For You, Sir

by Emily Brandish

Jun Kim thrives as butler to the stars of L.A. His demanding job offers the perfect excuse to ignore his messed up family, and nonexistent love life. But his tidy, organized world is turned up-side-down when he’s hired to serve L.A.’s most challenging client: a depressive screenplay writer who quit writing after a nervous breakdown.
Once a shining writer-director, Einar Eriksen has become a shut-in after a crippling professional failure. He’s sworn to never write another script, and resents the movie studio for hiring a butler to spy on him. But as Einar learns of Jun’s wounded past, he commits to helping Jun toward self-acceptance, and unlocking his butler’s hidden sensual side…
For You, Sir is a sweet & spicy contemporary hurt/comfort MM Romance between an overachieving butler and his pleasure-Dom employer, where D/s play builds trust and empathy, and loving support can heal the wounds of the past.

• MM Boss/Butler Romance
• Hurt/Comfort
• Later-in-Life Romance
• Service sub + Pleasure Dom
• Opposites Attract
• Forbidden Love
• Sexual awakening
• Praise k!nk
• Interracial Couple
• Loving, Respectful Power Play
• HEA Guaranteed

CW: Adult Content, family alcoholism, mention of off-page parental neglect/abuse (off-page), MCs with mental health issues (depression, anxiety), forced sex fantasies (no actual forced sex), Mention of a side character who died by suicide (off-page)

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM, Romance, Contemporary, Mental Health, LGBT, Workplace

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2023

Reviews

[Drusilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been trying for days to find the right words for this book. I enjoyed reading it for the most part, but there is so much in here that upsets me or doesn't make me happy. Tricky ...
I really liked the dynamics and the relationship and the emotions that develop between Jun and Einar. Not just from the kinky side but also from the quiet gestures that take place. That's also exactly what I expected from the book, so far, really great.
Jun's family drama was a bit too much for me and also too open. Too much was touched on and not brought to a solution that I found useful.
Einar's depression ... I'm not happy. Medication was thrown into the room and then not followed up here either. Also, should you just take pills without medical supervision ... it's always a difficult topic for me in general, because unfortunately I know what depression feels like and how it affects you, and stories rarely manage to portray it properly. What I initially felt was a success here turned out to be very negative because it remained so open and inconsistent.
Sex ... good scenes and all that. But, did I somehow miss the safety talk? I'm not sure, unfortunately.
I think there was more I could list. But since I've already read other books, my memory has faded. Or perhaps it's just been blocked out.
A bit of a shame overall because I really liked the characters and as I said, the relationship and dynamics were great.



✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Minor spoilers probably ahead

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨


Content warnings: drinking, smoking, alcohol addiction, mother with cancer, depression, social media trolling, agoraphobia, physical and emotional abusive father, suicide
Cheating between MCs: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
Kinks: mild Dom/sub dynamics, nipple piercings, service kink

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️

“Even when I’m the one giving orders,
you’ve got me wrapped around your finger.”

This wasn’t at all what I expected, but I’m pleasantly surprised.
Given the title (and of course I never read blurbs), I was expecting heavy BDSM erotica, but For You, Sir turned out to be a beautiful, soft & warm romance - with a tiny touch of kink.

Jun and Einar were both a little broken, a little lost, but they overcame their hurdles with love and support.
I loved Jun’s character, how controlled and poised he was to everyone except Einar.

It was just a lovely story, and I’m constantly amazed by this authors writing style and unique characters.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

CW and tropes(spoilers):
- Butler MC vs writer/director MC
- LA setting
- MC with depression and anxiety
- Agoraphobic MC
- Mentions of alcoholism
- Forced sex fantasies (sort of CNC play)
- MC with nipple piercings
- Queer awakening
- Korean MC
- Rimming
- Sex while on the phone (≠ phone sex)
- Servicing kink/service sub
- Strict top/bottom

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Both MCs have a fair bit of trauma which I feel was not dealt with properly; these men need to see a professional.

This also had a bit of an odd writing style which felt very removed and stilted and kept me from getting immersed in the story.

But they were nice together, and I enjoyed the premise. I do also always enjoy reading about people who take pride in their work, especially when it's work which is typically scoffed at like service work.

[ivy]

DNF @ 9%

[Carol (§CoverLoverGirl§) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Served with Passion MM Romance


I’ve had ‘For You, Sir,’ on my WTR for months and I’m raging I left it so long to get around to reading it. Initially I grabbed it because of the cover model. (I just love my KDramas, dark hair and eyes and handsome, blondes meh 😏).

Hyun-Jun is a top notch Butler, he just loves serving people, and tending to their needs. Except he has great difficulty doing that for his own mother who is in hospital being treated for Cancer. His only brother, Hy Song, is the one visiting and caring for her needs.

Struggling to put off visiting the hospital, he is very happy that his agency has a client that they want him to take on immediately. Gratefully he arrives at the home of Einar Ericksen, a Norwegian Film Director and Writer of avant-garde scripts.

Einar has become a recluse, refusing to write anything again because of what happened when a script he was working on was hacked and released before it was complete. It was savaged by everyone and he never found out who had leaked it. The film studio are suing him for millions and he doesn’t care. That’s why they have hired Hyun-Jun Kim. His job is to get him to write again.

Hyun-Jun has his own share of trauma and baggage which he’s carried since childhood. Which has brought him to his current profession as a Butler. To Serve, be of service to whoever needs his care.

It was such a pleasure to see Einar and June’s relationship grow against such odds, Einar refusing to change his decision about writing again and Jun focusing on a successful outcome for him.

But then Jun realised that Einar needed so much more than that, and so did Jun. And it was such a good slow growing need that developed between them. Especially seeing Hyun-Jun coming out from under the trauma of his childhood and what it did to him. Einar was the perfect Coach.

Emily Brandish is a new to me author and I’m so glad I grabbed ‘For You, Sir’, just for the cover, because I enjoyed this story so much, and want to read something else from her.

Ah, at the end of the story she offer a free follow-up where Einar fulfils Hyun-Jun’s Viking Fantasy. Of course I’m on it, straight away. 😍😂

So, go get your own copy of ‘For You, Sir’ and enjoy the sparks and warlike cries between a Viking and a Korean who are exactly what each other needed.

[Peppa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate my love and hates with this book. When I started it, i thought it would be a lot more kinkier but it actually was really sweet and tame, i like that and the services kink here and it fitting perfectly to Jun since he was a butler.

To the characters Jun was really sweet and caring and I love that you could feel how much he adored his job as a butler. Einar also was really sweet and caring even tho he needed a bit more time to come out of his hole, but it was expected since he struggled a lot with his past and other private things.
I have to say their change of dynamic and their relationship was too sudden for me, it really went from 0-100. For me their was definitely a lack of how they actually fell for each other besides that Jun found Einars Viking genes hot and Einar Juns caring service nature.

I also think the whole family drama with Jun wasn’t really done well…the change in „we don’t really like each other and have problems“ to „now everything is fixed“ was for me also too fast and sudden, especially since 90% of the book it was to see that Jun and his family just struggled. I don’t know maybe Imm just too picky with it. But it didn’t liked it.

All in all I enjoyed it but it definitely could have been better.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Served with Love

This book was actually very different than I thought it would be. It made me like it more. The story isn't a typical BDSM. While one character is dominant and one is submissive...they both still fill needs the other has due to mental health struggles. Those can make the roles reverse from time to time.

This is truly a love story where two people learn to anticipate the needs of their partner and help them to be the best version of themselves they can. I recommend this book for sure.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

Before I start the review, there are some content warnings for this story: Jun’s previous employer committed suicide, his mother is going through cancer, his father was physically and emotionally abusive, and both of Jun’s parents are alcoholics. There is parental estrangement, depression, anxiety, feelings of guilt and shame, and mild panic attacks. The author spends time examining the characters’ reactions to these events, and while they are handled delicately and with an emphasis on a positive outcome, the subject matter might be difficult for some readers.

I kind of feel like the two of them fell into bed too quickly, and would have preferred a bit more drawn out tension, but I still enjoyed every moment of this book. I highly recommend this if you’re into two broken people helping each other be a little less broken with steamy moments, a hairless cat, and a happy ending.

Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.

[Paige Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

M/M isn’t always my thing but this has such a handsome couple: smart-dressed Korean Jun w/ long-limbed grace and gruff director Swede Einar. The build up is good for even a non-genre novel, many factors masterfully progressing at once that makes me think the author has screenwriting experience. Even non sexual things are subtly hot and keep you guessing about business/legal/personal dilemmas. Too often erotica is plotless or nonsensical but this is very much grounded in care and reality and talent. It would also make a dream manga.

[Gerbera_Reads]

DNF at 58%

When I started reading this book, I was hoping to read something akin to Cole McCade's His Cocky Valet. For whatever reason Jun made me uncomfortable with his sly manipulations towards Einar. I know it was to help him but when coupled with the $*xual relationship they started, it just didn't feel right for me. I will exit the stage before I start hating this book.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This book read like a short story from some reason. The story is simple, and the characters relatively complex but explored only superficially. We have Jun, a Korean-American butler who is tasked with helping Einar, a reclusive Norwegian Hollywood director who has sunken into depression and refuses to work despite studio obligations. It was all a little too neat, and moved a little too fast. We get hardly any build-up or relationship development, and almost no consideration for the employer/employee dynamic. They are attracted to each other and act on it with little reflection. The L word pops up shockingly soon. I did enjoy the physical dynamic - big Viking-looking guy with willowy Korean guy is a pretty hot visual, but otherwise it never really dipped below surface-level.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Checking out KU and see this striking cover and instantly realize that it’s service submission. I couldn’t open it fast enough. It became the 3am book as I wanted to read every word. Service submission is a gentle side of BDSM and this book provides a good look at it through the character of Jun, butler extraordinaire. He is very self aware of his need to provide service, but is not doing it for the kink of sexual satisfaction. It is innate in him to take care of others, especially the lonely and shut in. These are high end clients as the agency for which Jun works caters to millionaire clients. The setting is Los Angeles, in the Hollywood Hills.
Jun’s previous long term client has passed and this passing is a part of the plot line, how it affects Jun, who has affection for those he serves. Now, he has been sent to buttle for a washed up industry writer, producer, and director. The studio wants a paid for script, stat, from Einar Eriksen, a former bright light in Hollywood who has been brought down by the leaking of his unfinished screenplay that has been thoroughly trashed on all social media. Einar has totally shut down for the last six months and has not been seen outside his house. Enter beautiful, efficient, gentle Jun in his three piece suits and perfectly coiffed hair and his beautiful features and unusually tall body. When he is out and about in L.A. people think he is a celebrity. His smooth facade covers a huge childhood angst of mental abuse. He works it out by making the world orderly and sane for his clients. He does not expect to have deeper feelings for big, blonde, Viking Einar, brought down by a mental break. Also, Jun has never had feelings for a man, until now.
I loved the many scenes of cleaning up Einar and his pig sty house, getting him to wake up, eat, bathe, possibly take his meds. All under the gentle hand of Jun. Einar’s responses are the best part of the book. His and Jun’s dialogue is witty and intelligent. Einar’s interior thoughts about Jun are an array of emotions and I loved it! Einar resists this helpful person invading his home life, but the service and the submission of Jun turn physical and the book shines in those scenes, too. It is a simplistic plot, but is well written. I see some neg reviews and even without my interest in service submission, as an avid MM reader I think the book is as good and equal to one from any well known writer. That Jun only calls Einar ‘Sir’ throughout most of the book was the icing on the cake of this very enjoyable read!

[Mx. T *Chaotic Reader* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a slow delight. Butler Jun and screenplay writer Einar meet when Einar studio hires Jun as his butler because Einar is depressed and isn't delivering a script. From there, their sweet relationship develops from strangers to friends to lovers. Jun has a need to serve and Einar feels inspired to do better by Jun. At first it was a bit slow for my liking, but their relationship is so wholesome, I didn't mind.
I'm not going to even comment on the possibly questionable choice of making Jun a Korean shy, repressed and extremely efficient butler, questionable because it incides in the stereotypical conceptions us Westerners have of Asians. But Jun's backstory kind of gives context to his need to serve, so I guess...yeah, I'm not even going to comment 🫣

[T Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story has a way of drawing you in. Jun with his mild demeanor and his secret demons lives a quiet life. Einar has his own issues he’s living through. Though vastly different the two seem to be the missing pieces to each other’s puzzle. Mild drama, some heated moments but mostly this book has a healing presence that is enticing and very welcoming. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.

[Sarah☀️ Somerville · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extraordinarily sweet.

[⭐Toonasa⭐ •Romance Book Lovers' Haven• · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sensual MM contemporary (& slightly forbidden!) romance whose title drew me in and the blurb made me stay & read! Is it my 1st butler romance? Maybe!
This was a pretty sweet story, I'm glad I found this on New release section. One of those stories I only wanted to check out (hence did skip some scenes at start & around 😅), but ended up completing!

Jun is a butler of S•Korean descent & a messed up family, loves to service, all calm outside while kinky at heart, Einar comes to love his cooking (& him hehe); also has a cat! Einar is a struggling & depressive 🥺 Hollywood director/Screenwriter who Jun says is build like a Viking 😉 (& protective!). Einar's studio hires Jun to help get Einar back on track and out of his funk. Their monologues were fun, especially Einar's!

While they started out professional, Jun wanting to help Einar, Einar not being receptive but Jun's not one to give up, slowly breaking his walls! Their relationship morphs into more as fantasies, lust & wants bubble. It's slowburn, more on sensual than steamy side but still the dom/sub dynamic is hot when it happens!

The backstories, mental health rep, Jun's bi-awakening (more like finally exploring it) are all interesting & I thought done well. The hurt/comfort is amazing, I'm happy Jun & Einar helped eachother to be better, they're so cute!

I did skip Jun's family scenes, but I liked the resolution with his brother. Maybe he can get a book. There are plot points like Jun's ex late boss lady's inheritance which could've been explored more, but I still liked what we got.

This was a fun story, maybe I'll come back to read it fully someday! My 1st by this author & certainly not the last.
Fast/Skip read: 2-3 Dec 2023
Review: 4 Dec 2023

[Leelah🍁♋️ Orion · Rating 4 out of 5]

yes sir

I love this butler romance. I loved that both partners had their issues to work through and I love watching them help each other through them. This is a D/s book and I loved how their relationship worked because of it. It also was nice to see a Dom not have all of his crap together and having to learn as he went. That he wasn’t some strong gym buff type of Dom. That he had to work to get his confidence.

The writing was great with dual pov, little angst, and first times. No cheating/sharing, and the fun times don’t happen until there was a relationship. Only thing that’s missing was did they finally tell people they were together?

Great story all around I would read more from this author

[Kassandra Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it.

I’m sure there’s something in there about symbolism and hope and inspiration but those kinds of things never mattered to me so I never got them when watching movies or reading books. I watch or read for entertainment.

That being said… there are probably some lessons in here.

Will I heed them? Probably not.

That also being said, I really did enjoy this book. I can totally see it being made into a movie.

Highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved!

I love books about service subs and so rarely are they written and even more rarely written well. This story was lovely! I was so happy to fall into Jun and Einar's story. I like how the service remained throughout as an expression of how Jun loves. I like how every character in the story had a full and complex back story. I will definitely read more from this author especially if they remain kinky and so well done. I'd been waiting for this story to come out and it absolutely did not disappoint!

[Lisa KK · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live for this

[Eleftheria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off quite strong but the plot kind of fizzled out a little. Just okay I guess.

[BeckieLouLou · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. Lovely story of hurt/comfort, well written, nice flow, spicy. I adored the idea of service/care as a love language, taking care of someone’s needs is Jun’s way of saying he cares. Very likable characters, low angst overall with a bit of drama outside the relationship. Insta-love.

Hurt/comfort, m/m, boss/employee, butler, screenwriter, LA, Korean, Netherlands, HEA.

[Arta reads at night · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
What a wonderful sweet story.
I can’t say it was perfectly realistic, but I loved the mood, the tactful way the author approached both MCs and their issues.

[Ladydoyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read, I could relate the MC and ML so much and I loved their dynamic. And the spicy bits were chef’s kiss. 10/10 definitely recommend.

[Mandy Beyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jun tries to be the perfect butler for his Hollywood elite clientele, but inside him is a lonely man suffering from a difficult childhood. Einar is agoraphobic and struggling with terrible writer's block when his studio sends Jun to try to help him. The two share an instant attraction that draws them together. As they make each other better, they face difficult choices about who they want to be going forward.

I really enjoyed their story - Jun's drive for perfection and desire to please led to interesting bedroom shenanigans and Einar quickly picked up on how to ruffle his perfect exterior. Their dynamic jumps off the page and fits them perfectly.

Thank you to Gay Romance REVIEWS for my eARC.

[isthisakink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I…don’t know how I feel?

Okay, so I’m incredibly conflicted. I didn’t dislike it, and I didn’t love it, yet I liked it enough that I pretty much read nonstop until I finished it.

But there was a lot that confused me, and I’m not sure if that’s what has me feeling some kind of way or not. Like I said, I don’t know how I feel, and I’m conflicted.

I started reading through the ARC, but it said that it (the ARC) wasn’t finished being edited and finalized, so I snagged the KU copy. It still felt like it needed more editing and formatting to get it to where it wanted to go.

There are a lot of words missing, odd choices in dialogue, confusing details and a concerning lack of more important ones, an extremely unclear timeline with strange jumps that are made more apparent by the aforementioned lack of certain details, and almost kink? Yeah, I’m going to go with almost kink.

Then there was also the abrupt ending and the epilogue that didn’t exactly help, but at least gave a bit more to go on. I just felt like I was on the back foot the entire time, missing information that I went back constantly and tried to reread for pages to figure out where I lost the train of thought.

I really enjoyed the MCs, and I loved that there wasn’t a gross feeling around Jun’s “awakening”. I didn’t love the oversight of safe spicy times and the complete lack of at least a passing conversation about the issue. I also feel like Einar’s depression just…faded into unimportance? Like, you get no updates on it past when he decides to take his meds again.

There’s more I could talk about, but I already feel like I’ve dipped my toe into “spoilers” territory enough as it is.

TL;dr: I liked it, I enjoyed the characters, and while things felt off and sometimes really weird (wine glass scene, enough said,) I read it in one go. HOWEVER, it didn’t feel complete. There was so much missing and it felt muddy. I have a ton of questions, and I don’t know if I want them answered or if I just want to chalk it up to “oh well” and move on.

3.5/5. Think classic, old school Harlequinn romance novel, but make it contemporary MM. It needs some work, but I won’t pretend like I didn’t avidly read it.

**[I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews (GRR) and this is my honest opinion.]**

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great hurt/comfort slow burn with a Boss/butler dynamic.

I will be honest - the book was great and it was well written (I loved the metaphors) but there were also some bits I did not really like though they did not really deter me from finishing the novel. No. It was engaging and interesting overall.

What I loved:
- Jun and Einar (mainly their qualities, and struggles, aaaaand dedication to one another)
- the hurt/comfort - really great though depicted mainly in the first half
- the sex (even though the romantic progression was kinda off)
- the food and the way Einar was just mesmerized by Jun's servicing
- the slow burn - it is true the relationship was slow burn (with insta lusting and fantasies) though the suggestion of sex was a bit sudden. Yet, in the end, it all felt natural. I know I am contradicting myself but if you read it, it'll make more sense I hope :D

What I did not really like
- the mentionings of things being "masculine". It threw me off sometimes, like, what is a "masculine gray"? It was not constant but, given the fact that Einar is described as a long haired "Viking," I thought his image of a buff guy was enough. (It is only in Jun's perspective... was this supposed to show his attraction to men? That it is the masculine that interests him? IDK. I guess I am reaching, but it threw me off.)
- the "closure" with mom - this whole subplot felt weak (like the one with the inheritance), it was there only to progress the romance and the D/s dynamic, not necessarily the character alone. There is some closure but it is only told and not really shown. On the other hand, I liked the way Jun's brother's relationship progressed overall.

The neutral:
- This is just me: but the D/s dynamic was quite light (and I wanted more lol). I actually wanted the one fantasy to play out here and not as a bonus story 🥹. Do not confuse this with a BDSM novel.

[Sandy Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adding another older review of mine that was erased from another platform (from Dec 2023):

Boss-employee, love languages, mental care explored in a sweet and steamy MM romance

What a lovely read! For You, Sir felt like a journey into love languages and a unique connection that comes from the sheer chance of having the right person come into your life. It was a two-way street too, both MCs being a complement to each other and filling each other’s hurting gaps in ways that eventually helped both stand on their own and be whole…together.

Jun is a professional butler who thrives on serving others and making their lives better, but who feels he himself doesn’t deserve the care he lavishes on others. Einar is a screenwriter and director who is lost in an abyss of depression and agoraphobia due to paparazzi negativity and social media trolling. They both have so much to work through, but seeing Jun gently work his way into Einar’s trust, bring him out of his shell through beautiful care as well as tough love, is a gorgeous and moving story. Jun’s awakening to his s3xual feelings for Einar adds a poignant and steamy layer to the story, as does Einar’s efforts to overcome his agoraphobia to be able to do more for Jun. And how they approach the obstacle of Jun being at Einar’s in a working capacity is funny and heartfelt.

Jun’s love language is service, and seeing the thoughtful ways that he cares for and supports Einar without enabling him made for a unique and touching read. Jun’s family dynamic and situation add complications to his internal conflict and challenges for these two, and there’s also a lingering external conflict stemming from Jun’s last client that adds uncertainty and stress to them both.

I enjoyed the read very much, and wish only that there was more insight into Jun’s future relationship with his mother and how Einar works into that dynamic, and what specifically happened with Einar’s writing and the studio that hired Jun to work for him and try to get him writing again in the first place (with how they found out about his new screenplay, that is). And who and how Einar was betrayed in the past—that's never resolved. It felt nebulous. But overall, the story was warmhearted, kind, and adorable.

HEA, boss-employee, celebrity-commoner, mental health issues, bi-awakening feel (you sense Jun’s been bi or gay all along but wasn’t able to admit it even to himself) no cheating or emotional cheating. Just delightful, poignant, steamy and sensual falling in love. Recommended.

My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the title, For You, Sir, and the blurb mentioned themes of D/S, I was thinking this was going to be a BDSM erotic dream. Instead, it was a beautiful and wonderful meeting of two broken men, and how they fell in love.

On a personal note, I have an agoraphobic aunt so this book hit especially hard when Einar was struggling with going out and every single time he attempted to leave or was able to leave, how much his anxiety would spike. I appreciated the details of how he would struggle and WHY he would struggle. Although I am not agoraphobic myself, I felt that it was done really well from the stand point of someone who has lived with someone with the anxiety disorder.

These two were just absolutely perfect for each other, really. I loved when Einar would follow him around wrapped up in his blanket, just watching him exist in his space, and how he would start to notice days with Jun and days without Jun. I was snickering when Jun gently manipulated Einar into slowly helping himself take care of himself. Like with showering, helping him clean, getting him fed, and then the talks about medication. I also appreciated how the medication came into play and how Einar and Jun both talked about how it helped them as I feel not enough books feature this. I feel like medication is almost looked down upon in romance? As someone who has dealt with anxiety and depression and the medications were part of my treatment, I greatly, GREATLY appreciated seeing it in a positive light here.

NOW TO THE SPICE. I was cackling in glee at like, 2 am when I was reading this book, when Jun finally was able to tell Einar what he wanted and *how* he wanted the relationship to go and how he thrived on *serving* Einar. These two together were fabulous and I really liked seeing how they both found comfort and happiness with each other. Was the ILY a bit soon? Sure, but I loved it anyways. Mostly I loved them both helping each other. How Einar immediately came to Jun's side and let him know he had options. How Einar rushed OUTSIDE for him. Ugh that hit so good. Also, I feel you Einar about Mr. Cuddles - Hairless cats can be super creepy.

Mostly I just really loved this book.
I did receive an early copy BUT this is my honest opinion. It was super cute and would be a nice read but make sure to pay attention to the TW as it does deal with some heavy topics - but I think they were done VERY well, so brava for that!

[kadairh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. Jun Kim is a very controlled individual because of family history but perfect for his role as a butler, where he can serve others in detail and feed his overcompensation for pleasing people. After the loss of his last client who decided to overdose after her Parkinson diagnosis, he is assigned to yet another challenging client Einar Erikson. Einar is a writer-director whose screenplay was leaked as a draft, and the negative backlash has caused Einar to spiral into depression.

The book begins with Jun looking at floral arrangements to send to his mother in hospital, who despite his need to please, he struggles with visiting because of her alcoholism, with resulting guilt. He welcomes the new contract as a distraction and to feel valued by his agency for being able to deal with the challenging clients, and looks at achieving success with Einar at least partially to compensate for the loss of his last client. For him, "Managing a household was like being the ruler of a tiny kingdom." i.e. he was in control of that part of his life.

His initial few days result in improvements in Einar, and Jun catches up with Einar's films and responds to the sex scene with erotic dreams about vikings (Einar is Norwegian). He also realises that he needs to go to visit his mother, but the visit does not go well as his brother has been supplying alcohol to his mother. Einar sees how this has affected him (late in) and starts interacting more as a consequence. The relationship between Einar and Jun grows to the point that they start having sex, even though it's forbidden in the agency rules: Jun justifies it as helping motivate Einar, as Einar would have to pay back $500K if Jun fails to get Einar to write a replacement screenplay for the studio.

While the relationship grows, events occur such as the favourable outcome of Jun's previous client's will to his benefit, and the previous client's family's reaction; relationship with his brother and the progression of Einar's recovery and whether it'll be fast enough for the penalty to be avoided.

I enjoyed reading the book - first time read of this author, the writing style made it easy to read and want to find out what happened next, and it wasn't that heavy on the Service sub + Pleasure Dom as advised in the blurb, more like a romance. I found it surprising that there wasn't any consideration of safe sex (Einar has been active, Jun not), and I was expecting the events about Jun's former client family to escalate more than they did, but otherwise recommend as a relatively low angst book.

Note that I don't really understand why some reviewers have said there were a lot of typos and bad writing style - I couldn't see either in evidence.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.