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SSU Boys #2
Smitten
Dan Fisher is a fun-loving slacker from SSU with a passion for partying and dancing. When rich girl Avery Wakefield offers him a brand new designer wardrobe in exchange for posing as her boyfriend, he reluctantly agrees. He hates lying, but it’s hard to turn down nice clothes and a chance to live in a historic mansion in Savannah for two weeks. What he doesn’t count on is falling hard for her mysterious, straight brother.
Julian Wakefield is as tortured as he is handsome. He keeps a secret close to his heart, and everyone else at a distance. But now his sister’s new boyfriend is stirring up feelings he’s always been able to deny. Like an angel and the devil all rolled into one, he tempts him to take chances he never would have taken before. Too bad Dan belongs to his sister, whom he would never dream of betraying.
But… put two hot boys with an irresistible attraction in the same house for long enough, something is bound to happen.
Julian Wakefield is as tortured as he is handsome. He keeps a secret close to his heart, and everyone else at a distance. But now his sister’s new boyfriend is stirring up feelings he’s always been able to deny. Like an angel and the devil all rolled into one, he tempts him to take chances he never would have taken before. Too bad Dan belongs to his sister, whom he would never dream of betraying.
But… put two hot boys with an irresistible attraction in the same house for long enough, something is bound to happen.
247 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2014
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575 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
July 16, 2015
As much as I wanted to love this book, I didn't. Oh, it's a good book. From Maris Black, no less. This novel only proved she has a lot more to show in the future.
Here we have the story of a filthy rich (and straight-my ass) guy with a openly-gay handsome college student.
The first book in the series is the one about the couple of wrestlers in the college team and Dan is a friend of both of them. But we hardly spend time at the university anymore. Dan is offered to act as a boyfriend for Avery, a rich girl, back at her home in exchange of some holidays in a luxurious environment and expensive clothes. He tells himself it's just a fun charade that will harm no one although lying is not his thing.
He doesn't expect to fall for her brother. Julian is a dick since the moment they meet but somehow that only makes him more desired by Dan. We can't always rule our brain, right?
The story is not as agile as its predecessor in the sense of the atmosphere being heavier and mournful. Whereas Beck and Jeremy's banter and interactions were snarky and naughty, Julian and Dan are more controlled. To a certain point that's understandable, as Dan is faking his "straighness" for the sake of Avery and Julian is faking his due to peer pressure (AKA his father's expectations).
The tone of the book is more serious and sometimes a little sad. Both have issues but Julian's are more apparent.
There were moments that spoiled the mood. Sometimes the scenes were too immature for my taste. There were some WTF moments I couldn't believe at all. For instance, when Dan . It's like... Seriously? Just like that? Ok, Julian has problems but that response at a silly question doesn't strike me as a logical one. I think if it had been written in a different way, it would have been more credible. In other moment they call a taxi and they . No fu***** way!
A streak of drama takes place when . From the eyes of an outsider, it's a little OTT but I don't regret that lineplot.
And coincidences... No comments.
The scene is a good one, Julian is not stable and have issues to sort out and when Dan wakes up the next morning and finds the is a beautiful and heart-wrenching moment but I didn't expect Julian to all of a sudden. Then Julian with no explanations is a little of an anticlimatic moment. Seriously?
I liked the development and the turn of events when Dan comes back home although IMO . I'm aware it wouldn't have been the same, being a witness of his angst but another excuse would have been better. I enjoyed the at the end. Although I really don't understand Beck's idea of with Julian all of a sudden. Where do they get the ?
Pay no mind to all this negativity, I'm bitching in excess, because I truly enjoyed the book. I just can't help myself from commenting the mistakes. Oh, and I totally loved the scene with Beck and Jeremy together. I almost melted when Beck asks Julian *fangirling*.
I hoped Seth's book would be the #3 but it's Blake's instead. He's a strange character, it looks like it will be an exciting book.
Here we have the story of a filthy rich (and straight-my ass) guy with a openly-gay handsome college student.
The first book in the series is the one about the couple of wrestlers in the college team and Dan is a friend of both of them. But we hardly spend time at the university anymore. Dan is offered to act as a boyfriend for Avery, a rich girl, back at her home in exchange of some holidays in a luxurious environment and expensive clothes. He tells himself it's just a fun charade that will harm no one although lying is not his thing.
He doesn't expect to fall for her brother. Julian is a dick since the moment they meet but somehow that only makes him more desired by Dan. We can't always rule our brain, right?
The story is not as agile as its predecessor in the sense of the atmosphere being heavier and mournful. Whereas Beck and Jeremy's banter and interactions were snarky and naughty, Julian and Dan are more controlled. To a certain point that's understandable, as Dan is faking his "straighness" for the sake of Avery and Julian is faking his due to peer pressure (AKA his father's expectations).
The tone of the book is more serious and sometimes a little sad. Both have issues but Julian's are more apparent.
There were moments that spoiled the mood. Sometimes the scenes were too immature for my taste. There were some WTF moments I couldn't believe at all. For instance, when Dan . It's like... Seriously? Just like that? Ok, Julian has problems but that response at a silly question doesn't strike me as a logical one. I think if it had been written in a different way, it would have been more credible. In other moment they call a taxi and they . No fu***** way!
A streak of drama takes place when . From the eyes of an outsider, it's a little OTT but I don't regret that lineplot.
And coincidences... No comments.
The scene is a good one, Julian is not stable and have issues to sort out and when Dan wakes up the next morning and finds the is a beautiful and heart-wrenching moment but I didn't expect Julian to all of a sudden. Then Julian with no explanations is a little of an anticlimatic moment. Seriously?
I liked the development and the turn of events when Dan comes back home although IMO . I'm aware it wouldn't have been the same, being a witness of his angst but another excuse would have been better. I enjoyed the at the end. Although I really don't understand Beck's idea of with Julian all of a sudden. Where do they get the ?
Pay no mind to all this negativity, I'm bitching in excess, because I truly enjoyed the book. I just can't help myself from commenting the mistakes. Oh, and I totally loved the scene with Beck and Jeremy together. I almost melted when Beck asks Julian *fangirling*.
I hoped Seth's book would be the #3 but it's Blake's instead. He's a strange character, it looks like it will be an exciting book.
March 30, 2020
What an amazing ride… I couldn’t stop reading. Smitten is the second book in the SSU Boys series, but can totally be enjoyed and understood as a standalone. I loved Pinned and if possible this story is even better. We meet Dan in the first book and here he gets his own love story with a partner who is challenging enough to match his extraordinary character. I was smitten by him right away in Pinned and was very excited to read more about him.
My heart is completely exhausted from being taken on an emotional roller coaster ride. This book has everything that guarantees a great reading experience. It has flawless writing, a gripping plotline, a well-built structure, intriguing characters, lots of surprises, unexpected events and enough angst to keep you on the edge of your seat till the last page. The chemistry between Dan and Julien is sizzling hot. Their emotions are palpable, their inner struggles and conflicts very real and heartbreaking. There are some gut-wrenching episodes, some totally sweet ones, but mostly it’s an entertaining ride where we get to see how Dan and Julien work their way through the obstacles to finally reach some well-deserved happiness.
What I really like about this story, besides enjoying the building romantic relationship, is how it focuses on some very important issues. Like what damage denial, lying, and dishonesty can cause, or how crucial acceptance is, especially in a family, and how the lack of it always leads to unimaginable pain and suffering, and in some cases to unchangeable, devastating events.
I really enjoyed the final part of the story when everyone is together from Pinned and Smitten, and we can see glimpses of the future. I can’t wait to read the next book! Highly recommended!
My heart is completely exhausted from being taken on an emotional roller coaster ride. This book has everything that guarantees a great reading experience. It has flawless writing, a gripping plotline, a well-built structure, intriguing characters, lots of surprises, unexpected events and enough angst to keep you on the edge of your seat till the last page. The chemistry between Dan and Julien is sizzling hot. Their emotions are palpable, their inner struggles and conflicts very real and heartbreaking. There are some gut-wrenching episodes, some totally sweet ones, but mostly it’s an entertaining ride where we get to see how Dan and Julien work their way through the obstacles to finally reach some well-deserved happiness.
What I really like about this story, besides enjoying the building romantic relationship, is how it focuses on some very important issues. Like what damage denial, lying, and dishonesty can cause, or how crucial acceptance is, especially in a family, and how the lack of it always leads to unimaginable pain and suffering, and in some cases to unchangeable, devastating events.
I really enjoyed the final part of the story when everyone is together from Pinned and Smitten, and we can see glimpses of the future. I can’t wait to read the next book! Highly recommended!
June 6, 2014
3.5 Stars!
This one was decent. I liked it but I didn't love it. I kind of ran in to the same problem that I did with the first book in the series, Pinned, in that the characters, drama/conflict and storyline had a juvenile feel to it.
The MCs are young, but still.
So...Smitten is Dan's story who we met in Pinned. Though, honestly I remembered very little about him. Dan was apparently the manwhore of the bunch.
One day at school Dan gets approached by a girl named Avery to pretend to be her boyfriend and escort her to her cotillion (yes, she's from the South). In exchange, Dan will get an all expense paid trip to Savannah along with a whole new wardrobe.
Dan makes it clear that he's gay and Avery is okay with that.
Once they get to town Dan meets Julian, Avery's older brother. Both Dan and Julian are attracted to each other but as far as they both know, they are both straight...afterall, Dan is posing as Avery's boyfriend.
And poor Julian is buried far in the gay closet.
Eventually their attraction becomes too much and things go too far. Julian has an emotional "coming out" and there for awhile things look good for Dan and Julian.
The last half of the book was a bit OTT with the Hannah incident, the stripping and dancing, the excessive drinking, the lavish gifts, rehab, opening up a bar, Avery and the cop....
But I will say, Julian and Dan were hot together. There was plenty of steam in this book.
So there you have it....The end!
This one was decent. I liked it but I didn't love it. I kind of ran in to the same problem that I did with the first book in the series, Pinned, in that the characters, drama/conflict and storyline had a juvenile feel to it.
The MCs are young, but still.
So...Smitten is Dan's story who we met in Pinned. Though, honestly I remembered very little about him. Dan was apparently the manwhore of the bunch.
One day at school Dan gets approached by a girl named Avery to pretend to be her boyfriend and escort her to her cotillion (yes, she's from the South). In exchange, Dan will get an all expense paid trip to Savannah along with a whole new wardrobe.
Dan makes it clear that he's gay and Avery is okay with that.
Once they get to town Dan meets Julian, Avery's older brother. Both Dan and Julian are attracted to each other but as far as they both know, they are both straight...afterall, Dan is posing as Avery's boyfriend.
And poor Julian is buried far in the gay closet.
Eventually their attraction becomes too much and things go too far. Julian has an emotional "coming out" and there for awhile things look good for Dan and Julian.
The last half of the book was a bit OTT with the Hannah incident, the stripping and dancing, the excessive drinking, the lavish gifts, rehab, opening up a bar, Avery and the cop....
But I will say, Julian and Dan were hot together. There was plenty of steam in this book.
So there you have it....The end!
August 14, 2016
Great book. Can I just say how much i loved Julian even when he was dick?
August 11, 2015
I loved the whole thing but somewhere in the middle, I feel like there should’ve been more closure about Zack and his father. It was just blank in that aspect.
I loved Zack’s character because he’s totally Beck in another world. I thought the sister was just a scheming bitch at the beginning so I’m glad that she’s actually a-okay after all.
Another lovely story from Maris Black!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
I loved Zack’s character because he’s totally Beck in another world. I thought the sister was just a scheming bitch at the beginning so I’m glad that she’s actually a-okay after all.
Another lovely story from Maris Black!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
June 2, 2014
Maris Black nailed it with this book.
Smitten is Dan's story. We first met Dan in Pinned and I was definitely intrigued by him then, so I was ecstatic when Maris told me she was writing Dan's story. From the moment we first see Dan in this story, there's something about him that just makes you want him to be happy.
When he meets Julian, you can tell from the first moment that they are meant to be. This story is told in such a way that it grabs you and holds onto you from the beginning until the very last word. Sometimes you'll laugh, sometimes you'll cry, sometimes you'll want to beat the crap out of certain people, and oh my god the sexy times in this book were some of the hottest I've read in a long time. They aren't there just to be there, they are there to help the story along and I love that.
Dan and Julian's story is complicated, but so worth it. The cast of secondary characters bring something important to the story and I really hope we get to see more of them in an SSU Boys #3 novel :) *hint hint*
Smitten is Dan's story. We first met Dan in Pinned and I was definitely intrigued by him then, so I was ecstatic when Maris told me she was writing Dan's story. From the moment we first see Dan in this story, there's something about him that just makes you want him to be happy.
When he meets Julian, you can tell from the first moment that they are meant to be. This story is told in such a way that it grabs you and holds onto you from the beginning until the very last word. Sometimes you'll laugh, sometimes you'll cry, sometimes you'll want to beat the crap out of certain people, and oh my god the sexy times in this book were some of the hottest I've read in a long time. They aren't there just to be there, they are there to help the story along and I love that.
Dan and Julian's story is complicated, but so worth it. The cast of secondary characters bring something important to the story and I really hope we get to see more of them in an SSU Boys #3 novel :) *hint hint*
October 10, 2019
I seriously really liked this. I liked the instant attraction, the “I need to fight it because you’re my sisters boyfriend”. Very smexy as well.
June 3, 2014
I don't usually leave reviews, just ratings, because I have trouble putting words to the feelings I get reading a book. Maris Black has been a favorite author of mine since I read Owning Corey and it was solidified when I read Pinned, the first book in the SSU Boys series. I was so happy to revisit the characters in Dan's story, Smitten. The story itself is sad and wonderful. Dan had seemed so carefree in Pinned, I had no idea the ache he had to find his true love until this book. Julian is a type of character we've seen before, rich and seemingly confident, but under the surface he doesn't have his life together. He fights what he really wants until he can't say no to Dan. All of the secondary characters in Maris's books are awesome, as well as the main characters. She has a gift for being able to make you empathize and relate to her characters, even if you are not a college aged gay man, but a 30-something year old wife and mother. That is the gift of her writing. I oh so look forward to reading more of the characters from SSU, hopefully ones we met in Pinned as well as some new additions from Smitten.
May 1, 2019
1.5 stars
I’m so sad I didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would.
I always know that going into a Maris Black book there’s bound to be heaps and heaps of drama, and still, I always get disappointed with how unbelievable it all is. Sometimes I can deal with it because the relationship makes it all worth it, but really it just gets tiring.
I don’t like how the characters handle anything; I hate how unrealistically they react and how over the top the shit that happens is. Dan was a nice guy, but to be honest, he didn’t have much self-respect, and Julian was extremely cold and only a handful of times could I see his affection for Dan.
This is not the type of book I enjoy.
I’m so sad I didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would.
I always know that going into a Maris Black book there’s bound to be heaps and heaps of drama, and still, I always get disappointed with how unbelievable it all is. Sometimes I can deal with it because the relationship makes it all worth it, but really it just gets tiring.
I don’t like how the characters handle anything; I hate how unrealistically they react and how over the top the shit that happens is. Dan was a nice guy, but to be honest, he didn’t have much self-respect, and Julian was extremely cold and only a handful of times could I see his affection for Dan.
This is not the type of book I enjoy.
May 12, 2017
(What's with this book's cover? Is that a whip? This book has no bondage. It makes no sense. But it does allow me this wordplay-infused segue...)
I got some serious whiplash from this book. It bears little resemblance to the first book in the series, Pinned, in tone or theme, and it has all the least compelling components of Black's arguably much better series, Kage. There are some decent story aspects, some super erotic love scenes, and a great thread of friendship in the end, but by the time I finished, I had no idea what kind of story was supposed to be told.
Long story short, the story begins with an optimistic college boy acting as a fake boyfriend for a wealthy Savannah heiress and then falling in love with her brooding older brother. . Point A and Point B have never been further apart.
Aforementioned older brother Julian Wakefield has the world at his feet, and now he wants Dan for his own as well. There's a lot of objectification and fierce possessiveness going on between them that didn't always work for me, similar to Beck and Jeremy's dynamic in Pinned. The concept of possessive behavior and "ownership" can be erotic in gay romance, both M/M and F/F. I will not read it in F/M stories and I will not read it when it involves characters of color, because "owning" someone has historically not ended well for women and POC. I may enjoy erotic fantasy, but some ideas and dynamics cross a line for me, and that's one of them. This book came close to crossing that line because of Dan and Julian's class differences.
Speaking of Julian--Maris Black officially has a Straight Boy problem. Over half of published gay romances are Gay for You or Big Gay Panic types of stories, which is all fine and dandy because coming out is diverse and sometimes sudden and oftentimes sucky. But Black loves "straight" boys who insist they are straight and make it their mission to further their facade of straightness while being absolutely terrible at it. Within the first half of the book, , all while thinking he's pulling the wool over everyone's eyes. I get that denial runs deep, but it is so laughingly transparent and it leaves me wondering if Black knows Julian is terrible or if she believes this is how the average straight boy acts with his friends.
There were a lot of directions the Dan/Julian romance could've taken, but the end result was less than satisfying. Julian's artistic passion was photography, so ? And Dan wanted devotion and affection and freedom, ? It's a fun ending, sure, and I absolutely adored the last 20% or so when the SSU gang got back together. They're better characters when they're all together, and the outsider POV really showed how ditzy Jeremy is and how salty Seth can be. But it didn't do the main characters any real favors.
And I hated how Black loaded the Chekhov's gun of the SSU guys visiting Dan in Savannah but then never fired it! How fun would that have been? Jeremy gawking at the huge mansion, Seth making tactless remarks about old money and fighting with Avery, Beck and Julian having an alpha-male face-off. I kept waiting for it to happen and it never did, and that is unforgivable.
Also, .
This series has been a big gay fever dream so far. Lots of stripping and night clubs. Lots of alcohol and erotic photography. Family drama, suicide, fist fights. Fancy cars. Shopping montages. It's fun, and I enjoyed it, but it's just not coming together for me. When authors just throw a bunch of sexy romance tropes and erotic wet dreams in a blender and expects a cohesive story smoothie to come out, it rarely produces palatable results.
I got some serious whiplash from this book. It bears little resemblance to the first book in the series, Pinned, in tone or theme, and it has all the least compelling components of Black's arguably much better series, Kage. There are some decent story aspects, some super erotic love scenes, and a great thread of friendship in the end, but by the time I finished, I had no idea what kind of story was supposed to be told.
Long story short, the story begins with an optimistic college boy acting as a fake boyfriend for a wealthy Savannah heiress and then falling in love with her brooding older brother. . Point A and Point B have never been further apart.
Aforementioned older brother Julian Wakefield has the world at his feet, and now he wants Dan for his own as well. There's a lot of objectification and fierce possessiveness going on between them that didn't always work for me, similar to Beck and Jeremy's dynamic in Pinned. The concept of possessive behavior and "ownership" can be erotic in gay romance, both M/M and F/F. I will not read it in F/M stories and I will not read it when it involves characters of color, because "owning" someone has historically not ended well for women and POC. I may enjoy erotic fantasy, but some ideas and dynamics cross a line for me, and that's one of them. This book came close to crossing that line because of Dan and Julian's class differences.
Speaking of Julian--Maris Black officially has a Straight Boy problem. Over half of published gay romances are Gay for You or Big Gay Panic types of stories, which is all fine and dandy because coming out is diverse and sometimes sudden and oftentimes sucky. But Black loves "straight" boys who insist they are straight and make it their mission to further their facade of straightness while being absolutely terrible at it. Within the first half of the book, , all while thinking he's pulling the wool over everyone's eyes. I get that denial runs deep, but it is so laughingly transparent and it leaves me wondering if Black knows Julian is terrible or if she believes this is how the average straight boy acts with his friends.
There were a lot of directions the Dan/Julian romance could've taken, but the end result was less than satisfying. Julian's artistic passion was photography, so ? And Dan wanted devotion and affection and freedom, ? It's a fun ending, sure, and I absolutely adored the last 20% or so when the SSU gang got back together. They're better characters when they're all together, and the outsider POV really showed how ditzy Jeremy is and how salty Seth can be. But it didn't do the main characters any real favors.
And I hated how Black loaded the Chekhov's gun of the SSU guys visiting Dan in Savannah but then never fired it! How fun would that have been? Jeremy gawking at the huge mansion, Seth making tactless remarks about old money and fighting with Avery, Beck and Julian having an alpha-male face-off. I kept waiting for it to happen and it never did, and that is unforgivable.
Also, .
This series has been a big gay fever dream so far. Lots of stripping and night clubs. Lots of alcohol and erotic photography. Family drama, suicide, fist fights. Fancy cars. Shopping montages. It's fun, and I enjoyed it, but it's just not coming together for me. When authors just throw a bunch of sexy romance tropes and erotic wet dreams in a blender and expects a cohesive story smoothie to come out, it rarely produces palatable results.
September 17, 2015
So we start at SSU with Dan, a friend of the wrestlers we met in book 1, but we quickly leave the state and head to North Carolina where Dan acts as the straight boyfriend to snooty Avery Wakefield for her cotillion. While there Dan meets her “straight” brother Julian and the two find themselves embroiled in a hot romance that was a bit expected when the dust settles.
It seems a simple enough plot and it was, but there is a hell of a lot of other stuff thrown in to make this simple story more (unnecessarily?) complex.
First, Julian is hiding his sexuality but it doesn’t take much for him to abandon that secret because of his obvious infatuation of Dan.
Second, there is a plot line involving a gay friend who ends up committing suicide and that impacts the group for a minute or two –but I’m not sure it was necessary or really handled all that well.
Third, Julian has a problem with alcohol and his new relationship forces him to come to grips with this in a way that was handled very poorly by Julian and mostly unbelievably by Dan.
Finally, there’s a Big Misunderstanding when Julian disappears that made me absolutely crazy in it’s ridiculousness. Avery wasn’t even freaked when her brother just disappears giving his lover his car and an expensive bracelet. Hello? Someone close to them just killed themselves, shouldn’t that act as a wake-up-call that the closeted Julian might be in danger?
So though I appreciated the attempt at making this story a bit more deep and complex than the previous two stories I have to say it didn’t work for me. I’m still a huge fan of Maris Black and am excited to move on to book 3, but this one left me feeling a little confused and unhappy.
Audio
Chris Patton rocks this narration! His southern accents are to die for and I loved listening to his interpretation of this story. It’s definitely worth a listen especially if you’ve been a fan of the series and of this narrator.
With that all being said, I give this 3 of 5 stars for the narration and the mostly good if somewhat hard to swallow story-line.
It seems a simple enough plot and it was, but there is a hell of a lot of other stuff thrown in to make this simple story more (unnecessarily?) complex.
First, Julian is hiding his sexuality but it doesn’t take much for him to abandon that secret because of his obvious infatuation of Dan.
Second, there is a plot line involving a gay friend who ends up committing suicide and that impacts the group for a minute or two –but I’m not sure it was necessary or really handled all that well.
Third, Julian has a problem with alcohol and his new relationship forces him to come to grips with this in a way that was handled very poorly by Julian and mostly unbelievably by Dan.
Finally, there’s a Big Misunderstanding when Julian disappears that made me absolutely crazy in it’s ridiculousness. Avery wasn’t even freaked when her brother just disappears giving his lover his car and an expensive bracelet. Hello? Someone close to them just killed themselves, shouldn’t that act as a wake-up-call that the closeted Julian might be in danger?
So though I appreciated the attempt at making this story a bit more deep and complex than the previous two stories I have to say it didn’t work for me. I’m still a huge fan of Maris Black and am excited to move on to book 3, but this one left me feeling a little confused and unhappy.
Audio
Chris Patton rocks this narration! His southern accents are to die for and I loved listening to his interpretation of this story. It’s definitely worth a listen especially if you’ve been a fan of the series and of this narrator.
With that all being said, I give this 3 of 5 stars for the narration and the mostly good if somewhat hard to swallow story-line.
July 14, 2015
Awe Dan is SMITTEN…
We met Dan in Pinned (which was Beck and Jeremy’s story. If you haven’t read it yet…run, go grab it! It’s totally worth it!) and he struck me right away as a character I’d love to get to know more. He has that easy go with the flow *shrugs* I’m cool with whatever attitude. Hmmm….Good thing or Bad thing? Guess we’ll see.
Julian Wakefield. Yes, you absolutely have to include his last name when you mention him. He has this attitude and way he carries himself so others see him as someone not to mess with, someone who knows what he’s doing and knows what he wants even if he’s never truly admitted it to himself. Some may say he’s a douche or an asshole…lol. I can see that but for me, even at his most ‘assholish’ moment he’s a great character.
The first time these two guys are in the same room together I could feel the connection and was totally ready for them to get down n dirty!! But alas, we have the ‘he’s straight & he’s my sisters boyfriend’ issues standing in the way. Well all the more time for everyone’s crazy shenanigans and believe me shenanigans were had. I mean alcohol, a sweater that makes you hard, lap dancing, A lucky cab driver named Hector and that’s just a handful of the crazy we get to experience with these guys.
I enjoyed this book overall. It did take a little while for me to get hooked into it and a couple OTT scenarios but this book is meant to be fun so I just went with it and soaked it all up!
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun (drama-filled) sexy hot read!
This review has been cross-posted at Reviews by Jessewave
We met Dan in Pinned (which was Beck and Jeremy’s story. If you haven’t read it yet…run, go grab it! It’s totally worth it!) and he struck me right away as a character I’d love to get to know more. He has that easy go with the flow *shrugs* I’m cool with whatever attitude. Hmmm….Good thing or Bad thing? Guess we’ll see.
Julian Wakefield. Yes, you absolutely have to include his last name when you mention him. He has this attitude and way he carries himself so others see him as someone not to mess with, someone who knows what he’s doing and knows what he wants even if he’s never truly admitted it to himself. Some may say he’s a douche or an asshole…lol. I can see that but for me, even at his most ‘assholish’ moment he’s a great character.
The first time these two guys are in the same room together I could feel the connection and was totally ready for them to get down n dirty!! But alas, we have the ‘he’s straight & he’s my sisters boyfriend’ issues standing in the way. Well all the more time for everyone’s crazy shenanigans and believe me shenanigans were had. I mean alcohol, a sweater that makes you hard, lap dancing, A lucky cab driver named Hector and that’s just a handful of the crazy we get to experience with these guys.
I enjoyed this book overall. It did take a little while for me to get hooked into it and a couple OTT scenarios but this book is meant to be fun so I just went with it and soaked it all up!
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun (drama-filled) sexy hot read!
This review has been cross-posted at Reviews by Jessewave
February 19, 2015
2.5 Stars
Book two of the SSU Boys series tells Dan and Julian's story. It was high drama and hawt sexy, smexy. (BTW, Maris Black is very good at writing the hawt sexy, smexy scenes. Yum!) Dan and Julian were both wonderful. Although Julian was a pretentious and selfish prick at times, I didn't like Dan's response. () I wanted better from him but wishes and dreams and all that. That said, this book was in the 4-star range up through 80% and then it tanked. Frankly, the make-up scene sucked. Julian had some serious groveling to do but he didn't! It was just ho-hum, I want to treat you better in the future babe. Let's hop in the sack! Ugh.
Bottom line: Despite Dan's shortcomings (and Julian's occasional selfishness), I enjoyed this book until the let down near the end.
Book two of the SSU Boys series tells Dan and Julian's story. It was high drama and hawt sexy, smexy. (BTW, Maris Black is very good at writing the hawt sexy, smexy scenes. Yum!) Dan and Julian were both wonderful. Although Julian was a pretentious and selfish prick at times, I didn't like Dan's response. () I wanted better from him but wishes and dreams and all that. That said, this book was in the 4-star range up through 80% and then it tanked. Frankly, the make-up scene sucked. Julian had some serious groveling to do but he didn't! It was just ho-hum, I want to treat you better in the future babe. Let's hop in the sack! Ugh.
Bottom line: Despite Dan's shortcomings (and Julian's occasional selfishness), I enjoyed this book until the let down near the end.
April 21, 2015
Reading about people of this generation (NAs or YAs) who are "happy," have nothing to worry about or are popular are a dead bore.
I like my young people (when I read) angsty or unpopular.
I like my young people (when I read) angsty or unpopular.
March 10, 2016
4.5 Stars!
December 28, 2016
Listened to the audio version. Really enjoyed the story and the narration was fabulous.
September 4, 2016
Ok, I loved the premise of this story. Cute gay guy is hired to pretend to be a rich girl's boyfriend during winter break, catches a case of the hots for rich girl's hot older brother, who has the hots right back. But then they threw in lots of poor little rich closeted boy drama, a bigoted, misogynistic father, and some real behind the times behavior among their friends, and it started losing steam.
The UST between these two guys was awesome, and the sex was very hot, it's the family drama I could have done without. Rich boy's dad was typical for his time, wants his son to do right, take over the family business, marry a pretty girl (because what do they need brains or money for?), and don't be a pansy. Then there was the friend of the family, who showed up in a rage because.....rich boy didn't like his daughter, or wasn't nice enough? I don't know, it seemed very 1800s. Throw in the of said daughter, a childhood friend of rich boy Julian, and Julian constantly drowning his sorrows in alcohol, like I said, too much drama. It felt like an episode of Gossip Girl or something.
Then the ending came out of nowhere? Through it all, Julian's into photography, he traveled all over taking pictures, even making money this way, and then ended up...opening a gay club with Beck from book 1? Totally out of left field, I don't even know where that came from, nothing like that was EVER mentioned.
The UST between these two guys was awesome, and the sex was very hot, it's the family drama I could have done without. Rich boy's dad was typical for his time, wants his son to do right, take over the family business, marry a pretty girl (because what do they need brains or money for?), and don't be a pansy. Then there was the friend of the family, who showed up in a rage because.....rich boy didn't like his daughter, or wasn't nice enough? I don't know, it seemed very 1800s. Throw in the of said daughter, a childhood friend of rich boy Julian, and Julian constantly drowning his sorrows in alcohol, like I said, too much drama. It felt like an episode of Gossip Girl or something.
Then the ending came out of nowhere? Through it all, Julian's into photography, he traveled all over taking pictures, even making money this way, and then ended up...opening a gay club with Beck from book 1? Totally out of left field, I don't even know where that came from, nothing like that was EVER mentioned.
November 23, 2015
I listened to this on Audible.
I really enjoyed the dual PoV and I loved the narrators voice.
Julian is a complete arse but a lovable one and I just adored Dan.
Around the half way mark it got a bit...saccharine. Julian and Dan were a bit girlie in their interactions.
The make up scene was meh. Julian should have been grovelling is arse off but nope, hardly even saying sorry and Dan just forgives him.
Hannah pissed me right off. I know I was supposed to feel sorry for her but she was so manipulative I found it difficult and when the shit hit the fan it all got ridiculous, from the way the police handled what happened to the characters reactions and behaviour.
I lost a lot of love for this book after about chapter 19.
It all became a bit too much. The Hannah thing started it, then the stripping, the rehab, gifts, the club, the cop. It got silly.
There's chunks of information missing too. Such as what happens with Julian's dad, and the job Julian was supposed to do. Not to mention they go on and on about Julian's 'art' but then it's not mentioned at the end.
June 3, 2014
another winner from maris black...just finished today and loved it!!! I couldn't figure out if I like Dan or Julian more...Dan is so adorable and Julian starts off as one of those guys you can't stand but of course you love him by the end... story was very well written and flowed well...loved the glimpses of Jeremy and Beck and even Seth... I totally see a story with Blake and Liam :)
Maris writes such a vivid story with great characters....sometimes I wanted to slap Julian in the head... can't wait for more stories involving the guys from SSU
Also just wanted to add that it was so nice to get to know Dan more...he has a lot more depth than we got to see in Pinned...he's not just a pretty face and sexy dancer
Maris writes such a vivid story with great characters....sometimes I wanted to slap Julian in the head... can't wait for more stories involving the guys from SSU
Also just wanted to add that it was so nice to get to know Dan more...he has a lot more depth than we got to see in Pinned...he's not just a pretty face and sexy dancer
December 15, 2015
This was another great entry in the SSU series and a great audiobook. I already loved Dan from 'Pinned' and it was great to have him as main character and learn more about him. He is a likable free spirit and hot as hell.
Julian reinded me a lot of Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl. He is rich, confident and likes to take charge. The chemistry between them is off the charts, but parts of the story seemed a bit OTT for me. It is an incredibly fun and hot read, though.
Julian reinded me a lot of Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl. He is rich, confident and likes to take charge. The chemistry between them is off the charts, but parts of the story seemed a bit OTT for me. It is an incredibly fun and hot read, though.
June 7, 2014
This is such a wonderful series!! So happy to find this author! :-D. She writes all her books with such feeling and description and keeps you wanting more and more. As soon as your done with one book you can't wait for the next to come out!!!
August 23, 2015
My goodness this author is a drama queen (in her writing anyway). This is the second book I've read in the series and I have to say I'm not rolling my eyes at the drama as much as I might have. I'm actually getting into it. Well written story that keeps you on edge until the end.
June 4, 2014
I think this is my new favorite author!
Read
May 27, 2019I tried listening to this and the narration is not bad but there are strange pauses at times. I’m stopping at chapter 6 because I’m bored and I’m not feeling the characters.
July 16, 2014
This book is infuriating, because Maris writes the erotica well, it's definitely better thought out that some erotica I read, but she falls into some really tacky NA tropes that I can't stand. Like:
-Avery frequently acts like a five year old child.
-Dan doesn't seem to have much personality.
-All their angsty moments are short lived. They will spend a few paragraphs troubling over a situation, then another character appears and it's gone.
-In two weeks, it's the truest true love to ever be true love (although, kudos to Maris, she did defend that well in-text, so it's less annoying than most instalove)
-The Hannah subplot. All of the Hannah subplot. It was only there to give Dan and Julian Drama, and Reasons not to be together. Why couldn't Hannah have had some growth or realisation that her father was making her downtrodden and Julian was not the answer? Her suicide and subsequent events were handled badly.
-Daddy issues dragged on too long and then the resolution was to ditch the parents. Wow. Why couldn't Morris have come around to Julian and Dan based on the mother's demands (she didn't get a name, as far as I could see. But I think if she had threatened to divorce him if he didn't accept his son, that would have been a better resolution and worked into the notion that he gave a rats ass about the way people view his family. Isn't his refusal of Julian counterintuitive to that?)
-Dan dances! He dances well! He's so erotic when he dances! He dances for Julian! He dances with others to make Julian jealous!
Some of the subplots came out of nowhere and were resolved too quickly. Ugh. Felt like total pantsing writing. But despite that, I kinda liked it? But then I like M/M and write it myself, so ...
-Avery frequently acts like a five year old child.
-Dan doesn't seem to have much personality.
-All their angsty moments are short lived. They will spend a few paragraphs troubling over a situation, then another character appears and it's gone.
-In two weeks, it's the truest true love to ever be true love (although, kudos to Maris, she did defend that well in-text, so it's less annoying than most instalove)
-The Hannah subplot. All of the Hannah subplot. It was only there to give Dan and Julian Drama, and Reasons not to be together. Why couldn't Hannah have had some growth or realisation that her father was making her downtrodden and Julian was not the answer? Her suicide and subsequent events were handled badly.
-Daddy issues dragged on too long and then the resolution was to ditch the parents. Wow. Why couldn't Morris have come around to Julian and Dan based on the mother's demands (she didn't get a name, as far as I could see. But I think if she had threatened to divorce him if he didn't accept his son, that would have been a better resolution and worked into the notion that he gave a rats ass about the way people view his family. Isn't his refusal of Julian counterintuitive to that?)
-Dan dances! He dances well! He's so erotic when he dances! He dances for Julian! He dances with others to make Julian jealous!
Some of the subplots came out of nowhere and were resolved too quickly. Ugh. Felt like total pantsing writing. But despite that, I kinda liked it? But then I like M/M and write it myself, so ...
July 21, 2015
Smitten started out really strong, but half way through, I just found it a bit too much. It all got a bit strange!
But still, the first half was really good, and they did have chemistry:-). The sex was HOT.
But still, the first half was really good, and they did have chemistry:-). The sex was HOT.
October 6, 2017
Dan Fisher
Julian Wakefield
Read Oct 2017 | 3.5 stars
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Book synopsis: Dan Fisher is a fun-loving slacker from SSU with a passion for partying and dancing. When rich girl Avery Wakefield offers him a brand new designer wardrobe in exchange for posing as her boyfriend, he reluctantly agrees. He hates lying, but it’s hard to turn down nice clothes and a chance to live in a historic mansion in Savannah for two weeks. What he doesn’t count on is falling hard for her mysterious, straight brother.
Julian Wakefield is as tortured as he is handsome. He keeps a secret close to his heart, and everyone else at a distance. But now his sister’s new boyfriend is stirring up feelings he’s always been able to deny. Like an angel and the devil all rolled into one, he tempts him to take chances he never would have taken before. Too bad Dan belongs to his sister, whom he would never dream of betraying.
But… put two hot boys with an irresistible attraction in the same house for long enough, something is bound to happen.
Julian Wakefield
Read Oct 2017 | 3.5 stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Book synopsis: Dan Fisher is a fun-loving slacker from SSU with a passion for partying and dancing. When rich girl Avery Wakefield offers him a brand new designer wardrobe in exchange for posing as her boyfriend, he reluctantly agrees. He hates lying, but it’s hard to turn down nice clothes and a chance to live in a historic mansion in Savannah for two weeks. What he doesn’t count on is falling hard for her mysterious, straight brother.
Julian Wakefield is as tortured as he is handsome. He keeps a secret close to his heart, and everyone else at a distance. But now his sister’s new boyfriend is stirring up feelings he’s always been able to deny. Like an angel and the devil all rolled into one, he tempts him to take chances he never would have taken before. Too bad Dan belongs to his sister, whom he would never dream of betraying.
But… put two hot boys with an irresistible attraction in the same house for long enough, something is bound to happen.
November 25, 2014
Julian and Dan's story was amazing, simply AMAZING! I started reading it last night before bed and did not want to put it down, I got to about 60% when I found myself reading the same sentence over and over cause it wasn't computing I was that tired! So I reluctantly bookmarked my page, put my kindle to sleep and went to bed. As soon as I could this morning I went back to about the 50% mark and read it from there to the end in one sitting.
I LOVE this book and cannot wait for the next one to come out.
I know they can be read as a stand-alone but I encourage everyone to start with Pinned and go from there because they are so worth it and I loved that we got to experience Beck, Jeremy and Seth from the first book.
I cannot wait to see how these friends and their new friends continue to evolve in their lives and love. Amazing and well worth the one-click!
Muah! Maris Black you rock!
I LOVE this book and cannot wait for the next one to come out.
I know they can be read as a stand-alone but I encourage everyone to start with Pinned and go from there because they are so worth it and I loved that we got to experience Beck, Jeremy and Seth from the first book.
I cannot wait to see how these friends and their new friends continue to evolve in their lives and love. Amazing and well worth the one-click!
Muah! Maris Black you rock!
July 4, 2014
Incredible..
I could not put this book down...I read it all in one shot and I am about to read it again and again. I love all our original characters from "Pinned" and I love them even more than anything now. I really want Julian as my own...I know he is into men/Dan but he has me so in love with him. Avery and Michael, Julian's Mother are awesome new characters. I don't really like Blake though...I do not trust him!! I was kinda hoping that Zack would be a good guy and wind up hooking up with Seth. I felt that he was really hurt be Jules' original rejection. I think he really had genuine feelings for him. I also liked Liam...he has a funny way about him...I have to agree with everyone else, Maris Black knows how touch us all. Almost like your personal writer with access to your heart!!! totally great and worth every damn penny I paid for it.
I could not put this book down...I read it all in one shot and I am about to read it again and again. I love all our original characters from "Pinned" and I love them even more than anything now. I really want Julian as my own...I know he is into men/Dan but he has me so in love with him. Avery and Michael, Julian's Mother are awesome new characters. I don't really like Blake though...I do not trust him!! I was kinda hoping that Zack would be a good guy and wind up hooking up with Seth. I felt that he was really hurt be Jules' original rejection. I think he really had genuine feelings for him. I also liked Liam...he has a funny way about him...I have to agree with everyone else, Maris Black knows how touch us all. Almost like your personal writer with access to your heart!!! totally great and worth every damn penny I paid for it.
June 2, 2014
I Loved Smitten!!! I'm not going to tell you what Smitten is about but I will say that this is definitely A Must Read! I have never read a book that left me unable to read another when finished until now. I loved everything about Dan and Julian's story from the beginning "Your turn, Mr. Fisher" to the end - I drop a kiss on the top of his head, his curls tickling my nose, and I wonder what I ever did in my life to get so lucky.
I have read every book by Maris and I have never been disappointed! If you haven't read Smitten yet I suggest you do. An amazing story written by an amazing author!
I have read every book by Maris and I have never been disappointed! If you haven't read Smitten yet I suggest you do. An amazing story written by an amazing author!
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