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Taming Hearts Club #1
Rules of Engagement
Control is his armor. Surrender is his weakness.
Jamie Cross has built his reputation as Harborview's premier event planner through perfect precision and flawless control. But beneath his tailored suits and practiced charm lies a man wound so tight he's about to snap. When security consultant Liam Sullivan steps into his meticulously organized world to handle the prestigious TechVision Summit, Jamie's irritation is only matched by an inexplicable, unwanted attraction.
Former Special Forces officer Liam recognizes the signs immediately—Jamie's need for structure masks a deeper desire to surrender control. As professional barriers crumble during a high-stakes crisis, both men discover a connection that transcends their working relationship. Inside the exclusive Taming Hearts Club, Jamie finds himself drawn to a dynamic he never knew he craved, while Liam offers the firm guidance and tender care that could heal Jamie's deepest wounds.
But when Jamie's fear of vulnerability threatens their newfound bond, they must decide what matters more—maintaining perfectly constructed walls or risking everything for a love that demands complete surrender.
A contemporary MM romance featuring grumpy/sunshine dynamics, age gap attraction, and the discovery that true strength sometimes lies in knowing when to yield control.
Jamie Cross has built his reputation as Harborview's premier event planner through perfect precision and flawless control. But beneath his tailored suits and practiced charm lies a man wound so tight he's about to snap. When security consultant Liam Sullivan steps into his meticulously organized world to handle the prestigious TechVision Summit, Jamie's irritation is only matched by an inexplicable, unwanted attraction.
Former Special Forces officer Liam recognizes the signs immediately—Jamie's need for structure masks a deeper desire to surrender control. As professional barriers crumble during a high-stakes crisis, both men discover a connection that transcends their working relationship. Inside the exclusive Taming Hearts Club, Jamie finds himself drawn to a dynamic he never knew he craved, while Liam offers the firm guidance and tender care that could heal Jamie's deepest wounds.
But when Jamie's fear of vulnerability threatens their newfound bond, they must decide what matters more—maintaining perfectly constructed walls or risking everything for a love that demands complete surrender.
A contemporary MM romance featuring grumpy/sunshine dynamics, age gap attraction, and the discovery that true strength sometimes lies in knowing when to yield control.
- GenresM M Romance
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 1, 2025
Jamie is Harborview's premier event planner, he has built his company up from scratch to earn that reputation but at what cost?
Liam was in the special forces and now runs his own security consultancy. His business is equally sought after by big business.
That is how Jamie and Liam cross paths, Jamie's latest client has heard about some potentially serious security breaches and wants them to work with Liam's team to ensure there is no disruption to the upcoming event. Needless to say Jamie, always in control, always running a tight ship and always so tightly wound he might snap, is not happy. He is even less so when Liam sends him a 52 page document outlining all the changes he believes need to be made to the event. Fortunately Jamie has an excellent team, a best friend and colleague who has known him since college and been the only one to stand by him, who can talk him into at least meeting with Liam for discussions.
Liam knows he can be over the top but the safety of others is always his primary concern and he will always do everything within his power to make things happen. He has heard of Jamie's business, about the man, but meeting him he immediately notices how highly strung Jamie is, he sees the signs of a man so tightly wound he could snap and as they begin to work together he begins to see more of Jamie, to help Jamie see himself differently. Knowing that you want someone to give you commands, to take control, to take you out of your head, is one thing. Giving into it is another.
And that is where the problems stem from. Jamie discovers, during an incident at the event, exactly what it is he would like from Liam both in public and behind closed doors, quite literally! But is he willing to learn, to grow, to be guided? There is one place Liam thinks this could happen, a friend who could help. Dom Russo owns the exclusive Taming Hearts Club and it is there Jamie finds himself, a few times, as he comes to terms with what these new found discoveries could mean for him, could mean for him and Liam.
The path of their romance is not a smooth one but I was addicted to their story. Jude Steel writes with knowledge, conviction and gentle assurances. The dynamic of the daddy dom and brat is carefully explained and not just once, over and again, as the characters and the reader begin to see and fully understand what it means and how it works, how it can be life changing. The fact that Jude Steel took the time to start the book with The Official Guidelines for The Taming Hearts Club impressed me more than I can express. It shows a dedication to ensuring the reader, as much as the characters, is fully invested in this story, its meaning and potential consequences.
This is a uniquely powerful story, an addictive romance and incredibly eye opening too. Thank you Jude Steel for opening us, hearts, and minds to this fascinating world and to an outstanding romance.
Liam was in the special forces and now runs his own security consultancy. His business is equally sought after by big business.
That is how Jamie and Liam cross paths, Jamie's latest client has heard about some potentially serious security breaches and wants them to work with Liam's team to ensure there is no disruption to the upcoming event. Needless to say Jamie, always in control, always running a tight ship and always so tightly wound he might snap, is not happy. He is even less so when Liam sends him a 52 page document outlining all the changes he believes need to be made to the event. Fortunately Jamie has an excellent team, a best friend and colleague who has known him since college and been the only one to stand by him, who can talk him into at least meeting with Liam for discussions.
Liam knows he can be over the top but the safety of others is always his primary concern and he will always do everything within his power to make things happen. He has heard of Jamie's business, about the man, but meeting him he immediately notices how highly strung Jamie is, he sees the signs of a man so tightly wound he could snap and as they begin to work together he begins to see more of Jamie, to help Jamie see himself differently. Knowing that you want someone to give you commands, to take control, to take you out of your head, is one thing. Giving into it is another.
And that is where the problems stem from. Jamie discovers, during an incident at the event, exactly what it is he would like from Liam both in public and behind closed doors, quite literally! But is he willing to learn, to grow, to be guided? There is one place Liam thinks this could happen, a friend who could help. Dom Russo owns the exclusive Taming Hearts Club and it is there Jamie finds himself, a few times, as he comes to terms with what these new found discoveries could mean for him, could mean for him and Liam.
The path of their romance is not a smooth one but I was addicted to their story. Jude Steel writes with knowledge, conviction and gentle assurances. The dynamic of the daddy dom and brat is carefully explained and not just once, over and again, as the characters and the reader begin to see and fully understand what it means and how it works, how it can be life changing. The fact that Jude Steel took the time to start the book with The Official Guidelines for The Taming Hearts Club impressed me more than I can express. It shows a dedication to ensuring the reader, as much as the characters, is fully invested in this story, its meaning and potential consequences.
This is a uniquely powerful story, an addictive romance and incredibly eye opening too. Thank you Jude Steel for opening us, hearts, and minds to this fascinating world and to an outstanding romance.
May 5, 2025
This was a very interesting book to me. I had read several books with the daddy dom/boy dynamic, but the specific daddy dom/brat one was new to me. I thought the book did a very good job of explaining the dynamic as Jamie and Liam’s connection with the power exchange developed over time. It was also interesting that the care component was as important as the control one with dominance and submission, and Jamie being able to accept that care was not control was one of the most difficult things for him to grasp. Seeing Jamie realize so much about himself, and being able to think about and verbalize what he needed became more targeted the more he understood himself, his triggers, and what he needed from Liam. Jamie grew so much under Liam’s control and genuine caring, becoming a happier and more balanced version of himself, while Liam’s needs were also being met. I just found the dynamic fascinating.
One thing looking back that came as kind of a surprise was that I don’t remember there being a lot of explicit sexual encounters in the book although I know there were a couple at least, they just didn’t register as being as important to the connection and dynamic as they have been in other books. I was focused much more on the developing connection and relationship, and the self-realization that Jamie went through than I was on the physical encounters. My mind just accepted it more as implied rather than detailed. It was also fascinating to me that Liam could look at Jamie and just know what he needed, then get him to verbalize it himself.
I also thought the Welcome guide at the beginning was genius, giving the right amount of information offered in a non-threatening and intriguing way while being presented with humor. I thought it set a good tone for the book and the club right from the beginning.
Since this is book 1, I hope there will be a book 2, maybe about Riley Matthews and perhaps Dom? Guess we’ll need to wait and see.
If you are interested in daddy dom/boy books, I think you would like this one with the brat element added. I’ve come across brats before with daddy Dom’s, but not with the same background and explanation as in this book. Highly recommend it, grabbed me from the welcome guide and didn’t let go until the end.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
One thing looking back that came as kind of a surprise was that I don’t remember there being a lot of explicit sexual encounters in the book although I know there were a couple at least, they just didn’t register as being as important to the connection and dynamic as they have been in other books. I was focused much more on the developing connection and relationship, and the self-realization that Jamie went through than I was on the physical encounters. My mind just accepted it more as implied rather than detailed. It was also fascinating to me that Liam could look at Jamie and just know what he needed, then get him to verbalize it himself.
I also thought the Welcome guide at the beginning was genius, giving the right amount of information offered in a non-threatening and intriguing way while being presented with humor. I thought it set a good tone for the book and the club right from the beginning.
Since this is book 1, I hope there will be a book 2, maybe about Riley Matthews and perhaps Dom? Guess we’ll need to wait and see.
If you are interested in daddy dom/boy books, I think you would like this one with the brat element added. I’ve come across brats before with daddy Dom’s, but not with the same background and explanation as in this book. Highly recommend it, grabbed me from the welcome guide and didn’t let go until the end.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 17, 2025
'But it was the absence of Jamie's usual armor that truly struck Liam— no perfectly styled hair, no designer clothes, no practiced expression. Just Jamie, stripped of pretense by exhaustion and the intimate setting. Without the sharp suits and sharper comebacks, he seemed both more approachable and more fragile.'
I really enjoyed this book. I loved both Jamie and Liam and loved the dynamic between them. In addition to romance, this was as much a journey for Jamie to learn more introspection about himself, what it was that he needed, and allow himself to have it. With Liam's much needed (and enjoyed) help. It wasn't an easy or smooth path, but I enjoyed seeing it play out. 4 stars
I really enjoyed this book. I loved both Jamie and Liam and loved the dynamic between them. In addition to romance, this was as much a journey for Jamie to learn more introspection about himself, what it was that he needed, and allow himself to have it. With Liam's much needed (and enjoyed) help. It wasn't an easy or smooth path, but I enjoyed seeing it play out. 4 stars
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April 30, 2025The story follows Jamie, a man whose need for structure conceals a deeper yearning to surrender control. Enter Liam, a former Special Forces officer who quickly recognizes Jamie's hidden desires. As their relationship unfolds, Liam introduces Jamie to a world where vulnerability becomes strength, and surrender leads to empowerment. Together, they navigate the complexities of trust, dominance, and the healing power of love.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 1, 2025
Jamie's success as an event planner is dependent on his need to stay in control but it has also left him a tad uptight. Meeting Liam helped him ease that control as their attraction and interactions progressed. But Jamie is who he is and he finds it hard to trust surrendering to Liam. They do get to the HEA but it comes after the challenges of adjusting habits and recognizing that his needs will be better met with Liam than without him.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 1, 2025
Rules of Engagement is Book 1 of the Taming Hearts Club series and WOW what a great way to start.
Jamie and Liam are so perfect and explosive together. I love the dynamic between the two.
Cant wait for Book 2.
This is a contemporary MM romance featuring grumpy/sunshine dynamics, age gap attraction, and the discovery that true strength sometimes lies in knowing when to yield control.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jamie and Liam are so perfect and explosive together. I love the dynamic between the two.
Cant wait for Book 2.
This is a contemporary MM romance featuring grumpy/sunshine dynamics, age gap attraction, and the discovery that true strength sometimes lies in knowing when to yield control.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 19, 2025
Submission, dominance, building a dynamic, this book has all those and so much more. Love, connection and devotion, this book has a little bit of it all. The realism amongst the characters and the vulnerability of being seen make this book more than a daddy/brat dynamic. It’s an excellent read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 18, 2025
Jamie and Liam want to control everything in their lives. Jamie submits to Liam and everything is good until things get more serious. Their relationship fall apart and they realize things have to change. They must give up what they believe they needed and love and trust each other. I really enjoyed this book.
April 30, 2025
3.75
The bad was there are some bits that felt repetitive. The good was I really liked their dynamic. It just felt different and fascinating. The meh is that I needed more Liam background and for him to not feel so "perfect". Enjoyed them together though, and the spice was nice.
The bad was there are some bits that felt repetitive. The good was I really liked their dynamic. It just felt different and fascinating. The meh is that I needed more Liam background and for him to not feel so "perfect". Enjoyed them together though, and the spice was nice.
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April 29, 2025Good start to series. An enjoyable read with plenty of heat between Liam and Jamie as they develop their relationship.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews