Slick Competition

Beau's Backdoor #1

by Mandy Harbin

Mitchell Hill might be gay, but working for a business specializing in sexual products for men makes it hard for him...in more ways than one. When his new boss announces a contest to find an innovative product to launch nationally, Mitchell blurs the line between personal and professional by deciding to submit a lubricant he'd created for himself. One problem--he has to get the approval of his boss's sexy assistant, a man he hasn't been able to stop thinking about, in very carnal ways, since first seeing.

Kayden Wright has heard nothing but insane ideas about products until newcomer Mitchell walks into his office. He's thrilled with the lube idea...and turned-on by the man before him. He always maintains a professional demeanor--he needs this job to deal with the mountain of medical bills piling at his door. But when Mitchell kisses him, he loses his steely control. Not easily willing to trust others, Kayden mistakes innocence for treachery and the two men start a roller-coaster relationship filled with lies, deceit...and smoldering sex.

A Romantica® gay erotic romance from Ellora's Cave

Genres: M M Romance

103 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 12, 2013

About the author

Mandy Harbin is a USA Today Best‐selling author who loves creating stories that explore the complexities of everyday relationships...with some kissing thrown in. She also writes young adult romance as M.W. Muse because teens like kissing, too.

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Reviews

[Gigi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly enjoyable little story about an office romance at a gay-products specialty company, which will likely be turned into a series. MC Mitchell is a recent graduate from graduate school, drowning in school loans and MC Kayden is deeply in debt with hospital bills for his grandmother's cancer treatments. They become lovers and then both end up competing for the same $10k bonus. Not the best combination and feelings get pushed aside in the quest for the money. Lots of angst and drama!

I'm kind of on the fence about recommending this one. I'd recommend it to those that love M/M office romances and high drama and angry sex (there is a big angry sex scene that was particularly hot!) but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone else. That just wasn't much in it that made it stand out.

[Susan Laine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Mitchell is the new employee, Kayden is the boss’s assistant. The company forbids fraternization. When an open contest is organized to find a new product that could fit any gay man, Kayden hears the proposals. Mitchell has been developing a new type of lubricant for years, and he enters the competition. But… due to a few misunderstandings, Kayden thinks Mitchell is trying to seduce him to win the competition. So, Kayden betrays Mitchell in the worst way. As a result, Mitchell goes on a bender, while Kayden tries to fix things. But… is it too late to recover what was lost?

Now this is one heart-wrenching emotional rollercoaster ride. Mitchell is optimistic and smitten while Kayden is pessimistic and jaded. The motivations of both men are described very well, and as a result neither comes off as a bad man, even though both act pretty badly. I liked how well the characterization came through, drawn with simple efficiency. The inner workings of both men was a delight to read because they are so different. Understanding the true motives and personality of a virtual stranger and being able to forgive them, that’s a hard lesson to learn, and even harder to put into effect.

The plot has a couple of delicious twists, and the pace is just right for a novella. The writing is solid and to the point, and the sex scenes are hot. However… Be warned: There’s a sort of a violent sex scene here. Okay, let me explain. Some will see it as rape, some as forced seduction, and others as an emotional turning point in the story. I recommend reading the whole story before making any judgments.

All in all, a good, strong story with basically good, smart men who fall in love and make terrible mistakes out of love and in anger. Redemption is a wonderful thing, though. Recommended.

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sometimes the ogre in the fairytale turns out to have a heart of gold, but more often he's just a guy everyone loves to hate with good reason. Unfortunately, the only gold the ogre in this story covets belongs to the supposed hero.

Mitchell Hill, with his newly minted master's degree in biochemical engineering, moves to New Orleans to work for Beau Broussard's sex products empire. Mitch has a mountain of college debt to pay, so he works as a well-paid product development specialist for Beau and further reduces his debt working in a hospital lab.

When Beau announces a competition to come up with a new product, Mitch thinks he has the perfect thing: a new lube designed expressly for gay men. All Mitch has to do is convince Beau's assistant, Kayden Wright, that this is the winning product, and the ten thousand dollar prize is his.

Mitch, however, doesn't count on a couple of things. First, little does he know that he and Kayden will hit it off and become an unofficial couple, despite Kayden's ogrish reputation around the company. In fact, Mitch thinks he's found the real Kayden, the kind and caring Kayden.

But the second thing Mitch doesn't see coming is that Kayden, who needs money for his extremely ill grandmother, will stoop to claiming Mitch's lube is really his in order to win the prize money.

Read the rest of my review at The Romance Reviews: http://glbt.theromancereviews.com/vie...

[Cathy Brockman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review Written for http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
Mitchell is starting a new job with a company that caters to gay men. He meets Kayden, the assistant that no one at the company likes. They all warn him to watch his back that Kayden is a weasel and backstabber, but Mitchell finds him hot and intriguing.
I really liked this story. I thought it intriguing. I loved all the characters. The office politics really hit home. I went back and forth on the Mitchel/ Kayden thing. I liked Kayden and I could see his point of view. I loved all the crazy ideas the people kept coming up with and I even liked the grouchy hateful boss. This story was lots of fun and very sexy! I think I see a sequel coming and I can’t wait!
I recommend this if you like bartenders, science nerds, whacky ideas, sneaky assistants, and some hot mansex

[Elaine White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally read the sample of this, back in book 0.5 and loved it. As soon as I could, I bought this and it was well worth it.

Slick Competition had me on an emotional roller-coaster. I absolutely fell in love with both Mitchell and Kayden and their relationship. I loved all the innocent misunderstandings, the way that Kayden made mistakes in their relationship just because he didn't know any better. I also love how Mitchell was conflicted over his anger and saw sense really quickly, even if he couldn't forgive just as quickly.

Beautiful story, with a great ending. I'm hoping Zack and Van (or just one of them) gets the main story in the next book. I can't wait to read it.

[Silkeeeeeereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to get the end of the story but be forewarned, about 30% of the story is a repeat of My Straight Roommate. So, you are paying for about 65% of a story if you have already read the other.

It's still a hip it little story. I wonder if that lube actually exist and if it doesn't I think we need to find someone to help us develop it. LOL

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise - workplace drama with the temptation to betray a co-worker derailed by attraction. There is a scene of angry sex, which isn't a favorite of mine but not necessarily a deal-breaker.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there was more to this series. Mitchell finally sells his lube as suggested by his old roommate. He develops a relationship with Kayden while doing it. Not to say it was smooth sailing but it was realistic for reality rather than just a story. I highly recommend this book.

[jules0623 · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

[Janie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable story of an office romance gone bad. Butt butter is the cause of Kaydens wrongful actions against Mitchell. Luckily Mitchell is more forgiving and goes to bat for Kayden at Beaus Backdoor.

[Marie33 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really well written, very hot read. It had an interesting plot that kept me hooked and some great characters I hope to see more of in the future

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5