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Rock and a Hard Place
Determined to outdo each other, business rivals Sean and Andrew land themselves in hot water when their private feud spills over at a very public charity auction.
With neither willing to back down over the dream vacation at stake, they're told by their boss that they're both going and that they're to return as friends.
As fate would have it, their plane crashes and they wash up on a desert island where their feud is as likely to doom them as the lack of food and their inability to start a fire. But there's enough heat between them to set sparks flying once out and proud Sean discovers that Andrew's gay, but determined to remain in the closet.
Rescue comes, but brings with it new challenges. They're whisked back to their old lives with secrets to keep and a shared passion that makes it impossible for them to stay apart for long.
Choices must be made, new paths taken, and two men who have always been good at fighting find themselves, finally, with something worth fighting for: each other.
With neither willing to back down over the dream vacation at stake, they're told by their boss that they're both going and that they're to return as friends.
As fate would have it, their plane crashes and they wash up on a desert island where their feud is as likely to doom them as the lack of food and their inability to start a fire. But there's enough heat between them to set sparks flying once out and proud Sean discovers that Andrew's gay, but determined to remain in the closet.
Rescue comes, but brings with it new challenges. They're whisked back to their old lives with secrets to keep and a shared passion that makes it impossible for them to stay apart for long.
Choices must be made, new paths taken, and two men who have always been good at fighting find themselves, finally, with something worth fighting for: each other.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2012
4 people are currently reading
394 people want to read
About the author
Jane Davitt
64 books479 followersRetired from pro writing, pretty much. Any books where the rights are with me I've put up at A03, along with all my fic, which I'm still writing.
[Free reads and my fanfic are here:
Jane Davitt at AO3]
Thank you to all who read my books. It meant a lot.
[Free reads and my fanfic are here:
Jane Davitt at AO3]
Thank you to all who read my books. It meant a lot.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
August 27, 2022
I've had this classic enemies to lovers romance on my Kindle for way too long! I really enjoyed the early part of the book where these two are clashing constantly. And there are some great survival scenes on the island. Of course, the sex scenes are smoking hot - it's Jane Davitt after all!
available on AO3
https://archiveofourown.org/works/164...
available on AO3
https://archiveofourown.org/works/164...
May 11, 2012
3,5 stars
*spoilerish!!*
Finished - and tired.
These two guys were exhausting.
Don`t get me wrong, this was not a bad story. I wasn`t tempted to skim pages or even stop reading but it took some effort to read through and even more effort to like the characters. I did like them...and didn`t. I couldn`t decide perhaps that`s what kept me reading.
Sean - openly gay and prickly with a homemade inferiority complex and Andrew - a deep in the closet papa`s boy with superior attitude - the perfect mix for an enemies to lovers story.
Cat and dog were sent to a luxury resort on command from daddy - after one-too-many fights as managers in Andrew`s fathers company - where they were supposed to learn how to deal with each other. The plane crashed and know the two men were stuck on a small deserted island where they learned....to deal with each other - in a way daddy wouldn`t approve.
The robinsonade was a bit disappointing (for me).No hungry sharks,tsunamis, poisonous wrigglers or carnivores salivating over the new addition to their small island menu.
"Just" empty stomachs, the inability to make fire, eating raw fish, whining over missing soap and toothbrushes and smut with sand in all the wrong places. But I got a heroic rescue from a vicious coral reef so I won`t complain too much.
Back home to the amenities of civilization Sean and Andrew began to drift apart again despite falling hard for each other on the island - due to their different personalities and Andrews fear of coming out to his parents. The second part of the book was slightly long winded with Andrew constantly giving mixed signals and ruffling Sean`s feathers.
Of course they came together in the end - clearly loving each other - but I had the feeling they still have a long way to go to become friends as well...
*spoilerish!!*
Finished - and tired.
These two guys were exhausting.
Don`t get me wrong, this was not a bad story. I wasn`t tempted to skim pages or even stop reading but it took some effort to read through and even more effort to like the characters. I did like them...and didn`t. I couldn`t decide perhaps that`s what kept me reading.
Sean - openly gay and prickly with a homemade inferiority complex and Andrew - a deep in the closet papa`s boy with superior attitude - the perfect mix for an enemies to lovers story.
Cat and dog were sent to a luxury resort on command from daddy - after one-too-many fights as managers in Andrew`s fathers company - where they were supposed to learn how to deal with each other. The plane crashed and know the two men were stuck on a small deserted island where they learned....to deal with each other - in a way daddy wouldn`t approve.
The robinsonade was a bit disappointing (for me).No hungry sharks,tsunamis, poisonous wrigglers or carnivores salivating over the new addition to their small island menu.
"Just" empty stomachs, the inability to make fire, eating raw fish, whining over missing soap and toothbrushes and smut with sand in all the wrong places. But I got a heroic rescue from a vicious coral reef so I won`t complain too much.
Back home to the amenities of civilization Sean and Andrew began to drift apart again despite falling hard for each other on the island - due to their different personalities and Andrews fear of coming out to his parents. The second part of the book was slightly long winded with Andrew constantly giving mixed signals and ruffling Sean`s feathers.
Of course they came together in the end - clearly loving each other - but I had the feeling they still have a long way to go to become friends as well...
March 9, 2014
3.5 stars
Loved the set-up and enemies to lovers trope, which was well done. The trapped-on-a-desert-island thing could have been cheesy, but it was believable. There was a sense of futility to the long days spent trying to start a fire, keeping clothes dry, building a shelter, and searching for food. It wasn't fun and excitement; it was monotonous drudgery.
What didn't work as well was the last half of the book where the MCs go back to their real lives: Sean being a little aggressive and openly gay and Andrew being the slightly spoiled, do-good son of the company president (the company where both men work).
Sean was awesome. He developed and grew as a character. Once he really "sees" Andrew on the island, he becomes more gentle, less cynical, willing to wait until Andrew comes out.
Andrew, on the other hand, was selfish and wishy-washy. I hated the way he acted and treated Sean once they were off the island. I hated the way he pandered to his parents' wishes, even though he was a grown man. He does show up for Sean at the end, but Sean needed to let him grovel more. And his coming out? Please. It was done by default, and what lead to it was despicable (and all Andrew's doing).
The banter between the MCs was great, as were the steamy scenes. The angst was minimal. This was an enjoyable read, an easy one. I just wanted more at the end; the HEA felt uncertain.
Loved the set-up and enemies to lovers trope, which was well done. The trapped-on-a-desert-island thing could have been cheesy, but it was believable. There was a sense of futility to the long days spent trying to start a fire, keeping clothes dry, building a shelter, and searching for food. It wasn't fun and excitement; it was monotonous drudgery.
What didn't work as well was the last half of the book where the MCs go back to their real lives: Sean being a little aggressive and openly gay and Andrew being the slightly spoiled, do-good son of the company president (the company where both men work).
Sean was awesome. He developed and grew as a character. Once he really "sees" Andrew on the island, he becomes more gentle, less cynical, willing to wait until Andrew comes out.
Andrew, on the other hand, was selfish and wishy-washy. I hated the way he acted and treated Sean once they were off the island. I hated the way he pandered to his parents' wishes, even though he was a grown man. He does show up for Sean at the end, but Sean needed to let him grovel more. And his coming out? Please. It was done by default, and what lead to it was despicable (and all Andrew's doing).
The banter between the MCs was great, as were the steamy scenes. The angst was minimal. This was an enjoyable read, an easy one. I just wanted more at the end; the HEA felt uncertain.
October 2, 2023
Re-Read: June 2023
Original Read: July 2020
This story is available on AO3.
At this point, this is my favorite deserted island MM romance! It comes with an enemies-to-lovers dynamic and I adored the bickering, animosity and competition between the two MCs right from the start so when they end up spending a week on a deserted island together, it's as intense as I hoped it would be. I loved that the author took the deserted island part of the story seriously. There's a bit of a plot convenience when they find . But the author did a great job (IMO) showing how much the MCs struggled to get enough water to drink, food to eat and how difficult it was being exposed to the extreme weather conditions on the island constantly.
I also appreciated that the dangers of their situation weren't ignored. When I'm walking on a beach, I don't worry about what would happen if I stepped on a sharp piece of coral in the water and badly cut my foot or if I don't have a bottle of drinking water right next to me because I know I have plenty of amenities available as soon as I step off the beach. But the reality of Sean and Andrew's situation was intense because they both knew if they badly injured themselves, there was a real chance that they could die and in addition, this would leave the other person completely alone, possibly for the rest of their lives. The few times when they did get injured or ended up in life threatening situations or when the weather was extreme, I was just as scared for them as they were.
The pacing of the MCs relationship on the island might have been quick but I didn't feel it was rushed or unrealistic. The MCs are both gay and they're going through such intensely emotional situations that it made sense that they would quickly shift to using each other for comfort. Due to the nature of the situation they're in, they're forced to be themselves and drop the usual acts they put on in the business world (Sean being a sarcastic jerk and Andrew being the spoiled, obnoxious rich boy), which meant it made sense that they bonded quickly and grew to like each other relatively easily.
The boys are rescued and that's when the story follows predictable 2012 MM romance plot beats, but I didn't mind. The first major conflict is that . This is easier said than done because of how much they care about each other and how quickly they got accustomed to being together while on the island. The author did a great job portraying how strange it was for them to be sleeping in their own hotel rooms or their own homes after they had spent that week cuddled up together while sleeping, or how strange it was to have both men go back to wearing their $6000 suits with perfect hair and be covered with that ice-cold business aloofness again after they had spent a week wearing torn, filthy clothes and constantly being dirty and scruffy but allowing themselves to be free with their emotions.
Their pining for each other and for the relationship they had on the island was heartbreaking and I loved that part of the story. It was a little irritating that the separation is due to multiple predictable conflicts that all revolve around Andrew's family, since the pattern of them getting together and then breaking up due to Andrew allowing his parents to control his life happened multiple times. It was predictable, it's something I've read a million times before and throwing in one last example of it at the 85% mark really wasn't necessary, but I did love the pining so I didn't mind.
My favorite part of the pining section were two situations where one MC was dealing with a very difficult personal situation and the other MC responded by frantically barging back into their lives to help.
One of these situations (and my favorite part of the story) involved .
The other situation involved .
Overall, the story feels a little dated because the conflict was the type of stuff that's been done a million times before but the book was published in 2012 and that kind of conflict was the norm in MM romance back then so IMO, it would be unfair for me to judge the book harshly because of that. Putting aside the lack of originality in terms of the conflict in the second half, I adored the MCs, the deserted island survival stuff was great, the MCs romance was well done and I absolutely loved how much these boys cared about each other. It's a real shame that this book isn't better known and that the main deserted island MM romance is always Keira Andrew's Beyond The Sea because I feel this one was a much better romance.
Original Read: July 2020
This story is available on AO3.
At this point, this is my favorite deserted island MM romance! It comes with an enemies-to-lovers dynamic and I adored the bickering, animosity and competition between the two MCs right from the start so when they end up spending a week on a deserted island together, it's as intense as I hoped it would be. I loved that the author took the deserted island part of the story seriously. There's a bit of a plot convenience when they find . But the author did a great job (IMO) showing how much the MCs struggled to get enough water to drink, food to eat and how difficult it was being exposed to the extreme weather conditions on the island constantly.
I also appreciated that the dangers of their situation weren't ignored. When I'm walking on a beach, I don't worry about what would happen if I stepped on a sharp piece of coral in the water and badly cut my foot or if I don't have a bottle of drinking water right next to me because I know I have plenty of amenities available as soon as I step off the beach. But the reality of Sean and Andrew's situation was intense because they both knew if they badly injured themselves, there was a real chance that they could die and in addition, this would leave the other person completely alone, possibly for the rest of their lives. The few times when they did get injured or ended up in life threatening situations or when the weather was extreme, I was just as scared for them as they were.
The pacing of the MCs relationship on the island might have been quick but I didn't feel it was rushed or unrealistic. The MCs are both gay and they're going through such intensely emotional situations that it made sense that they would quickly shift to using each other for comfort. Due to the nature of the situation they're in, they're forced to be themselves and drop the usual acts they put on in the business world (Sean being a sarcastic jerk and Andrew being the spoiled, obnoxious rich boy), which meant it made sense that they bonded quickly and grew to like each other relatively easily.
The boys are rescued and that's when the story follows predictable 2012 MM romance plot beats, but I didn't mind. The first major conflict is that . This is easier said than done because of how much they care about each other and how quickly they got accustomed to being together while on the island. The author did a great job portraying how strange it was for them to be sleeping in their own hotel rooms or their own homes after they had spent that week cuddled up together while sleeping, or how strange it was to have both men go back to wearing their $6000 suits with perfect hair and be covered with that ice-cold business aloofness again after they had spent a week wearing torn, filthy clothes and constantly being dirty and scruffy but allowing themselves to be free with their emotions.
Their pining for each other and for the relationship they had on the island was heartbreaking and I loved that part of the story. It was a little irritating that the separation is due to multiple predictable conflicts that all revolve around Andrew's family, since the pattern of them getting together and then breaking up due to Andrew allowing his parents to control his life happened multiple times. It was predictable, it's something I've read a million times before and throwing in one last example of it at the 85% mark really wasn't necessary, but I did love the pining so I didn't mind.
My favorite part of the pining section were two situations where one MC was dealing with a very difficult personal situation and the other MC responded by frantically barging back into their lives to help.
One of these situations (and my favorite part of the story) involved .
The other situation involved .
Overall, the story feels a little dated because the conflict was the type of stuff that's been done a million times before but the book was published in 2012 and that kind of conflict was the norm in MM romance back then so IMO, it would be unfair for me to judge the book harshly because of that. Putting aside the lack of originality in terms of the conflict in the second half, I adored the MCs, the deserted island survival stuff was great, the MCs romance was well done and I absolutely loved how much these boys cared about each other. It's a real shame that this book isn't better known and that the main deserted island MM romance is always Keira Andrew's Beyond The Sea because I feel this one was a much better romance.
August 11, 2012
Corny and cliched. Thick-on-the-ground sex and thin, up in the air storyline. A tedious tale of two teenage girls whose drama, despite trying its best to be relevant, is just dull. A tale related by amateur writing that renders this a tiresome read.
July 31, 2012
Have you ever read a book where you were just exhausted at the end? yeah that was this book for me. Sean is an out financial manager at this firm where Andrew is heir apparent. Sean has a chip on his shoulder the state wide and is out for blood where Andrew is concerned. The constant and I do mean constant fighting was tiring. Andrews inability to man up until the end with parents that were hard to take added to the muddy story.
Now it may sound like I did not like it. From this team of writers, you know you are going to get a solidly written book and that is the case here. And I liked it, I did, I was just really tired with them by the end and was not crazy about the plane crash story line.
Now it may sound like I did not like it. From this team of writers, you know you are going to get a solidly written book and that is the case here. And I liked it, I did, I was just really tired with them by the end and was not crazy about the plane crash story line.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2016
This is a classic enemies to lovers book, with a survival-on-an-island component. It's well written, with some nicely hot sex, (unlike some of Jane Davitt's books, there is no BDSM here,) and a fairly believable arc about two men who have been business rivals and fighting a hidden attraction for years.
I liked both Sean and Andrew, and enjoyed their fighting almost more than their love-making. A solid, smooth read with a realistic feel, (). Not quite up to some of the other books I've read by these writers, but enjoyable.
I liked both Sean and Andrew, and enjoyed their fighting almost more than their love-making. A solid, smooth read with a realistic feel, (). Not quite up to some of the other books I've read by these writers, but enjoyable.
October 28, 2014
4.5 stars.
I do love me a good enemies-to-lovers story. And if it's written by my favorite author duo - all the better.
I had a hard time putting the book down. The story just flowed, nicely paced and I rooted for the guys from the beginning. Both Sean and Andrew were so hostile to each other, so arrogant, pushy..until the circumstances forced them spend all the time together on a secluded island. Kinda cheesy, that trope, but I gobbled it up. It was good to see them growing closer, becoming sorta friends. They changed, a lot. And then they went back to real life.
It was at that point that Sean stole my heart. I wasn't quite warmed up to him in the beginning - he seemed to have a big chip on his shoulder. But falling in love with Andrew smoothed out his rough edges and I saw another side of his personality. Sadly, Andrew deteriorated the further the book went on. I just ached for Sean - he was like a kicked puppy, so eager to have Andrew, so forgiving each time Andrew hurt him.
Angst galore - and I loved every second of it. Plenty of hot sex didn't hurt, either.
Yum.
I do love me a good enemies-to-lovers story. And if it's written by my favorite author duo - all the better.
I had a hard time putting the book down. The story just flowed, nicely paced and I rooted for the guys from the beginning. Both Sean and Andrew were so hostile to each other, so arrogant, pushy..until the circumstances forced them spend all the time together on a secluded island. Kinda cheesy, that trope, but I gobbled it up. It was good to see them growing closer, becoming sorta friends. They changed, a lot. And then they went back to real life.
It was at that point that Sean stole my heart. I wasn't quite warmed up to him in the beginning - he seemed to have a big chip on his shoulder. But falling in love with Andrew smoothed out his rough edges and I saw another side of his personality. Sadly, Andrew deteriorated the further the book went on. I just ached for Sean - he was like a kicked puppy, so eager to have Andrew, so forgiving each time Andrew hurt him.
Angst galore - and I loved every second of it. Plenty of hot sex didn't hurt, either.
Yum.
October 8, 2013
4.5 stars from me for this one. Seem to be going through a Jane Davitt phase, so I may feel a new shelf coming on shortly.
I loved the snarky chat between these two supposed rivals Sean and Andrew, always trying to outdo each other and impress Andrew's dad, but when he's had enough of their arguing and sends them on a trip to the Maldives to play nicely together for a change, they find that playing nicely together may just save their lives, and Sean discovers something that makes him determined to keep Andrew in his sights when they get back home.
August 4, 2012
Two things: that scene from "Here to Eternity" is a lot more glamorous in the movie and I prefer a machete to open my coconuts.
Sweet, amusing and surprisingly sexy for two men who haven't had a proper shower in quite awhile. I like the rivalry between Sean and Andrew; it is funny how much hate/love are so closely aligned. I always laugh when people say hate is the opposite of love--no, it's apathy. Repressed feelings do have a way of peeking through during moments of crisis and this one implodes into a fiery mess.
Sweet, amusing and surprisingly sexy for two men who haven't had a proper shower in quite awhile. I like the rivalry between Sean and Andrew; it is funny how much hate/love are so closely aligned. I always laugh when people say hate is the opposite of love--no, it's apathy. Repressed feelings do have a way of peeking through during moments of crisis and this one implodes into a fiery mess.
May 26, 2012
3.5 stars. Good m/m romance about two business rivals who are at each other's throats to such a degree that their boss sends them on a vacation together so they can work through their animosity... and then their plane goes down into the ocean. I wish I'd skipped the last chapter (18, if you're so inclined).
May 18, 2014
3.5★'s - I read this in one day and didn't want to put it down, so that says something. I really did enjoy it, really, up until I guess the 50-60% mark. Then it just became annoying and a bit frustrating. There were a lot of moments in between though so I did end up liking it as a whole. Enemies to lovers works for me, there was just some drama that I didn't like in this one.
July 28, 2012
The last chapter was idiotic.
May 11, 2012
4.25 stars
Have you ever read a book that by the end of it you were physically and mentally exhausted? Well, Rock and A Hard Place did that to me. I am not saying that it is a bad book; in fact, it is the direct opposite, but by the end of it the characters (and me) had been put through the wringer!
Andrew Carney is a rich, spoiled brat who works for his father’s company. Sean Darrow is a successful broker at the company and Sean and Andrew hate each other. This is not a Jersey Shore frenemies kind of dislike, no, this is plain loathing. The two men disagree on the most trivial things and when their feud spills over at a charity function, Andrew’s father decides they have to work it out and sends them on a vacation to get over their differences. But, Fate is a fickle bitch, and as they are about to land on their vacation resort, their plane crashes and they are shipwrecked together. Cue Survivor moments (Yuk, eating raw crab!) and lots of Blue Lagoon moments, this time gay ones, instead of Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins, and they spend their days forging for food and the nights...well, I guess you can imagine what they do at night!
Unfortunately, their island paradise is interrupted when they are rescued and have to go back to civilization. Sean wants to continue their relationship, but Andrew is so far in the closet I think he might have run into Tom Cruise in there. Will Sean and Andrew ever figure their complicated relationship out or is Andrew doomed to towing the family line and being unhappy?
As you can see from my rating, I really enjoyed this book. I love a good shipwrecked romance (I do own a copy of The Blue Lagoon, both versions!), so the blurb was perfect for my reading tastes. While the characters, plot and chemistry between the two protagonists is awesome, the main reason I couldn’t rate it higher was the constant misunderstandings which seemed to make the plot stumble every once in a while. Plus, the fighting between Sean and Andrew, while hot at first, dragged on a bit after the couple got together on the island. Quite frankly, I wanted to slap both men a number of times and yell: “Snap out of it!”
However, once I got past that, Rock and A Hard Place grew on me. As a fan of the Dave and Maddie relationship from Moonlighting, I like a good fight, as the making up is so much sweeter; so Sean and Andrew will have no issues there. Plus the scenes on the island were realistic and frightening; you could feel the tension as they tried to find enough food and water to stay alive. I kind of wished they could have stayed on the island a bit longer.
Overall, I always enjoy a book by this duo and Rock and A Hard Place was no exception. Andrew and Sean have complicated and strong personalities, so they needed an equally angsty plot. Ms. Snow and Ms. Davitt really put them through their paces and when they came out on the other side...it was worth the exhaustion. Recommended.
Have you ever read a book that by the end of it you were physically and mentally exhausted? Well, Rock and A Hard Place did that to me. I am not saying that it is a bad book; in fact, it is the direct opposite, but by the end of it the characters (and me) had been put through the wringer!
Andrew Carney is a rich, spoiled brat who works for his father’s company. Sean Darrow is a successful broker at the company and Sean and Andrew hate each other. This is not a Jersey Shore frenemies kind of dislike, no, this is plain loathing. The two men disagree on the most trivial things and when their feud spills over at a charity function, Andrew’s father decides they have to work it out and sends them on a vacation to get over their differences. But, Fate is a fickle bitch, and as they are about to land on their vacation resort, their plane crashes and they are shipwrecked together. Cue Survivor moments (Yuk, eating raw crab!) and lots of Blue Lagoon moments, this time gay ones, instead of Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins, and they spend their days forging for food and the nights...well, I guess you can imagine what they do at night!
Unfortunately, their island paradise is interrupted when they are rescued and have to go back to civilization. Sean wants to continue their relationship, but Andrew is so far in the closet I think he might have run into Tom Cruise in there. Will Sean and Andrew ever figure their complicated relationship out or is Andrew doomed to towing the family line and being unhappy?
As you can see from my rating, I really enjoyed this book. I love a good shipwrecked romance (I do own a copy of The Blue Lagoon, both versions!), so the blurb was perfect for my reading tastes. While the characters, plot and chemistry between the two protagonists is awesome, the main reason I couldn’t rate it higher was the constant misunderstandings which seemed to make the plot stumble every once in a while. Plus, the fighting between Sean and Andrew, while hot at first, dragged on a bit after the couple got together on the island. Quite frankly, I wanted to slap both men a number of times and yell: “Snap out of it!”
However, once I got past that, Rock and A Hard Place grew on me. As a fan of the Dave and Maddie relationship from Moonlighting, I like a good fight, as the making up is so much sweeter; so Sean and Andrew will have no issues there. Plus the scenes on the island were realistic and frightening; you could feel the tension as they tried to find enough food and water to stay alive. I kind of wished they could have stayed on the island a bit longer.
Overall, I always enjoy a book by this duo and Rock and A Hard Place was no exception. Andrew and Sean have complicated and strong personalities, so they needed an equally angsty plot. Ms. Snow and Ms. Davitt really put them through their paces and when they came out on the other side...it was worth the exhaustion. Recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2015
Sean and Andrew can’t stop fighting. They are co-workers in the financial world in a company owned by Andrew’s father. Yes, Sean resents Andrew for his silver spoon and no, that feeling he gets when he looks at Andrew can’t possibly be attraction, it just can’t be.
When the two set out to outbid each other at a charity auction, Andrew’s father pulls the rug out from under them by winning the bid and arranging for them to go away together to hammer out their differences. But the seaplane that was to take them on the last leg of the journey crashes into the ocean, and the two find themselves stranded on a desert island. It takes a while, but they do learn to work together to feed and shelter themselves, and though they still bicker, it’s not what it was,and eventually they find themselves acting on an attraction for each other and making promises they won’t be able to keep when they get home.
They are rescued and true to form they begin to argue again, and when they return to the office, a serious rift takes place as the result of competing for a client’s account. Hurt feelings abound in this story, and it’s starting to look like these two weren’t meant to be together, until they finally dig to the heart of the matter and act on their true feelings.
I enjoyed this story though I wanted to whack both of them in the head more than once. The bickering was irritating but necessary to the story, and I really enjoyed the way the authors finally brought them around to their HEA.
When the two set out to outbid each other at a charity auction, Andrew’s father pulls the rug out from under them by winning the bid and arranging for them to go away together to hammer out their differences. But the seaplane that was to take them on the last leg of the journey crashes into the ocean, and the two find themselves stranded on a desert island. It takes a while, but they do learn to work together to feed and shelter themselves, and though they still bicker, it’s not what it was,and eventually they find themselves acting on an attraction for each other and making promises they won’t be able to keep when they get home.
They are rescued and true to form they begin to argue again, and when they return to the office, a serious rift takes place as the result of competing for a client’s account. Hurt feelings abound in this story, and it’s starting to look like these two weren’t meant to be together, until they finally dig to the heart of the matter and act on their true feelings.
I enjoyed this story though I wanted to whack both of them in the head more than once. The bickering was irritating but necessary to the story, and I really enjoyed the way the authors finally brought them around to their HEA.
June 11, 2012
4.5 Stars
There was so much I loved about this book, but it had a few niggles that drove me to distraction. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite storylines, and with the added dimension of a crash landing on a desert island, I was really looking forward to the show-down between Sean and Andrew when they were forced to work together to survive. The best part of the whole book, in my opinion, is the time spent on the island. I loved Sean and Andrew together when the rest of world wasn't involved.
The niggles that bugged me were:
Don't believe for a minute that the "niggles" ruined the book, not the case at all. This book is really original and very well written. This is a new author for me and I will definitely be checking out more by her.
There was so much I loved about this book, but it had a few niggles that drove me to distraction. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite storylines, and with the added dimension of a crash landing on a desert island, I was really looking forward to the show-down between Sean and Andrew when they were forced to work together to survive. The best part of the whole book, in my opinion, is the time spent on the island. I loved Sean and Andrew together when the rest of world wasn't involved.
The niggles that bugged me were:
Don't believe for a minute that the "niggles" ruined the book, not the case at all. This book is really original and very well written. This is a new author for me and I will definitely be checking out more by her.
January 24, 2013
I shouldn't have enjoyed this book a much a I did, Why? Two reasons...........Sean and Andrew! These two have to be the most frustrating, contrary, stubborn headed pair of PIA's, that I've ever come across in a book! I spent most of the time wanting to slap some sense into both of them. This is a proper 'enemies to lovers' story and has enough misunderstandings and angsty moments to rival any long running soap, but it works really well, even though it will probably have you banging your head against a wall every time one of them puts his foot in his mouth again, keep the pain killers handy!!
Having said all that, it is a great love story that has excellent sexual chemistry and some hot moments between the pair of them, and you can't help rooting for the two of them to finally get it together. Most of the time I didn't want to like them, but then they'd do something to redeem themselves and I'd find myself warming up to them again, until the next time one of them acted like an ass!
Well written and well worth reading.
Having said all that, it is a great love story that has excellent sexual chemistry and some hot moments between the pair of them, and you can't help rooting for the two of them to finally get it together. Most of the time I didn't want to like them, but then they'd do something to redeem themselves and I'd find myself warming up to them again, until the next time one of them acted like an ass!
Well written and well worth reading.
February 21, 2013
This book is hot and full of one thing I love more than almost anything. BANTER!
Rock and a Hard Place was one of those hot books that could have gone on forever and I would have loved it. This had sweet scenes, fun scenes and over the top hot scenes. The characters, although lovable could get on my nerves at times. The bickering and hot sex made up for it and I still loved the book.
For a favourite MC I would have to pick Sean. He is the type of character I love. Out and proud, witty and has a temper. I loved that about him, he was temperamental and stood up for himself. Not that he was a hard character to like, but he took no prisoners.
The story satisfied something inside me. I was in love with those characters and the super fun, different story. The "coming out" for me could have been better, but when Andrew managed to get his head out of his ass, I rejoiced.
I would highly recommend this book for those who love banter and hot sex. Warning though you will wish it had been longer.
Rock and a Hard Place was one of those hot books that could have gone on forever and I would have loved it. This had sweet scenes, fun scenes and over the top hot scenes. The characters, although lovable could get on my nerves at times. The bickering and hot sex made up for it and I still loved the book.
For a favourite MC I would have to pick Sean. He is the type of character I love. Out and proud, witty and has a temper. I loved that about him, he was temperamental and stood up for himself. Not that he was a hard character to like, but he took no prisoners.
The story satisfied something inside me. I was in love with those characters and the super fun, different story. The "coming out" for me could have been better, but when Andrew managed to get his head out of his ass, I rejoiced.
I would highly recommend this book for those who love banter and hot sex. Warning though you will wish it had been longer.
September 16, 2014
3.5 stars. Sean and Andrew are work rivals whose constant bickering has put them in an awkward situation, they're to vacation together on an island. If that's not bad enough, they don't even make it to the resort and are stranded on an island. Sean is out and proud but Andrew has been in the closet. The close circumstances and forced cooperation bring out their shared lust for each other. Turns out, being home and back into secrets is tougher then surviving on the island. I really liked Sean here (and I thought I'd hate him at first) but Andrew's inconsistencies were annoying. I also felt at times like this isn't how real people act...
June 16, 2012
I liked this but I had problems with it. There's a lot happening here which may have been a part of the issue because I feel a bit torn in different directions.
There's decent chemistry, too many different storylines and almost likeable characters but for most of the story I had a hard time enjoying the journey. Almost too much antagonism here for me to be rooting for anyone.
There's decent chemistry, too many different storylines and almost likeable characters but for most of the story I had a hard time enjoying the journey. Almost too much antagonism here for me to be rooting for anyone.
September 12, 2016
This was good read that kept you on your toes and guessing if there was going to be an hea ending. In the beginning of the book I wasn't sure I liked Sean and his attitude towards Andrew and in general it seemed like he had a huge chip on his shoulder. He won me over totally and at the end I wasn't to sure then if Andrew deserved Sean with and his honesty and love.
May 10, 2012
3.5 stars
The book was well-written but the MCs were fighting too much for my taste. I love enemies to lovers stories but those two didn't stop till the last page and eventually it got to be a bit too much for me.
The book was well-written but the MCs were fighting too much for my taste. I love enemies to lovers stories but those two didn't stop till the last page and eventually it got to be a bit too much for me.
August 8, 2017
Why do authors write books with the sole reason of having their characters have sex??? I didn't care about Andrew and Sean's adventure on the island because I knew the main reason was so they could have sex. I mean, who does that? If I just survived a plane crash I wouldn't be thinking about sex on day 2!!! First thing I'd do is create a huge ass SOS sign to possibly get rescued. So with that said, I didn't care about any of the sex scenes between these guys.
There were a few moments that I enjoyed in the book: The first was when Sean meets Andrew at that auction party with his red headed date. That kept my interest. I also liked how open and accepting Sean's parents were. I would have liked to have seen the aftermath of Andrew officially coming out and his society friends reacting to it.
Overall, this wasn't a very good story.
There were a few moments that I enjoyed in the book: The first was when Sean meets Andrew at that auction party with his red headed date. That kept my interest. I also liked how open and accepting Sean's parents were. I would have liked to have seen the aftermath of Andrew officially coming out and his society friends reacting to it.
Overall, this wasn't a very good story.
April 23, 2017
This was a pretty good enemies to lovers story. I really enjoyed the two men getting closer as they faced adversity. Sean went from being brash and defensive to showing he was a caring individual and wearing his heart on his sleeve. Andrew was up and down, hot and cold. I'd really like him on second and the next he was back to pushing Sean away. I wanted to wring his angsty neck most of the book. But overall, I would recommend it....it was a fun, feisty read.
June 23, 2013
This was good, better than I expected to be honest. I was worried the whole plane crash thing was a little over the top and silly, but it was well done. The book is split between before/after their rescue and I liked both parts equally. I was worried they would squabble endlessly but instead they would both at times lose their temper and say something hurtful due to the stressful situation, but were always easily forgiven.
There was probably one more conflict at the end than I needed, and it made me dislike Andrew slightly . Whereas in the beginning it was actually Sean I disliked slightly due to that huge and sort of unnecessary chip on his shoulder. Harris calling his family "neuvo riche" later to Andrew seemed like a forced attempt to justify it though.
It ended well, and definitely needed that last chapter so we could see how it all worked out. (although it was done oddly with them being really silly/childish at the office) But to be honest I skimmed the second to last chapter, which was a sex scene. Don't get me wrong, they were hot, well-done, and plentiful. This happens to me often at the end of a book like this. We had plenty of sex and I loved it, but in the home stretch I wanna find out what's happening with the details of their lives... Not read another blow-job scene.
Borrowed for June Free-For-All from Katie in Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group
There was probably one more conflict at the end than I needed, and it made me dislike Andrew slightly . Whereas in the beginning it was actually Sean I disliked slightly due to that huge and sort of unnecessary chip on his shoulder. Harris calling his family "neuvo riche" later to Andrew seemed like a forced attempt to justify it though.
It ended well, and definitely needed that last chapter so we could see how it all worked out. (although it was done oddly with them being really silly/childish at the office) But to be honest I skimmed the second to last chapter, which was a sex scene. Don't get me wrong, they were hot, well-done, and plentiful. This happens to me often at the end of a book like this. We had plenty of sex and I loved it, but in the home stretch I wanna find out what's happening with the details of their lives... Not read another blow-job scene.
Borrowed for June Free-For-All from Katie in Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group
July 30, 2012
I discovered Jane Davitt as an author through Wild Raspberries and Wintergreen. The real apporach on her characters charmed me more than hot sex could do. Her character made mistakes, were morose, acted wrong and still struggled to do the right thing.
So I decided another of her books was necessary. "Rock and a Hard Place" is good. Both MCs are as I described, people with faults. Not supergoodlooking perfect alpha males who only battled for dominance but supergoodlooking ;) guys with issues, faults and wrong reactions. I loved them for that. They do not land on a deserted island and everything falls into place between them. They fight, they even hate each other sometimes but they also can't deny that they feel the attraction and connection.
In the end, they fell for each other but their issues - especially Andrew's - teared them apart again and again. Honestly, I wanted to smack the guy more than once, it was just too much and I was sooo Sean's opinion that this was the end of it. Well, he got around (by hairs breadth) so maybe I'll forgive him, too.
And this is my biggest complaint about the book. Andrew's attitiude after he told his dad. Damn, grow a pair of ***** and stand up. He did...but for me one time too late. What did he expect? Sean understanding the blind dates? Duh...stupid. Good luck for him he got around and stood up to his dad.
But all in all I loved the book and the way the authors made the MCs more real through their mistakes.
So I decided another of her books was necessary. "Rock and a Hard Place" is good. Both MCs are as I described, people with faults. Not supergoodlooking perfect alpha males who only battled for dominance but supergoodlooking ;) guys with issues, faults and wrong reactions. I loved them for that. They do not land on a deserted island and everything falls into place between them. They fight, they even hate each other sometimes but they also can't deny that they feel the attraction and connection.
In the end, they fell for each other but their issues - especially Andrew's - teared them apart again and again. Honestly, I wanted to smack the guy more than once, it was just too much and I was sooo Sean's opinion that this was the end of it. Well, he got around (by hairs breadth) so maybe I'll forgive him, too.
And this is my biggest complaint about the book. Andrew's attitiude after he told his dad. Damn, grow a pair of ***** and stand up. He did...but for me one time too late. What did he expect? Sean understanding the blind dates? Duh...stupid. Good luck for him he got around and stood up to his dad.
But all in all I loved the book and the way the authors made the MCs more real through their mistakes.
August 7, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. There are tropes here that haven't worked for me in other books but somehow totally work here. The plot is a little contrived, but it doesn't really matter, because it's a lot of fun: put two people who hate each other on a deserted island and wait for the fireworks. It plays out in the predictable way—and the sex scenes are really hot—but the first half of the book is really well done. The authors even took two characters that aren't that likable—Sean does have a chip on his shoulder, Andrew is kinda spoiled—and made me care about what happens to them. The characters are deeply flawed but complex and nuanced enough to be sympathetic, plus each helps the other get over some of his old resentments, and they're better people for having known each other by the end of the novel. The only flaw for me is that the main conflict of the novel is resolved so easily that I wondered what all the fuss was about earlier, although a new conflict is introduced almost immediately, so there's still enough tension to carry through to the end of the story.
June 16, 2012
Wow, this was just made of awesome. I liked the premise for the enemies-to-lovers: hardworking, ambitious rising star resents golden boy boss's son. The boys had clashing personalities, goals and expectations that gave their bickering a real foundation beyond the usual attraction-in-denial. This allowed for incidents of genuine conflict to continue after they'd become lovers.
The events following the rescue were as compelling for me as the island interlude, which was itself entertaining. I liked that there was more to find out about each of the MCs after the requisite I've-secretly-lusted-after-you-forever revelation. Andrew's ambivalence was believable and angsty; the ultimate romantic resolution satisfying.
Hot sex scenes and pageturning plot developments made this a thoroughly fun read with more substance than its cliched premise promised. 4.5 stars.
The events following the rescue were as compelling for me as the island interlude, which was itself entertaining. I liked that there was more to find out about each of the MCs after the requisite I've-secretly-lusted-after-you-forever revelation. Andrew's ambivalence was believable and angsty; the ultimate romantic resolution satisfying.
Hot sex scenes and pageturning plot developments made this a thoroughly fun read with more substance than its cliched premise promised. 4.5 stars.
July 14, 2012
When I read the blurb for this story, I was kind of dismissive. A love story on a deserted island? How corny. I didn't think two people could believably fall in love while struggling to survive, boy was I wrong.
Andrew and Sean are business rivals that detest each other. When their rivalry gets a bit too public, their boss sends then on a vacation to bond. On their way to their island adventure, their plan crashes landing them on a deserted island. The two men must learn to put aside their difference and work to together to survive.
What follows is a simple, but deep love story. Andrew and Sean truly get to know each other during their ordeal and eventually move to the next level.
My only real issue with this story is Andrew's reasoning for staying in the closet. Lots for authors use the same reasoning, but I wonder if those reasons are still valid.
June 11, 2012
This was a nice change from the same old, same old stories of late. I enjoyed the different setting and issues the guys face here, but the back and forth bickering, hate then love, love then hate, especially by Sean, and the in/out of the closet issue by Andrew, did drive me a little nuts at times. One minute, I wanted to kill them, the next, I was feeling bad for them, and one was just as bad as the other. When they were alone, with no outsiders involved, they were great. The sex was hot, and I enjoyed the tension, banter and even the little bit of dominance struggle they always seemed to have. Sadly, by the time they get their acts together, the story is over. I really would have liked to have seen the story expanded by a few more chapters from where it left off.
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