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Ethan
Hockey season is over, and that means one thing—returning home to my empty condo. With nothing to distract me from this loneliness, it’s going to be a miserable summer.
Then I hire Luca for one night.
At least, it was supposed to be one night.
Luca
Ethan isn’t like my other clients (not that I have many these days). He’s nice. He’s genuine. He doesn’t treat me like I’m here to earn my pay.
When he asks me to make this a regular thing for the summer, my wallet doesn’t leave me much choice.
But I’m pretty sure my heart isn’t supposed to get involved.
Gentlemen of the Emerald City
Luca is Book 1 of Gentlemen of the Emerald City, a sexy series centered around the high class, high-dollar Gentlemen of Seattle’s most exclusive escort service. Each book is full of snark, sass, and sweetness, and like any Emerald City client, you’re guaranteed a happy ending.
Hockey season is over, and that means one thing—returning home to my empty condo. With nothing to distract me from this loneliness, it’s going to be a miserable summer.
Then I hire Luca for one night.
At least, it was supposed to be one night.
Luca
Ethan isn’t like my other clients (not that I have many these days). He’s nice. He’s genuine. He doesn’t treat me like I’m here to earn my pay.
When he asks me to make this a regular thing for the summer, my wallet doesn’t leave me much choice.
But I’m pretty sure my heart isn’t supposed to get involved.
Gentlemen of the Emerald City
Luca is Book 1 of Gentlemen of the Emerald City, a sexy series centered around the high class, high-dollar Gentlemen of Seattle’s most exclusive escort service. Each book is full of snark, sass, and sweetness, and like any Emerald City client, you’re guaranteed a happy ending.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 16, 2021
241 people are currently reading
680 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Witt
217 books2,723 followersL.A. Witt and her husband have been exiled from Spain and sent to live in Maine because rhymes are fun. She now divides her time between writing, assuring people she is aware that Maine is cold, wondering where to put her next tattoo, and trying to reason with a surly Maine coon. Rumor has it her arch nemesis, Lauren Gallagher, is also somewhere in the wilds of New England, which is why L.A. is also spending a portion of her time training a team of spec ops lobsters.
Authors Ann Gallagher and Lori A. Witt have been asked to assist in lobster training, but they "have books to write" and "need to focus on our careers" and "don't you think this rivalry has gotten a little out of hand?" They're probably just helping Lauren raise her army of squirrels trained to ride moose into battle.
Visit her website at http://www.gallagherwitt.com/.
Authors Ann Gallagher and Lori A. Witt have been asked to assist in lobster training, but they "have books to write" and "need to focus on our careers" and "don't you think this rivalry has gotten a little out of hand?" They're probably just helping Lauren raise her army of squirrels trained to ride moose into battle.
Visit her website at http://www.gallagherwitt.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
May 11, 2023
Sweet guys and sweet relationship but too much nonsense and unnecessary stuff between their interactions and sometimes even during their interactions.
July 5, 2021
I don't know in what world a male escort can make $5000/evening, but this is that world. When most escorts charge $300/hour, we are to believe that someone was willing to pay Luca $5000 for an evening of companionship and sex? Not likely. Aside from that suspension of belief, this story was similar to so many others where a guy is performing escort work to make ends meet and fulfill his dreams of a college education and move on to a brighter future, during which he falls in love with his client. Nothing new here. The main characters are engaging, even if they are self-doubting and not very self-assured. The author abandons so many opportunities to inject drama into an otherwise mundane story. Stormy parental confrontations, past client encounters, dreaded public outing - all could have supplied a much-needed spark to this often conflict-free tale. There were several times when the author repeated herself verbatim when describing situations/conversations the characters had previously had with each other. It made me think 'did she forget that she already told us (the readers) that? Did she forget that the characters already discussed this topic?' While there were few grammatical/punctuation errors, the story could have utilized a better editor as there were some parts (not previously mentioned) that dragged on and could have been cut from the story without affecting it tone or flow. 3 stars is the best I can give it.
July 2, 2021
Somewhere around 2.5
This is just okay. It's easy to read but it is looooong AF. Way too long for a contemporary gay Pretty Woman reimagining where nothing much happens. It gets bogged down in being a Seattle travelogue, and the repetition of thoughts, oy - will that teammate be a dick and out me? I've got great parents but they'll be devoed if they find out what I do for a living. I can't do this with an escort. Yes, I can do this with an escort. Again, my parents. Again, me charging absorbent fees is good...but it's bad... Ethan, the knight in shining armour...
Oh yes, and it's often impossible during chapters to work out whose voice it is. I really do need a clear distinction between characters.
When L A Witt is on, she's really on. This book wasn't one of those times.
This is just okay. It's easy to read but it is looooong AF. Way too long for a contemporary gay Pretty Woman reimagining where nothing much happens. It gets bogged down in being a Seattle travelogue, and the repetition of thoughts, oy - will that teammate be a dick and out me? I've got great parents but they'll be devoed if they find out what I do for a living. I can't do this with an escort. Yes, I can do this with an escort. Again, my parents. Again, me charging absorbent fees is good...but it's bad... Ethan, the knight in shining armour...
Oh yes, and it's often impossible during chapters to work out whose voice it is. I really do need a clear distinction between characters.
When L A Witt is on, she's really on. This book wasn't one of those times.
November 26, 2022
L.A. Witt is one of my top favorite authors. I have never read anything by her that wasn't a 5-star book. Luca lived up to everything that I expected and then some. Ethan...a top hockey star, had money galore but he was lonely, wanted someone to share the happenings of his day with more than anything else. A teammate told him about an escort service and after much hesitation texted his choice for a "date", Luca. Luca was a college student that was drowning in debt so escorting paid him very well, but he was still struggling. Heaven forbid that his parents ever find out what he was doing for a living. Even though he had escorted for other hockey players he was leery as the experience had never really ended well and he felt that he was more something for them to brag about rather than companionship...a recent bad experience was a member of the same team that Ethan played for...but that was how he was keeping "the wolf from the door"...so he said yes to Ethan request. Two people were never better suited to one another. These were two of the best characters that I have ever had come together in a story. There was hot romance but better yet there was love, mutual respect, and above all... kindness. I have the remainder of this series and if all of the books are like this one...this series will take its place as number 1 on my bookshelf.
June 16, 2021
4.75 stars. Oh my, what an extraordinary story!
Pay for a one-night pleasure? Dang yes, Ethan could do that. Discreet it had to be, he’s a well-known personality because of his hockey career.
The app ‘Gentlemen of the Emerald City: The right men for your fantasies.’ in short GotEC is the place to be.
Looking through all the profiles Ethan’s eyes fall on one particular beautiful man named Luca.
Luca has set his price high, for reasons, he’s highly surprised when the app shows a client. It seems it’s a hockey player, again! He has some bad experiences with hockey players. He can’t be picky, he needs the money.
Ethan is a huge brick house of a man, but the beautiful elegant much smaller escort is more intimidating than any hockey player Ethan ever fought with. His feelings are all over the place.
Luca is smitten by the somewhat shy guy who can kiss like no other he ever met.
Ethan and Luca make a deal, Luca’s agenda will be blocked for the next two and a half months, so he’ll be exclusively available for Ethan. Luca will receive a lot of money for it.
Throughout these months where they have the best time, they create a kind of perfect relationship. They are more than compatible, a friendship with a lot of sexiness, happiness, and fun.
Ethan and Luca, separately, are confused by their strong feelings, it feels so much more.
Both try to convince themselves to see the right picture, Ethan is a client and pays for Luca, impossible the other will feel more.
Lines are blurring and feelings are getting stronger, the finish line is near.
Gosh, I was so happy there wasn’t any kind of unnecessary drama. I can conclude everything was right about this story. The way they met, all the romantic gestures, their conversations, the trips they made, the incredible sexy moments, all the doubts, the questioning, the big issue, all the emotions, it was palpable and plausible. The tiny tiniest minus thing I felt, almost too small to mention, was the repetitive thoughts they had about their arrangement.
The character development was wonderfully done, the author created two beautiful layered characters, lovable, honest, mature, respectful, and passionate, who both thought the world of the other.
In essence, the story is super romantic, besides this, it was hot af and with many affectionate gestures. To read it from both men’s points of view was quite satisfying.
I more than enjoyed this wonderfully written story. A recommendation is so at its place here!
Read and reviewed for LoveBytes LGBTQ bookreviews
Pay for a one-night pleasure? Dang yes, Ethan could do that. Discreet it had to be, he’s a well-known personality because of his hockey career.
The app ‘Gentlemen of the Emerald City: The right men for your fantasies.’ in short GotEC is the place to be.
Looking through all the profiles Ethan’s eyes fall on one particular beautiful man named Luca.
Luca has set his price high, for reasons, he’s highly surprised when the app shows a client. It seems it’s a hockey player, again! He has some bad experiences with hockey players. He can’t be picky, he needs the money.
Ethan is a huge brick house of a man, but the beautiful elegant much smaller escort is more intimidating than any hockey player Ethan ever fought with. His feelings are all over the place.
Luca is smitten by the somewhat shy guy who can kiss like no other he ever met.
Ethan and Luca make a deal, Luca’s agenda will be blocked for the next two and a half months, so he’ll be exclusively available for Ethan. Luca will receive a lot of money for it.
Throughout these months where they have the best time, they create a kind of perfect relationship. They are more than compatible, a friendship with a lot of sexiness, happiness, and fun.
Ethan and Luca, separately, are confused by their strong feelings, it feels so much more.
Both try to convince themselves to see the right picture, Ethan is a client and pays for Luca, impossible the other will feel more.
Lines are blurring and feelings are getting stronger, the finish line is near.
Gosh, I was so happy there wasn’t any kind of unnecessary drama. I can conclude everything was right about this story. The way they met, all the romantic gestures, their conversations, the trips they made, the incredible sexy moments, all the doubts, the questioning, the big issue, all the emotions, it was palpable and plausible. The tiny tiniest minus thing I felt, almost too small to mention, was the repetitive thoughts they had about their arrangement.
The character development was wonderfully done, the author created two beautiful layered characters, lovable, honest, mature, respectful, and passionate, who both thought the world of the other.
In essence, the story is super romantic, besides this, it was hot af and with many affectionate gestures. To read it from both men’s points of view was quite satisfying.
I more than enjoyed this wonderfully written story. A recommendation is so at its place here!
Read and reviewed for LoveBytes LGBTQ bookreviews
August 30, 2021
3.5*
Ethan and Luca are just the sweetest...
Ethan and Luca are just the sweetest...
August 23, 2021
3.5 stars
Sweet romance with an escort falling in love with a famous hockey player. Those two were great together and the book was easy to read. I loved both MCs, even if Ethan was really too good to be true. I wasn't too fond of the ending though (not what happened but what was implied). Anyway, it was a great read, a bit unrealistic but perfect for the summer. I'm looking forward to reading more books in the series.
Sweet romance with an escort falling in love with a famous hockey player. Those two were great together and the book was easy to read. I loved both MCs, even if Ethan was really too good to be true. I wasn't too fond of the ending though (not what happened but what was implied). Anyway, it was a great read, a bit unrealistic but perfect for the summer. I'm looking forward to reading more books in the series.
June 17, 2021
Witt's books are hit or miss, I've read several and they run the gambit of ratings. This one is not one of the good ones. There's two different kinds of these "Pretty Woman" type dramas: either they're ashamed about it or they're not. Luca was all over the place and did not have a concrete character. Kept having to check chapter titles because I forgot whose POV I was in. There's lots of chatting and small-talkey stuff that was just killing me. It dragged. Bland, lots of telling and not showing.
Read
April 25, 2021Available June 16th.
August 22, 2021
Both MCs whiney sad sacks. DNF 19%.
August 27, 2021
This was an OK story, but a trope that has been done many times.
The sex was a little too descriptive and more often than I prefer. Not quite sure why it's rated so highly.
The sex was a little too descriptive and more often than I prefer. Not quite sure why it's rated so highly.
November 6, 2024
It's not that it's bad exactly, and I do like the MCs, It's just that it gets awfully repetitive. We spend a lot of the time in each character's head and their thoughts/fears/feelings/worries are endlessly set forth, over and over, as if the author doesn't trust us to remember the stakes from one chapter to the next. As much as I was enjoying it, I still found myself skimming towards the end.
September 3, 2021
This was a fun little story from Witt. Both characters were likable and I wasn’t clubbed over the head with hockey jargon.
November 12, 2021
Longer than needed
Yes, it gave the relationship depth, lots and lots (and lots) of depth. Introduced some future characters. Also a mini-travelogue of Seattle. Had a different twist on "coming out". Still, a lot of page time that could have been saved to expand on a somewhat abrupt ending.
Yes, it gave the relationship depth, lots and lots (and lots) of depth. Introduced some future characters. Also a mini-travelogue of Seattle. Had a different twist on "coming out". Still, a lot of page time that could have been saved to expand on a somewhat abrupt ending.
October 13, 2021
Wonderful Characters
LA Witt has been my go to author from almost the beginning of my pleasant addiction to M&M literature. I adore her characters good and flawed. Her stories always captivated me. Ethan and Like were wonderful characters that captured my heart. This was akin to those fairy (no pun intended) takes that were better than real life. I unexpectedly had to subtract one star for a lack o f the usual perfect editing. Some errors that stopped my reading flow were there and that is almost unheard of with one of her stories. Cannot wait to read the next in the series.
LA Witt has been my go to author from almost the beginning of my pleasant addiction to M&M literature. I adore her characters good and flawed. Her stories always captivated me. Ethan and Like were wonderful characters that captured my heart. This was akin to those fairy (no pun intended) takes that were better than real life. I unexpectedly had to subtract one star for a lack o f the usual perfect editing. Some errors that stopped my reading flow were there and that is almost unheard of with one of her stories. Cannot wait to read the next in the series.
September 14, 2024
I adored the first meeting when Ethan got cold feet, it said so much about who he was. After they got together, the summer arrangement came awfully fast. Then there were a couple slow sections and Luca’s repetitive internal thoughts/angst over his job. It would have been nice to know what he was studying in college (never did say), the age difference was glossed over (assuming Luca was a traditional student). Also more info about his medical bills, since it was the main reason for his financial woes. The escort aspects weren’t the focus, nice balance, and the intimate scenes just the right amount of detail and emotion. Yeah, it’s a bit of an unrealistic storyline, but Ethan really made the story for me.
December 19, 2021
This is not a usual trope for me, but I found myself binging this book. The characters are highly engaging and the steam factor is off the charts. The audio narration by Michael Ferraiuolo brings the whole thing to a new level of enjoyment.
June 26, 2021
Listened to the audio and thought it was great. I can't wait to read more in this series.
Want to read
August 18, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/18/2021)! 🎁
October 8, 2021
A nice story, just not really want I wanted to read today, flipped to finish.
May 9, 2025
[Audiobook] oh man... this book was in serious need of an editor... extremely repetitive... entirely predictable...
May 2, 2021
Ethan has a disappointing end to his hockey season, & decides that maybe the off season can be more fun than his hockey season by hiring an escort to stave off loneliness, & this will also assure his privacy.
“That ass looks good in jeans. I'm curious how it looks without them.”
“What was so terrible about paying for sex when getting it for free didn't mean it would be meaningful or honest or even warm? At the end of the night, I'd feel less alone and he'd have more money. Everybody won.”
Luca is trying to make extra money any way he can, including on an app advertising his services as an escort, which gives him a lot of mixed feelings...
Can they keep this arrangement & not have feelings involved?
“Why did I even try to talk myself out of feeling the way I did for him? Okay, I knew damn well this could come crashing down in the end, and I’d regret getting so invested. I knew that. This wasn’t love.”
Or was it?
& what happens when reality intrudes at the end of the summer?
<3 this book... Another hit by a great author!!!
I obtained this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“That ass looks good in jeans. I'm curious how it looks without them.”
“What was so terrible about paying for sex when getting it for free didn't mean it would be meaningful or honest or even warm? At the end of the night, I'd feel less alone and he'd have more money. Everybody won.”
Luca is trying to make extra money any way he can, including on an app advertising his services as an escort, which gives him a lot of mixed feelings...
Can they keep this arrangement & not have feelings involved?
“Why did I even try to talk myself out of feeling the way I did for him? Okay, I knew damn well this could come crashing down in the end, and I’d regret getting so invested. I knew that. This wasn’t love.”
Or was it?
& what happens when reality intrudes at the end of the summer?
<3 this book... Another hit by a great author!!!
I obtained this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
dnf
June 23, 2021DNF at 26%. Hooker raises his prices and then wonders why he doesn't have any clients. Just one example of how I found this book to be non-serious and I just couldn't bring myself to continue. Please bear in mind that everyone has different opinions about what they read and mine might be totally different from someone elses.
May 5, 2021
This book is EVERYTHING I love about romance. It was sweet, sexy, fun, just enough drama, and it put hearts in my eyes. I am a huge sports romance fan and add in the escort aspect and I was IN HEAVEN. Luca and Ethan were just completely perfect together, both lonely and craving a little connection. It was so easy to get completely lost in this story. I absolutely love LA Witt's hockey romances and this is no exception. I am looking forward to the next book in the series because I know the Gentlemen of the Emerald City are going to be addicting!!
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2021
[1.5 star] meh~
May 2, 2021
This was a great feel good read. As soon as I found it was a hockey player and an escort I just knew I would love the story. Mind you I thought the story would be predictable and go in one direction, even if it was predictable, it didn’t exactly go where I thought it would. A few times I could sympathize with the characters and may have been tearing..just a bit lol. Great job, can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series. I obtained this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2021
Pro Hockey player + escort + written by LA Witt = one-click for me! Add age gap to the mix and you have a book that deserves more than 5 stars.
Ethan craved human touch and company, while Luca needed to stand on his feet through college. And when they come together to solve each other's needs, they soon realize that that's the best possible match.
Both Mcs were amazing! I loved their scenes, their banter, their conversations, all of it. There weren't silly issues and unnecessary drama, and the way they worked through their obstacles was incredible.
Ethan craved human touch and company, while Luca needed to stand on his feet through college. And when they come together to solve each other's needs, they soon realize that that's the best possible match.
Both Mcs were amazing! I loved their scenes, their banter, their conversations, all of it. There weren't silly issues and unnecessary drama, and the way they worked through their obstacles was incredible.
July 16, 2021
Honestly, 3 stars is probably being generous. This is one of my favourite authors but the last few are really not working. It was repetitive, bland and I can't quite put my finger on it but the closest I can describe is a negative voice that isn't decisive. Nothing much happens in this one, which isn't always a bad thing if the connection or emotion is off the charts, but it wasn't here. Hoping the next one is better.
March 19, 2025
Ethan, the cinnamon roll on skates + Luca, the struggling college student and escort = a damn good story. The characterization here is terrific. Both characters feel like whole people with depth and personality. I am not sure people as good as Ethan exist in real life, but one hopes so. Witt also does an amazing job with the spice. The scenes are hot and you really feel connected with the action. It starts out casual but with a nice connection and the sex really illustrates the characters’ feelings as they grow. The subject of sex work was handled really well. It felt authentic, with Luca being realistic, having a healthy attitude but also knowing that his job was taboo and could affect the way people look at him. Really, the only downside to this book, like the other book that I read by the author, is that it needed edited and paired down. I am not talking about grammar or spelling, which was all good, I am talking about it needing edited for repetition. The same thoughts and points come up over and over again. For example , the author did a great job of showing us how Luca felt about his parents finding out what he did, and showing us why. Yet, the character repeated that same thought over and over when those repetitive thoughts didn’t add to the story. There were several points that got repeated like that and it got in the way of a well told story. I am definitely going to keep reading Witt’s books, but I get the feeling that I am going to continue wishing for an edit.
April 4, 2022
Luca was such a sweet, and more than a little hot, gem of a book. Two main characters that you can't help but like an become invested in. Michael Ferraiuolo did another wonderful job with the narration.
All in all this was a great way to spend a weekend!
All my reviews can be found on my blog: The Word Nerd Reviews
Follow Me: Facebook & Twitter
All in all this was a great way to spend a weekend!
All my reviews can be found on my blog: The Word Nerd Reviews
Follow Me: Facebook & Twitter
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews