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Mark's Opening Gambit
The son of a wealthy business man, Mark Addison is an expert at chess and hiding. Mason Grant labors with his hands in a menial position; he's open about who he is and what he wants in ways that terrify Mark. Their paths shouldn't have crossed, but now that they have...
They came from different backgrounds, yet each adheres to his own version of family duty and responsibility. One would make any sacrifice for his family's well-being. For Mason Grant that means leaving school at sixteen and working hard while living as a man of integrity to set an example for his brothers.
The other would sacrifice anything to keep his family life calm. If that means hiding who he really is from his high society, narrow-minded parents, then that's what Mark Addison will do. He just wants to run his shop, host a few tournaments, play a few games of chess.
When Mason meets fussy, precise chess tournament director Mark, he isn't expecting much more than a few hours of uncomfortable sleep in his car while his brother plays.
One disdainful look from Mark changes that.
They came from different backgrounds, yet each adheres to his own version of family duty and responsibility. One would make any sacrifice for his family's well-being. For Mason Grant that means leaving school at sixteen and working hard while living as a man of integrity to set an example for his brothers.
The other would sacrifice anything to keep his family life calm. If that means hiding who he really is from his high society, narrow-minded parents, then that's what Mark Addison will do. He just wants to run his shop, host a few tournaments, play a few games of chess.
When Mason meets fussy, precise chess tournament director Mark, he isn't expecting much more than a few hours of uncomfortable sleep in his car while his brother plays.
One disdainful look from Mark changes that.
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First published April 5, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 27, 2012
1.5 stars So, to be fair, I probably would have given this 2 stars if it had been free, but since on top of not liking it I had to spend $2.49... it gets bumped down half a star. I say "not liking" as opposed to "hated", because hate is too strong of an emotion. This was just so... whatever... that all I felt was an urge to finish so I could be done.
Not really sure what happened to be honest. All the components were there, the problem is the author didn't connect the dots. One scene our MC's meet and have an odd interaction (Mark seems annoyed and snooty, Mason kisses Mark, Mark seemed disinterested, Mason gets pissed, Mark is interested but doesn't lament at all the insults Mason just threw at him), then they go out. Umm... OK. Next scene, they are about to go out again and start having a weird and familiar argument over something, then Mason thinks "now that we've been going out a few month I think I may love him." Wait, what?! You've been going out a few months, where was I during all this?!
And it goes on like that from there. At no point did I feel a connection to any of the characters. At no point did I feel like I really knew Mason or Mark. And some of it was just random. For example, at the end (and I don't think this is really a spoiler since it's not plot related) Mark decides he's a little into BDSM (spanking). Umm... OK. How does this further the plot or the relationship at all? It seems totally random, and actually, given Mark's possibly abusive upbringing (which, again, is hinted at but never fully developed ), it seems like there's some underlying stuff that is important to understand about Mark (not that all people who are into BDSM were abused, not in the least, but to just throw those two things out there without at least acknowledging a possible connection was just weird IMO). Oh, and the sex was boring anyway.
And I never really felt any conflict. After all that time Mark spent under his parent thumb, when he finally breaks out its just all simple and smooth and he doesn't even seem that bothered by it. It wasn't really that big of a deal.
With the novella length it was and with a good plot to work with, this has no excuse for the flat, boring characters and the complete lack of any strong emotion either from the characters or from me. Sorry, but I would not recommend wasting your money.
Not really sure what happened to be honest. All the components were there, the problem is the author didn't connect the dots. One scene our MC's meet and have an odd interaction (Mark seems annoyed and snooty, Mason kisses Mark, Mark seemed disinterested, Mason gets pissed, Mark is interested but doesn't lament at all the insults Mason just threw at him), then they go out. Umm... OK. Next scene, they are about to go out again and start having a weird and familiar argument over something, then Mason thinks "now that we've been going out a few month I think I may love him." Wait, what?! You've been going out a few months, where was I during all this?!
And it goes on like that from there. At no point did I feel a connection to any of the characters. At no point did I feel like I really knew Mason or Mark. And some of it was just random. For example, at the end (and I don't think this is really a spoiler since it's not plot related) Mark decides he's a little into BDSM (spanking). Umm... OK. How does this further the plot or the relationship at all? It seems totally random, and actually, given Mark's possibly abusive upbringing (which, again, is hinted at but never fully developed ), it seems like there's some underlying stuff that is important to understand about Mark (not that all people who are into BDSM were abused, not in the least, but to just throw those two things out there without at least acknowledging a possible connection was just weird IMO). Oh, and the sex was boring anyway.
And I never really felt any conflict. After all that time Mark spent under his parent thumb, when he finally breaks out its just all simple and smooth and he doesn't even seem that bothered by it. It wasn't really that big of a deal.
With the novella length it was and with a good plot to work with, this has no excuse for the flat, boring characters and the complete lack of any strong emotion either from the characters or from me. Sorry, but I would not recommend wasting your money.
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May 16, 2012Nice novella, a variation of the Cinderfellas meets Prince Charming theme mixed with Blue Collar vs White Collar. Mason is a good boy, he is helping his mother raising his younger brothers and sisters, he is working the night shift so that his mother can work by day while he is looking after the kids, he left school at 16 years old to take a full time job even if he was not a bad student. In few words he is almost perfect, caring, handsome, maybe not so driven by the need to better himself, but that can be also a plus in some situations.
Mark is exactly at the opposite: from a very wealthy family, he is always trying to prove himself to his parents; the only rebellion is that he decided to not become a lawyer like they wanted but he instead opened a chess parlor, even if his parents own the building where he has his business. But even if they know Mark is gay, they have simply decided to ignore it, and Mark is always hiding his true feelings to them, arriving to the point to almost go back into the closet.
When Mason meets Mark, the fact that an cultured and handsome man like Mark is willing to give him a chance is prize enough for Mason to not question Mark’s request of being “discreet”; I didn’t like very much the attitude of both men: Mark since at almost thirty years old it would be time to grow a backbone and oppose to his parents; Mason since it seemed to me he has no self-esteem, he doesn’t consider himself much, and so, even if Mark is not treating him with the right respect, he doesn’t see any reason to comply.
Both Mason and Mark have to grow a little and to break the bond with their family; Mason only a little, his mother is wonderful, but Mason has to start to think to his future, and Mark for sure has to stop to try the easy way and go out into the real world and fight for what he wants.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007RTX28Y/?...
Mark is exactly at the opposite: from a very wealthy family, he is always trying to prove himself to his parents; the only rebellion is that he decided to not become a lawyer like they wanted but he instead opened a chess parlor, even if his parents own the building where he has his business. But even if they know Mark is gay, they have simply decided to ignore it, and Mark is always hiding his true feelings to them, arriving to the point to almost go back into the closet.
When Mason meets Mark, the fact that an cultured and handsome man like Mark is willing to give him a chance is prize enough for Mason to not question Mark’s request of being “discreet”; I didn’t like very much the attitude of both men: Mark since at almost thirty years old it would be time to grow a backbone and oppose to his parents; Mason since it seemed to me he has no self-esteem, he doesn’t consider himself much, and so, even if Mark is not treating him with the right respect, he doesn’t see any reason to comply.
Both Mason and Mark have to grow a little and to break the bond with their family; Mason only a little, his mother is wonderful, but Mason has to start to think to his future, and Mark for sure has to stop to try the easy way and go out into the real world and fight for what he wants.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007RTX28Y/?...
May 20, 2012
When Mark and Mason meet at a chess tournament the attraction is instant. Neither man is living the life that they really want to but together they find a kind of peace and acceptance. As Mark is dependent on his parents to keep running his business, he asks Mason to keep their relationship a secret. Spending time with Mason's family makes him long for a more open relationship. After a confrontation with Mark's father both men begin to make changes in their lives, each trying to work towards a better future. I loved the way the men began to support each other in the changes they were trying to make and that Mark was effortlessly accepted into Mason's family. The ending gives hope for a future where each man can start to realise his own dreams.
November 7, 2015
An okay story about a rich kid hiding his sexuality from his father for fear his chess shop will be shut down. Yet he pursues a relationship with out and proud high school drop-out helping his mom raise younger brothers. You just know a show-down is coming between Dad and the duo. I didn't really get what they had in common besides hot sex.
July 15, 2012
Blah. This was another one that very nearly ended up in my dnf shelf, but it was short enough I just forced myself to finish it.
The characters are much more like caricatures than like actual people. Mason, the high school dropout working nights to help support his family; Mark, the rich kid with the overbearing parents; the overbearing parents trying to marry Mark off to a suitable wife; the over-worked single mom trying to support and raise her kids on her own.
None of them seemed to express any genuine emotion, they all seemed like they were playing roles. Badly.
I didn't feel the connection between Mason and Mark, and didn't believe the way their relationship started. And then skipping months of it at a time without any indication to the reader that that had happened was both jarring and frustrating.
This is perhaps unfair of me, but I hated Mason's mother. I am aware how strong a word that is, but honestly? What kind of mother would let her son drop out of school to get a full-time job at 16 to help her support her other two sons? I know we're told later that Mason didn't let her have a say in whether he dropped out or not, but that's ridiculous. She just came across to me as selfish and overly-dependent on her child.
And speaking of Mason's job.... At one point Mark talks about how Mason's "work-roughened hands" feel on his stomach. Really? Stocking shelves at a grocery store every night gives you work-roughened hands? /eyeroll
This book is only getting the second star because of who Mark became after he decided to stand up to his parents. At that point, it finally felt like I was reading about a real person, and I started to enjoy reading about him.
The characters are much more like caricatures than like actual people. Mason, the high school dropout working nights to help support his family; Mark, the rich kid with the overbearing parents; the overbearing parents trying to marry Mark off to a suitable wife; the over-worked single mom trying to support and raise her kids on her own.
None of them seemed to express any genuine emotion, they all seemed like they were playing roles. Badly.
I didn't feel the connection between Mason and Mark, and didn't believe the way their relationship started. And then skipping months of it at a time without any indication to the reader that that had happened was both jarring and frustrating.
This is perhaps unfair of me, but I hated Mason's mother. I am aware how strong a word that is, but honestly? What kind of mother would let her son drop out of school to get a full-time job at 16 to help her support her other two sons? I know we're told later that Mason didn't let her have a say in whether he dropped out or not, but that's ridiculous. She just came across to me as selfish and overly-dependent on her child.
And speaking of Mason's job.... At one point Mark talks about how Mason's "work-roughened hands" feel on his stomach. Really? Stocking shelves at a grocery store every night gives you work-roughened hands? /eyeroll
This book is only getting the second star because of who Mark became after he decided to stand up to his parents. At that point, it finally felt like I was reading about a real person, and I started to enjoy reading about him.
July 29, 2012
This book is okay. Not good. Not bad. Just okay. The set up isn't original (deeply closeted man meets & falls in love with out & proud man). The angst isn't original (family of closeted man controls him with threats of financial ruin if he doesn't het-up). The HEA isn't original either. This book follows a tried & true formula without anything new to give it a wow factor. In fact, the characters are a bit too immature to be believable so that helps this book languish in the mediocre.
September 5, 2012
2.5 stars
Though I liked the tie-in to chess there was really nothing much new here; two guys meet, fall in lust, one in the closet, the other one not. They figure it out. There was a bit too much melodrama for my taste and the characters a bit too black and white (kinda like the chessboard, tee hee). But if you want a simple, sweet m/m rom then this one's for you.
Though I liked the tie-in to chess there was really nothing much new here; two guys meet, fall in lust, one in the closet, the other one not. They figure it out. There was a bit too much melodrama for my taste and the characters a bit too black and white (kinda like the chessboard, tee hee). But if you want a simple, sweet m/m rom then this one's for you.
July 15, 2012
Pretty good short book.
Nothing too unique about the story.
I liked that at the end no one was like in most romance books.
I liked the involvement of the family and how close they all got to each other and the pro-gay coming out of the closet stuff.
It wasn't bad, but nothing memorable either.
Nothing too unique about the story.
I liked that at the end no one was like in most romance books.
I liked the involvement of the family and how close they all got to each other and the pro-gay coming out of the closet stuff.
It wasn't bad, but nothing memorable either.
May 8, 2012
Perfect. Wonderful charcters, well thought out family dynamics, and a spot on pace for a short story. While this is not my favourite book from this author it is the first one I have read that feels complete. From start to finish this story kept me engaged. Short and sweet. I loved it.
May 12, 2012
2.5 stars. Ok m/m romance about a high school dropout who's helping his mom support his younger brothers by working nights. When he meets the snooty owner of a chess shop where one of his brothers is in a tournament, he's unprepared for the attraction between them.
August 4, 2012
For August Category Challenge!
Finished this pretty quickly. I liked the beginning, but then I went through a bit where I was really quite disappointed with Mark. I hated how Mason was feeling because of Mark's behaviors.
I ended up loving the story with its very satisfying endi.
Finished this pretty quickly. I liked the beginning, but then I went through a bit where I was really quite disappointed with Mark. I hated how Mason was feeling because of Mark's behaviors.
I ended up loving the story with its very satisfying endi.
May 21, 2012
I liked this one very much. I liked how the MC's wanted to improve themselves for the other but they didn't need to.
June 1, 2012
Sigh. I love happy endings. :)
April 23, 2017
Massive time jump. They met, kissed, then all of a sudden, it was weeks later. That 'getting to know you' time is the most important and it was just skipped over. :(
March 30, 2013
I liked this! It's a hot, sweet, and heart-warming coming-of-age (of sorts) romance for both Mark and Mason.
November 9, 2015
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1st read - Jul 10, 2012
2nd read - Nov 8, 2015
January 20, 2013
2.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews