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Lock And Key
Shane Willet has been crushing on his roommate Jake for as long as he can remember with no relief in sight. But as studious as Jake is explosive, Shane has given up hope of catching his friend's eye. In an effort to get over him, Shane allows Jake to drag him to a Key Party—a sex party where men are thrown together by chance. Shane can only hope that hot sex with a virtual stranger will help him forget.
Key Parties are nothing new to a player like Jake Ritter, but tonight he has his own agenda. It involves leaving all other men behind and finally getting Shane in bed. Unbeknownst to Shane, Jake's rigged the party for them to end up together. Under the cover of darkness, he will indulge in every kinky act that he's been imagining over the past few months in a bid to bind Shane to him with sex.
Reality more than lives up to fantasy, and both men are left raw in the aftermath of their night of pleasure. Jake may think he knows all there is to know about men and sex, but Shane is going to teach him a thing or two about love...
Key Parties are nothing new to a player like Jake Ritter, but tonight he has his own agenda. It involves leaving all other men behind and finally getting Shane in bed. Unbeknownst to Shane, Jake's rigged the party for them to end up together. Under the cover of darkness, he will indulge in every kinky act that he's been imagining over the past few months in a bid to bind Shane to him with sex.
Reality more than lives up to fantasy, and both men are left raw in the aftermath of their night of pleasure. Jake may think he knows all there is to know about men and sex, but Shane is going to teach him a thing or two about love...
98 pages, ebook
First published March 17, 2013
2 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Sasha Devlin
10 books120 followersSasha Devlin is way more interesting than this bio can make her sound! She also is uncomfortable talking about herself in the third person so…
I’m a Midwestern gal born and raised, and I currently live in Chicago. I’ve not yet found the villain who is using his time machine against me, but when I do, the battle will be epic.
My current projects are firmly in the romance genre, with loads of sex and angst, but I know I can’t avoid those YA and Mystery plot bunnies forever.
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Or chat with me on Facebook or Twitter
I’m a Midwestern gal born and raised, and I currently live in Chicago. I’ve not yet found the villain who is using his time machine against me, but when I do, the battle will be epic.
My current projects are firmly in the romance genre, with loads of sex and angst, but I know I can’t avoid those YA and Mystery plot bunnies forever.
Want the latest updates? Subscribe to my Newsletter
Or chat with me on Facebook or Twitter
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 21, 2017
***4.25 Stars***
Friends to lovers....my absolute favorite trope in the history of tropes!
But this is friends to lovers with a twist (or should I say, with a lock & key <--- #SorryNotSorry I had to do it)
This book had humor, heart, a touch of angst & some serious steam all in a fun sized, less than 100 page novella.
The chemistry between Jake and Shane is off the charts. The added element that these were two "supposed" strangers in the dark really kicked things into another gear.
Let me back up for a minute and explain the Lock & Key party. On this night, it's a party of 6 men being hosted by Jake's friend, Ware. The men sit around and chit chat before getting started for the evening. And I gotta say, Shane's nerves and excitement had me grinning...but not as much as the guys playing around with those nerves.
"So, tell me how this works?"
"We all fall upon the new guy in a ravaging pile of cocks and lube. The first one to come gets fucked by every other guy here."
But seriously...names are put into a hat to signify "locks." These men get a number that corresponds to the number of their bedroom for the evening. No one is supposed to know what number any guy received. Each "lock" leaves to set up the bedroom for whatever he wants for the evening.
Afterwards, the remaining three pick their "keys," which signifies their partner (i.e. lock) for the evening (so, 1's with 1's, 2's with 2's, etc...)....and away we go with a much more fun version of spin the bottle! One note, the "lock" and "key" has NOTHING to do with whether either man will top or bottom.
All squared away on the "rules?" Okay, back to Shane & Jake.
So, Shane is the first to pick, he gets his lock and hauls ass to the bedroom. Since everyone is in on Jake's plan, everyone knows what room Shane got. When Jake arrives to the room, he notices that the lights are off and all the blinds/curtains are closed. Shane informs the "stranger" that he wants TOTAL anonymity and doesn't want them to see each other.
This only heightens everything between them. With total anonymity now part of the program, Jake wants Shane to completely lose control...to completely surrender to his desires.
Jake wanted that. Wanted to make Shane so crazed with lust that he forgot he needed to be quiet, dependable Shane and could be horny, screaming and begging for it Shane.
And it quickly becomes evident that Shane is all about this plan. Jake drives him crazy with his mouth, his hands, his dick....his whispered words.
"I want you riding my cock until my eyes roll back in my head. I want you to suck me until I lose all sense of myself and all I can depend on is you. I want to fill you up with so much of my cum that when you stand up it just slides right out of you."
Over the course of one night a friendship is changed. Touches start to feel familiar, little clues start to pop up that Shane may possibly know who his partner is. But what happens when the night is over? Shane may have gotten just what he wished for, but insecurities start to creep in. Can he be enough for Jake?
I was sucked into this story from the beginning. I was intrigued by the idea, pulled in by Shane & Jake, and taken along on a sexy ride with just the right amount of emotion to make my heart pitter patter.
Friends to lovers is my catnip, and this book gave me everything I love about the trope. And the swoon....oh, I got my swoon too.
"I need your exuberance to remind me that there is time to play. I need your logic to tell me that sometimes I need to get my head out of my ass and see what's in front of me. I even like your anxiety because it lets me slay your dragons for you. Everything about you fits me."
If you're looking for a quick read that makes you laugh, makes you swoon, and makes you sweat....PICK THIS UP!
And it was that simple. This was Jake. He'd trusted this man in the dark with his body, and he could certainly trust him in the light with his heart.
And now I wait on books for Dev and Marco...and more importantly, Ware and Stef. Oh there's a good story there!
March 18, 2013
"We all fall upon the new guy in a ravaging pile of cocks and lube. The first one to come gets fucked by every other guy here."
I have not laughed so hard as i did when i read that....
This book was very emotional, very sweet, but also OH-SO-FUNNY!!!!!!
I have not laughed so hard as i did when i read that....
This book was very emotional, very sweet, but also OH-SO-FUNNY!!!!!!
June 20, 2016
2.5 all for the nookie stars
Would have been a lot better if the story was longer and the characters more fleshed out. Shane is the quintessential hot nerd with severe anxiety and Jake is the beefcake manwhore. We don't really get to know who they are or why they have the issues they do... it's told rather than shown and feels rushed. Plus, the big "issue" seemed so contrived and Shane came off as kind of a drama queen. The focus seemed to be more on the sex which I'm telling you was super hot and pretty much wins all the stars in this reviews. Wow. Absolutely no complaints right there. Hmmm mmm. Ok so yeah. Moving on. *clears throat*
Definitely see the potential here. Will still recommend and read the next one.
Would have been a lot better if the story was longer and the characters more fleshed out. Shane is the quintessential hot nerd with severe anxiety and Jake is the beefcake manwhore. We don't really get to know who they are or why they have the issues they do... it's told rather than shown and feels rushed. Plus, the big "issue" seemed so contrived and Shane came off as kind of a drama queen. The focus seemed to be more on the sex which I'm telling you was super hot and pretty much wins all the stars in this reviews. Wow. Absolutely no complaints right there. Hmmm mmm. Ok so yeah. Moving on. *clears throat*
Definitely see the potential here. Will still recommend and read the next one.
March 20, 2013
It had the perfect combination of humor, angst and happy ending to make the book enjoyable and to also put it on my keeper list :D Would also love to read about Stef and Ware.
June 20, 2016
2.5 all for the nookie stars
Would have been a lot better if the story was longer and the characters more fleshed out. Shane is the quintessential hot nerd with severe anxiety and Jake is the beefcake manwhore. We don't really get to know who they are or why they have the issues they do... it's told rather than shown and feels rushed. Plus, the big "issue" seemed so contrived and Shane came off as kind of a drama queen. The focus seemed to be more on the sex which I'm telling you was super hot and pretty much wins all the stars in this review. Wow. Absolutely no complaints right there. Hmmm mmm. Ok so yeah. Moving on. *clears throat*
Definitely see the potential here. Will still recommend and read the next one because Ware is definitely intriguing.
Would have been a lot better if the story was longer and the characters more fleshed out. Shane is the quintessential hot nerd with severe anxiety and Jake is the beefcake manwhore. We don't really get to know who they are or why they have the issues they do... it's told rather than shown and feels rushed. Plus, the big "issue" seemed so contrived and Shane came off as kind of a drama queen. The focus seemed to be more on the sex which I'm telling you was super hot and pretty much wins all the stars in this review. Wow. Absolutely no complaints right there. Hmmm mmm. Ok so yeah. Moving on. *clears throat*
Definitely see the potential here. Will still recommend and read the next one because Ware is definitely intriguing.
April 19, 2013
3.5 Stars. Review Originally Published Here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2013/04/review...
A Key Party. This is where Shane finds himself after his roommate and secret object of his desire, Jake, drags him along. The rules for a key party are simple. The first men pick out a key to a room in the house. The leftover men draw their companion for the night. For Shane, who recently broke up with someone, it’s an opportunity to have no-strings-attached sex, but he can’t help but hope he’ll end up with the Jake, the man he’s loved from afar for years.
Turns out, Jake has another idea. The key party is a set-up. It has all been predetermined that Shane and Jake will end up in a room together. Jake has been in love with Shane for a long time as well, and he’s ready to take things to the next level. He thinks this party will be a way to ensnare his man so that Shane will already be hooked on him before he reveals his feelings.
When Jake arrives in the room and the nervous Shane has left the lights off, it gives him the perfect opportunity to stay anonymous and have his way with the man he loves. Shane’s nerves go by the wayside when he has a night he’ll never forget. By the end of the night, he isn’t certain, but he suspects Jake may be his partner. The morning after, however, Shane is more distant than ever and Jake has to figure out how to bring them together for good.
There are some things about this novella that are a little bit ridiculous. I didn’t mind the premise of the story. In fact, I think the key party made for a rather interesting setting. I was intrigued by the cast of characters in attendance, most especially by Jake’s sexy ex Ware and his fraught relationship with Stef. I felt this was where the story was at. I wanted to learn more about these men and their relationships with each other. And I would’ve loved to know more about the key parties. Why does this kind of thing work for these men, and what kind of an impact does it have on their relationships and friendships? Six very different but gorgeous men in a house for random sex. Sounds like a good story, right?
Instead, this novella is essentially the story of one night in a dark room, and a few days of aftermath. So, as has hopefully been made clear, there’s a whole lot of sex. And then some more sex. The sex is good, don’t get me wrong. Jake has a dominating presence in the bedroom and is the king of dirty talk. Shane is that beautiful man who seems shy and reserved but loses all control in the bedroom. It’s hot. There’s something so sexy about the guy who seems who seems so straight-laced and uptight letting all of that go and becoming someone else entirely.
The problem here is there isn’t much of a story, and the story that does exist is far-fetched. Sixty percent of the story occurs in the dark room at the key party as Shane has sex with an “anonymous” partner. I had a hard time buying into this idea. Yes, it was dark. But so dark you couldn’t see your partner when he was kissing your face? And never mind the fact that Jake could not keep his mouth shut. He had the dirty talk going in a pretty constant stream, yet Shane didn’t suspect until the very end that his partner could be his roommate?
Then there is the omnipresent inability to communicate, which leads to the major conflict in the novella. I get so frustrated by this plot device. How about you have a conversation? I like you, do you like me? Check box — yes, no maybe. Yes, kids passing notes in elementary school are better at communicating their feelings than the grown men in this story.
If you are looking for a little porn between two attractive men, you will find what you’re searching for with this story. It’s well-written and entertaining. It has a high sex to plot ratio. And it has a lot of good-looking men. But if you’re looking for more than that, I can’t recommend this novella to you. While the key party idea had a lot of promise, it just didn’t live up to it.
A Key Party. This is where Shane finds himself after his roommate and secret object of his desire, Jake, drags him along. The rules for a key party are simple. The first men pick out a key to a room in the house. The leftover men draw their companion for the night. For Shane, who recently broke up with someone, it’s an opportunity to have no-strings-attached sex, but he can’t help but hope he’ll end up with the Jake, the man he’s loved from afar for years.
Turns out, Jake has another idea. The key party is a set-up. It has all been predetermined that Shane and Jake will end up in a room together. Jake has been in love with Shane for a long time as well, and he’s ready to take things to the next level. He thinks this party will be a way to ensnare his man so that Shane will already be hooked on him before he reveals his feelings.
When Jake arrives in the room and the nervous Shane has left the lights off, it gives him the perfect opportunity to stay anonymous and have his way with the man he loves. Shane’s nerves go by the wayside when he has a night he’ll never forget. By the end of the night, he isn’t certain, but he suspects Jake may be his partner. The morning after, however, Shane is more distant than ever and Jake has to figure out how to bring them together for good.
There are some things about this novella that are a little bit ridiculous. I didn’t mind the premise of the story. In fact, I think the key party made for a rather interesting setting. I was intrigued by the cast of characters in attendance, most especially by Jake’s sexy ex Ware and his fraught relationship with Stef. I felt this was where the story was at. I wanted to learn more about these men and their relationships with each other. And I would’ve loved to know more about the key parties. Why does this kind of thing work for these men, and what kind of an impact does it have on their relationships and friendships? Six very different but gorgeous men in a house for random sex. Sounds like a good story, right?
Instead, this novella is essentially the story of one night in a dark room, and a few days of aftermath. So, as has hopefully been made clear, there’s a whole lot of sex. And then some more sex. The sex is good, don’t get me wrong. Jake has a dominating presence in the bedroom and is the king of dirty talk. Shane is that beautiful man who seems shy and reserved but loses all control in the bedroom. It’s hot. There’s something so sexy about the guy who seems who seems so straight-laced and uptight letting all of that go and becoming someone else entirely.
The problem here is there isn’t much of a story, and the story that does exist is far-fetched. Sixty percent of the story occurs in the dark room at the key party as Shane has sex with an “anonymous” partner. I had a hard time buying into this idea. Yes, it was dark. But so dark you couldn’t see your partner when he was kissing your face? And never mind the fact that Jake could not keep his mouth shut. He had the dirty talk going in a pretty constant stream, yet Shane didn’t suspect until the very end that his partner could be his roommate?
Then there is the omnipresent inability to communicate, which leads to the major conflict in the novella. I get so frustrated by this plot device. How about you have a conversation? I like you, do you like me? Check box — yes, no maybe. Yes, kids passing notes in elementary school are better at communicating their feelings than the grown men in this story.
If you are looking for a little porn between two attractive men, you will find what you’re searching for with this story. It’s well-written and entertaining. It has a high sex to plot ratio. And it has a lot of good-looking men. But if you’re looking for more than that, I can’t recommend this novella to you. While the key party idea had a lot of promise, it just didn’t live up to it.
March 25, 2013
3.5 How heartbreaking, to be crushing after your best friend and roommate as he goes from man to man to man while you just sit back and try not to be hurt. Of course, the fact that he is unaware of how you feel makes it all a little more difficult. Then he wants you to get out there and to the Key Party you go. Whoever you end up with, you sleep with. Maybe it will make Shane forget player Jake. Or maybe not.
When Jake rigs it so his bed partner is Shane, he does so in total darkness so Shane doesn’t know. The sex is hot, hot, hot. Even better than Jake imagined (and he imagined a lot). He makes Shane scream. He has plans of waking up with Shane, spending a leisurely day in bed together and then being happily ever after. He doesn’t count on how Shane will feel at being fooled.
One quibble I had with this – Jake doesn’t tell Shane it was him in bed. Total darkness and whispers, so that’s okay. But the next morning Shane leaves the bedroom, wouldn’t Jake realize Shane would see him then?
The added weight of the Key Party having a bunch of men Jake has slept with, including the host who remains Jake’s good friend? Just makes it all the more difficult for Shane.
This isn’t a heavy, angsty story. It’s a soft friends to lovers with a very happy ending.
When Jake rigs it so his bed partner is Shane, he does so in total darkness so Shane doesn’t know. The sex is hot, hot, hot. Even better than Jake imagined (and he imagined a lot). He makes Shane scream. He has plans of waking up with Shane, spending a leisurely day in bed together and then being happily ever after. He doesn’t count on how Shane will feel at being fooled.
One quibble I had with this – Jake doesn’t tell Shane it was him in bed. Total darkness and whispers, so that’s okay. But the next morning Shane leaves the bedroom, wouldn’t Jake realize Shane would see him then?
The added weight of the Key Party having a bunch of men Jake has slept with, including the host who remains Jake’s good friend? Just makes it all the more difficult for Shane.
This isn’t a heavy, angsty story. It’s a soft friends to lovers with a very happy ending.
June 7, 2013
In spite of what some other reviewers said about this being PWP, the friends-to-lovers theme gave me hope that it might still manage to be more. And there were moments when it did. But the friendship bits ended up feeling just so disconnected that they actually brought the story down in my estimation.
It's as though Jacob/Jake can't make up his mind what he wants to be to Shane, and so swings wildly back and forth between offering unwanted cuddles and commanding Shane not to touch himself because he belongs to Jake now.
Actually, if it weren't for that one scene in the car, Jake's character would have felt much more coherent, and I honestly might have given the story 4 stars. Weird that just one scene can change my opinion of the whole story.... It was still an interesting read, the sex-in-the-dark-with-a-"stranger" bits were supremely well done, and Wade is fascinating. It just never rose above that like I'd hoped it might.
Favorite Quote:
I even like your anxiety because it lets me slay your dragons for you."
It's as though Jacob/Jake can't make up his mind what he wants to be to Shane, and so swings wildly back and forth between offering unwanted cuddles and commanding Shane not to touch himself because he belongs to Jake now.
Actually, if it weren't for that one scene in the car, Jake's character would have felt much more coherent, and I honestly might have given the story 4 stars. Weird that just one scene can change my opinion of the whole story.... It was still an interesting read, the sex-in-the-dark-with-a-"stranger" bits were supremely well done, and Wade is fascinating. It just never rose above that like I'd hoped it might.
Favorite Quote:
I even like your anxiety because it lets me slay your dragons for you."
March 20, 2013
That. was. HOT! *fans self* This has just the right amount of smut with a dash of sweet. Perfect for reading in between serious novels (which was what I needed XD). Loved the friends to lovers story. Jake and Shane were sizzling. Yummy~~
July 10, 2016
3.5 stars
March 20, 2013
2.5 stars
March 23, 2013
3.5 stars
March 27, 2013
Sounds dumb to say, but a bit too porn-y for me...the characters and everything just didn't work for me.
April 15, 2013
See Lucky's 3 1/2 sweet pea review on April 16, 2013 at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....
February 5, 2014
Boring. Left me lost at times. Didn't feel a connection between Jake and Shane.
November 12, 2016
I devoured this book in one sitting.
March 20, 2013
PWP. Unoriginal/cliche and just overall meh for me.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews