do porn to earn extra cash but his buddy failed to tell him that it’s gay porn.. they sort of trick him (he thinks he’s filming a 3some but the girl never shows up) but he goes along with it and this leads to his frankly kind of boring sexual awakening.
The spice is pretty good - it’s mostly just him and Denny but there is one MMM scene where Tom tops and bottoms. Tom and Denny don’t talk enough about their honest feelings, there’s so much internal dialogue, and I just don’t care to read about them eating crab salads. It’s not terrible, just slow.
Straight guy Tom goes to do porn to earn extra cash but his buddy failed to tell him that it’s gay porn.. they sort of trick him (he thinks he’s filming a 3some but the girl never shows up) but he goes along with it and this leads to his frankly kind of boring sexual awakening.
The spice is pretty good - it’s mostly just him and Denny but there is one MMM scene where Tom tops and bottoms. Tom and Denny don’t talk enough about their honest feelings, there’s so much internal dialogue, and I just don’t care to read about them eating crab salads. It’s not terrible, just slow.
May 31, 2023
This was sweet and at times, I did really enjoy it, but there were also moments where I was so confused about why the characters behaved the way they did, and moments where I was tired of the characters going in circles around each other because of their miscommunications that I didn't end up loving it.
Though, this book has a lot of fun spicy scenes, so if you're into that, I think they'll make up for the ridiculous miscommunication and character flaws. That said, I still found it decent enough, and I liked the originality of the plot.
Though, this book has a lot of fun spicy scenes, so if you're into that, I think they'll make up for the ridiculous miscommunication and character flaws. That said, I still found it decent enough, and I liked the originality of the plot.
March 26, 2023
This book was an entertaining bi-awakening, but a little too slow burn for my tastes. The central miscommunication issue is resolved very late in the story. Tom is a builder whose business is very slow and he's beginning to have severe money problems. A friend mentions making good money doing porn, so Tom reluctantly agrees to participate in a film.
When he arrives, he expects to make a video with a woman since he identifies as straight. He was a little bi-curious with a bit of experience in high school, but later married, then divorced a woman. Prior to the shoot, he meets Denny, who straight baits him into consensually doing a MM video instead. Tom makes the video and befriends Denny.
Things get confusing when friends become friends with occasional benefits followed by distance and uncertainty. Can these two work through their past pains and walls? This book is angsty at times, but overall low angst with friends, family, travel fun, and a hot and deep love.
When he arrives, he expects to make a video with a woman since he identifies as straight. He was a little bi-curious with a bit of experience in high school, but later married, then divorced a woman. Prior to the shoot, he meets Denny, who straight baits him into consensually doing a MM video instead. Tom makes the video and befriends Denny.
Things get confusing when friends become friends with occasional benefits followed by distance and uncertainty. Can these two work through their past pains and walls? This book is angsty at times, but overall low angst with friends, family, travel fun, and a hot and deep love.
March 12, 2023
I really enjoyed this book
Love can sometimes be a rocky road especially when both characters are dealing with their pasts. Denny and Tom do work it out in the end and have their HEA, but not without a struggle. Tom at first denying his true sexuality and Denny trying hard to keep his heart from being broken like it was in a past relationship with a man who said he was straight. Enjoyed the moment they both realized they loved each other, but getting over their pain and confusion wasn’t easy. Definitely five-stars for me.
Love can sometimes be a rocky road especially when both characters are dealing with their pasts. Denny and Tom do work it out in the end and have their HEA, but not without a struggle. Tom at first denying his true sexuality and Denny trying hard to keep his heart from being broken like it was in a past relationship with a man who said he was straight. Enjoyed the moment they both realized they loved each other, but getting over their pain and confusion wasn’t easy. Definitely five-stars for me.
November 26, 2025
I think the title turned me off of this book for a long time, but I got the audiobook and it was enjoyable. Tom’s bi-awakening was believable and had just enough angst. I wish Tom and Denny would have had more scenes where they chose to have sex because they were desperate for each other instead of doing it for money and then realizing after how much they enjoyed it and like each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
May 16, 2023Made it up to 30%, didn't work for me.
March 14, 2023
4.5 stars
I love KC Wells books!! Well developed characters and stories that have you rooting for the MCs happily ever after.
I love KC Wells books!! Well developed characters and stories that have you rooting for the MCs happily ever after.
June 27, 2023
Oddly good? I didn’t expect much and I do love a good adult performer trope. 😂
May 1, 2024
Recensione su copia ARC
Confesso che, leggendo la sinossi, mi ero fatta un’idea diversa di quello che poi ho effettivamente trovato, ma la storia è riuscita a sorprendermi in positivo.
Tom Ryder è un costruttore edile trentacinquenne, che lavora da solo nel campo della ristrutturazione. Purtroppo la concorrenza sta diventando spietata e il suo conto in banca è sempre più in rosso, tanto da non sapere come sbarcare il lunario, fino a che Andy, un amico di vecchia data e sempre al verde, gli suggerisce di provare con i film per adulti. A lui ha fatto comodo, perché anche Tom non dovrebbe approfittarne?
Ed è così che Tom accetta e si presenta con un nome d’arte per il suo primo ruolo, peccato che, ad un passo dal cominciare una scena a tre, la ragazza prevista non ci sia e lui dovrebbe avere un incontro intimo con un altro ragazzo per rattoppare l’imprevisto.
L’ultima volta che Tom ha sperimentato qualcosa con un altro maschio era solo un adolescente curioso, e poi aveva accantonato la faccenda, perché si reputa etero – ha una ex moglie a testimoniarlo –, ma il bisogno di soldi e l’impulsività lo spingono ad accettare comunque in quel frangente, scoprendo solo poi di essere stato un po’ ingannato sia dal regista sia dall’attore partner, sia dall’amico Andy.
Il punto è che, nascosto sotto vergogna, imbarazzo e negazione, la cosa a Tom è piaciuta, e anche parecchio. Anche se non intende riprovare perché non fa per lui, benché i soldi facili gli facciano davvero comodo.
Denny, l’altro nostro protagonista, ha venticinque anni e sta per finire il suo master, sta giusto completando la tesi e ha un mucchio di debiti studenteschi da ripagare, senza contare che non ha un lavoro che renda giustizia alle sue fatiche mentali, perciò fare film per adulti è il suo modo di sopravvivere.
Denny si sente un po’ in colpa a reggere la farsa che mette in atto col regista, ma il nuovo tizio, Tom, si rivela particolarmente ricettivo e adatto alla telecamera. La loro chimica è buona e lui cerca di rendergli le cose facili, anche se forse l’uomo non tornerà… e non si vedranno mai più.
Questo lungo incipit è per dare il quadro iniziale della storia, perché Denny si è sbagliato e Tom pretende risposte al raggiro subìto e poi, chissà come, i due diventano amici e Denny gli procura dei lavori che Tom anela come l’acqua nel deserto.
Anche se si frequentano come amici, l’attrazione reciproca trova sfogo e alimenta emozioni turbolente, perché Denny non vuole innamorarsi di un etero, e Tom non capisce i segnali di Denny e non sa bene cosa prova per lui… quindi ci sarà da patire prima del lieto fine.
Questa storia ha un alto tasso erotico, ma è anche inaspettatamente dolce, cosa che mi ha colpita in modo molto favorevole. Credo che i turbamenti di Tom e Denny siano stati descritti in maniera parecchio realistica, così come i pregiudizi e le remore che permeano il mondo dell’intrattenimento per adulti.
Accanto a Tom e Denny incontriamo altri personaggi secondari, come l’ex moglie di Tom e la sua compagna, gli inquilini di Denny che sono anche amici preziosi, e altri che ruotano nel mondo del porno. Sono tutti interessanti e positivi, a loro modo arricchiscono la trama.
Vi consiglio questa lettura che ha un taglio insolito, perché è sia molto hot che molto dolce, e vi terrà compagnia in modo piacevole per qualche ora.
Confesso che, leggendo la sinossi, mi ero fatta un’idea diversa di quello che poi ho effettivamente trovato, ma la storia è riuscita a sorprendermi in positivo.
Tom Ryder è un costruttore edile trentacinquenne, che lavora da solo nel campo della ristrutturazione. Purtroppo la concorrenza sta diventando spietata e il suo conto in banca è sempre più in rosso, tanto da non sapere come sbarcare il lunario, fino a che Andy, un amico di vecchia data e sempre al verde, gli suggerisce di provare con i film per adulti. A lui ha fatto comodo, perché anche Tom non dovrebbe approfittarne?
Ed è così che Tom accetta e si presenta con un nome d’arte per il suo primo ruolo, peccato che, ad un passo dal cominciare una scena a tre, la ragazza prevista non ci sia e lui dovrebbe avere un incontro intimo con un altro ragazzo per rattoppare l’imprevisto.
L’ultima volta che Tom ha sperimentato qualcosa con un altro maschio era solo un adolescente curioso, e poi aveva accantonato la faccenda, perché si reputa etero – ha una ex moglie a testimoniarlo –, ma il bisogno di soldi e l’impulsività lo spingono ad accettare comunque in quel frangente, scoprendo solo poi di essere stato un po’ ingannato sia dal regista sia dall’attore partner, sia dall’amico Andy.
Il punto è che, nascosto sotto vergogna, imbarazzo e negazione, la cosa a Tom è piaciuta, e anche parecchio. Anche se non intende riprovare perché non fa per lui, benché i soldi facili gli facciano davvero comodo.
Denny, l’altro nostro protagonista, ha venticinque anni e sta per finire il suo master, sta giusto completando la tesi e ha un mucchio di debiti studenteschi da ripagare, senza contare che non ha un lavoro che renda giustizia alle sue fatiche mentali, perciò fare film per adulti è il suo modo di sopravvivere.
Denny si sente un po’ in colpa a reggere la farsa che mette in atto col regista, ma il nuovo tizio, Tom, si rivela particolarmente ricettivo e adatto alla telecamera. La loro chimica è buona e lui cerca di rendergli le cose facili, anche se forse l’uomo non tornerà… e non si vedranno mai più.
Questo lungo incipit è per dare il quadro iniziale della storia, perché Denny si è sbagliato e Tom pretende risposte al raggiro subìto e poi, chissà come, i due diventano amici e Denny gli procura dei lavori che Tom anela come l’acqua nel deserto.
Anche se si frequentano come amici, l’attrazione reciproca trova sfogo e alimenta emozioni turbolente, perché Denny non vuole innamorarsi di un etero, e Tom non capisce i segnali di Denny e non sa bene cosa prova per lui… quindi ci sarà da patire prima del lieto fine.
Questa storia ha un alto tasso erotico, ma è anche inaspettatamente dolce, cosa che mi ha colpita in modo molto favorevole. Credo che i turbamenti di Tom e Denny siano stati descritti in maniera parecchio realistica, così come i pregiudizi e le remore che permeano il mondo dell’intrattenimento per adulti.
Accanto a Tom e Denny incontriamo altri personaggi secondari, come l’ex moglie di Tom e la sua compagna, gli inquilini di Denny che sono anche amici preziosi, e altri che ruotano nel mondo del porno. Sono tutti interessanti e positivi, a loro modo arricchiscono la trama.
Vi consiglio questa lettura che ha un taglio insolito, perché è sia molto hot che molto dolce, e vi terrà compagnia in modo piacevole per qualche ora.
March 26, 2023
Str8 B8 by K.C. Wells was promising at first blush, but the miscommunication at the 80% mark - as well as what brought it about - ruined it for me. A brief summary: Tom is a down-on-his-luck straight builder who signs up to do a (heterosexual) adult film for some extra cash. Little does he know, it's actually a gay adult film studio that essentially baits straight men into doing gay scenes. There he meets his scene partner, Denny, a gay postgraduate student. Through a chain of events they become friends and more. Shenanigans occur.
I'm not going to go into some long, elaborate review of this book. It's perfectly fine. There's too much sex for my taste, but it's a romance, so I can live with that. I also find the whole concept of an adult film company baiting hetero men to be highly problematic, but you know what? It's fiction. Werk. Denny and Tom are pretty decent characters - especially Tom.
That being said, two things bother me, and this is why I'm writing this review.
1. I am not a particularly big fan of books where the protagonist hangs out in the closet for ninety years before waltzing out. It has been done before, and usually better. I also think that Str8 B8 didn't offer up anything particularly new or interesting on this front. But when certain other reviewers of this book denigrate it for featuring a gay, closeted man who doesn't just "come out already" - particularly when they don't even bother reading more than 15% or whatever - I get heated. Y'all need to check your privilege. Until you are in the same position, you don't have the right to comment on whether or not someone is in the closet for too long. Yes, it's fiction, but even in fiction the bodies and experiences of gay men are not there for you to mock or insult. Take multiple seats.
2. As mentioned above, the book lost me at the miscommunication at the 80% mark. Let me explain.
Anyways, yeah, this book is fine, I guess. Recommended if you want to read a romance featuring loooots of sex; adult film; genial relations between exes; physical laborer x academic romance.
I'm not going to go into some long, elaborate review of this book. It's perfectly fine. There's too much sex for my taste, but it's a romance, so I can live with that. I also find the whole concept of an adult film company baiting hetero men to be highly problematic, but you know what? It's fiction. Werk. Denny and Tom are pretty decent characters - especially Tom.
That being said, two things bother me, and this is why I'm writing this review.
1. I am not a particularly big fan of books where the protagonist hangs out in the closet for ninety years before waltzing out. It has been done before, and usually better. I also think that Str8 B8 didn't offer up anything particularly new or interesting on this front. But when certain other reviewers of this book denigrate it for featuring a gay, closeted man who doesn't just "come out already" - particularly when they don't even bother reading more than 15% or whatever - I get heated. Y'all need to check your privilege. Until you are in the same position, you don't have the right to comment on whether or not someone is in the closet for too long. Yes, it's fiction, but even in fiction the bodies and experiences of gay men are not there for you to mock or insult. Take multiple seats.
2. As mentioned above, the book lost me at the miscommunication at the 80% mark. Let me explain.
Anyways, yeah, this book is fine, I guess. Recommended if you want to read a romance featuring loooots of sex; adult film; genial relations between exes; physical laborer x academic romance.
April 11, 2023
I grabbed this book because I read two chapters of a new KC Wells book that is due out at the end of April and I wanted to get an idea of how they wrote.
The story is set in the UK – Tom is a builder and suffering from big businesses coming in and taking all of the work. He wants to help support his ex-wife and her new wife in their attempts to do IVF but money is proving to be a sticking point until his friend, Andy, makes a suggestion. Porn.
Denny is a student finishing his Masters degree, who does Porn and OF for the money and because he likes/enjoys it. He turns out to be Tom’s partner in his first attempts to do porn – he and the owner of the business have a habit of ‘tricking’ straight guys by saying that it’s going to be a threesome before telling them that the woman has dropped out and offering them money to do a gay scene. Obviously, the straight guy can say no and there’s no pressure, but still it seems like a pretty icky practice.
Tom accidentally runs into Denny at a later point in time and they talk things through, whereby Tom admits that he could have said no, and somehow from this a kind of friendship builds.
The relationship between Tom and Denny moved at an interesting pace – Tom is coming to terms with the fact that not only did he enjoy his scene with Denny, but that he might just be interested in something more. Denny is determined not to fall into the trap of falling for a straight friend – he’s been there before and got hurt, and he’s not going to do it again. But in the meantime, the attraction/chemistry between the two of them is hard to resist.
This was a nice, easy read with the miscommunication between the two men being completely understandable. The sex scenes were good, the writing style was relaxing, and I did enjoy reading the story. I found the ending a bit rushed: we went from declarations of love to graduation to babies very quickly. However, I couldn’t seem to get past the whole trick that Ari and Denny played on Tom at the beginning. It just felt – wrong, and stuck with me as I read the rest of the book. I can imagine that someone who is desperate for money might end up doing something that they wouldn’t normally do and it causing them some stress/anxiety afterwards and that seemed cruel. It was slightly addressed in the book – Denny told Tom that there had been at least one occasion where someone realised that they had been tricked and retaliated, but other than that it wasn’t really talked about.
For that reason, I gave the book a 3.5/5. I will be looking for more books by the author but I think there should, perhaps, have been a bit more warning about this before people go into reading the book.
The story is set in the UK – Tom is a builder and suffering from big businesses coming in and taking all of the work. He wants to help support his ex-wife and her new wife in their attempts to do IVF but money is proving to be a sticking point until his friend, Andy, makes a suggestion. Porn.
Denny is a student finishing his Masters degree, who does Porn and OF for the money and because he likes/enjoys it. He turns out to be Tom’s partner in his first attempts to do porn – he and the owner of the business have a habit of ‘tricking’ straight guys by saying that it’s going to be a threesome before telling them that the woman has dropped out and offering them money to do a gay scene. Obviously, the straight guy can say no and there’s no pressure, but still it seems like a pretty icky practice.
Tom accidentally runs into Denny at a later point in time and they talk things through, whereby Tom admits that he could have said no, and somehow from this a kind of friendship builds.
The relationship between Tom and Denny moved at an interesting pace – Tom is coming to terms with the fact that not only did he enjoy his scene with Denny, but that he might just be interested in something more. Denny is determined not to fall into the trap of falling for a straight friend – he’s been there before and got hurt, and he’s not going to do it again. But in the meantime, the attraction/chemistry between the two of them is hard to resist.
This was a nice, easy read with the miscommunication between the two men being completely understandable. The sex scenes were good, the writing style was relaxing, and I did enjoy reading the story. I found the ending a bit rushed: we went from declarations of love to graduation to babies very quickly. However, I couldn’t seem to get past the whole trick that Ari and Denny played on Tom at the beginning. It just felt – wrong, and stuck with me as I read the rest of the book. I can imagine that someone who is desperate for money might end up doing something that they wouldn’t normally do and it causing them some stress/anxiety afterwards and that seemed cruel. It was slightly addressed in the book – Denny told Tom that there had been at least one occasion where someone realised that they had been tricked and retaliated, but other than that it wasn’t really talked about.
For that reason, I gave the book a 3.5/5. I will be looking for more books by the author but I think there should, perhaps, have been a bit more warning about this before people go into reading the book.
May 22, 2023
Sweet & Spicy🔥Gr8ness! Fantastic Story & Listen🎧
Str8 B8
By: K.C. Wells
Narrated by: Seb Yarrick
K.C. Wells blows me away with another wonderfully entertaining story and she turns up the heat for this beauty of a novel. I loved the uniqueness of this story, the storylines are original and interesting, they grabbed my attention right from the start and captivated it straight to the end. The characters are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with, they are easy to like and care about too. Tom Ryder is an independent builder construction worker who works for himself, but business has not been that great because more companies are popping up and there is more competition for jobs. A friend suggests doing some adult videos, that it is easy cash and a fun time with a hot co-star. Because of his dire financial situation he goes for it, but his friend left out one not so minor detail, that his co-star was not a woman it is a man. Denny Bailey has been working with Ari and starring in adult films to help pay for college, he also does his own for his OnlyFans site. He was called in to work with a new client, a straight man baited into gay porn and when he got a look at his costar he loved what he saw and hoped he would take the bait. Tom did, he really could use the money which was double the original offer and he was a good sport about it too. Denny made him feel comfortable and walked him through everything and being with him was no hardship at all. He did feel some guilt after and when he talked to his friend he found out the same thing happened to him and he realized he was played, that there was never going to be a woman involved. And being it is a small world he sees Denny again and is about to give him a piece of his mind. The chemistry between these two is undeniable, Tom is still unsure about things, he was always into women, never gave men a thought, yet he enjoyed himself greatly and he really likes Denny. I loved how everything played out in this book, it is a wonderfully plotted story with the perfect balance of drama, heartfelt emotions, a beauty of a romance and steamy hot scenes that are well written and well done. K.C. Wells, thank you for another fabulous story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧 And for the terrific narration, Seb Yarrick is an entertaining storyteller and a versatile voice artist. He does a great job of bringing these characters to life and his portrayal of each was spot on, his character voices fit each of their personas perfectly and he was believable in every role he played. Yarrick sets the
Str8 B8
By: K.C. Wells
Narrated by: Seb Yarrick
K.C. Wells blows me away with another wonderfully entertaining story and she turns up the heat for this beauty of a novel. I loved the uniqueness of this story, the storylines are original and interesting, they grabbed my attention right from the start and captivated it straight to the end. The characters are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with, they are easy to like and care about too. Tom Ryder is an independent builder construction worker who works for himself, but business has not been that great because more companies are popping up and there is more competition for jobs. A friend suggests doing some adult videos, that it is easy cash and a fun time with a hot co-star. Because of his dire financial situation he goes for it, but his friend left out one not so minor detail, that his co-star was not a woman it is a man. Denny Bailey has been working with Ari and starring in adult films to help pay for college, he also does his own for his OnlyFans site. He was called in to work with a new client, a straight man baited into gay porn and when he got a look at his costar he loved what he saw and hoped he would take the bait. Tom did, he really could use the money which was double the original offer and he was a good sport about it too. Denny made him feel comfortable and walked him through everything and being with him was no hardship at all. He did feel some guilt after and when he talked to his friend he found out the same thing happened to him and he realized he was played, that there was never going to be a woman involved. And being it is a small world he sees Denny again and is about to give him a piece of his mind. The chemistry between these two is undeniable, Tom is still unsure about things, he was always into women, never gave men a thought, yet he enjoyed himself greatly and he really likes Denny. I loved how everything played out in this book, it is a wonderfully plotted story with the perfect balance of drama, heartfelt emotions, a beauty of a romance and steamy hot scenes that are well written and well done. K.C. Wells, thank you for another fabulous story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧 And for the terrific narration, Seb Yarrick is an entertaining storyteller and a versatile voice artist. He does a great job of bringing these characters to life and his portrayal of each was spot on, his character voices fit each of their personas perfectly and he was believable in every role he played. Yarrick sets the
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