First

by K.C. Wells

It’s taken Tommy Newsome a while to get his head around being gay. Growing up in a small town in Georgia hasn’t prepared him for the more liberal life of a student at the university in Athens. Add to that the teachings of his parents and his church, and you have one shy young man who feels out of his depth. Working on his daddy’s farm hasn’t given him any chance of a social life, certainly not one like the clubs of Atlanta have on offer. Not that Tommy feels comfortable when he gets to sample it—Momma’s lectures still ring loudly inside his head. All that changes when he goes to his first gay bar and sets eyes on Mike Scott. When Mike’s not behind the bar at Woofs, he’s busy with his life as adult entertainer Scott Masters. Twenty years in the industry and the times, they are a-changing. Mike’s not had much luck in the relationship department, but as his mom is fond of telling him, you keep fishing in the same pond, you’re gonna reel in the same kind of fish. Maybe it’s time for a change. And then a beautiful young man asks Mike to be his first….

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, College, Audiobook, Erotica, LGBT

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 21, 2015

About the author

K.C. Wells lives on an island off the south coast of the UK, surrounded by natural beauty. She writes about men who love men, and can’t even contemplate a life that doesn’t include writing.
The rainbow rose tattoo on her back with the words 'Love is Love' and 'Love Wins' is her way of hoisting a flag. She plans to be writing about men in love - be it sweet and slow, hot or kinky - for a long while to come.

If you want to follow her exploits, you can sign up for her monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cNKHlT

You can stalk – er, find – her in the following places:

E-mail: k.c.wells@btinternet.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCWellsWorld
Twitter: @K_C_Wells
Website: https://www.kcwellswrites.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/k.c.wells
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/k-c-w...


And for those who like things a little hotter?
There's KC's alter ego, Tantalus, who writes gay erotica.

Reviews

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could have been an angsty read. Because. PORN.

But that's not K.C.'s style, and this book is as sweet as they come.

Mike, one of the MCs, is a veteran of the porn industry, a sexy bear over 40 (THAT COVER, y'all, that cover!) who goes by the name Scott Masters. "Scott" is versatile and has a loyal following.

Mike is also a part-time bartender at a gay bar. When Mike meets the gorgeous, innocent college boy Tommy, who always perches on the same bar stool and orders a cheeseburger and Cherry Coke, he realizes he's been lonely long enough.

Raised in a conservative, religious household (why, yes, this story is set in the American South), Tommy is smart and open and brave. He no longer wants to hide who he is, particularly once he sets eyes on the deliciously masculine bartender.

Tommy can't keep away from Mike. And the feeling's mutual, much as Mike tries to fight it ... and deny it.

Porn star stories aren't my favorite, but K.C. does her research, and this book neither glorifies nor vilifies the porn industry.

Mike's job is presented as just that ... a job, one with its own set of frustrations, petty politics, and "gay for pay" actors acting like spoiled queens.

Tommy's innocence makes for an incredibly steamy slow-burn. Tommy's a real-live virgin, people, albeit one eager to try everything.

I loved the chemistry between Mike and Tommy. The age difference (Mike is more than 20 years Tommy's senior) isn't an issue at all.

Mike needs a breath of fresh air in his life, and Tommy ... well, Tommy needs Mike.

I also really liked the secondary characters, including Mike's fellow bartenders, his old friend Jack, and Tommy's adopted family, especially Caroline (Best. Mom. EVER.) and Bethany (the teenage sister everyone wants).

The only reason I'm not giving this one five stars is because *I* struggle with the porn star theme. (But that's all ME, NOT the book.)

I didn't love that Mike was with other people during shoots after he got together with Tommy and that he failed to tell Tommy about his day job. That was decidedly uncool. Fortunately, Mike got a clue and did his very best to make it right.

This is a very enjoyable read with a gloriously sweet HEA. Definitely recommended!

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to start this review by saying that I sometimes do like to torture myself by searching specifically for romance books that involve porn actors, because I think that doing porn is something that really messes with a person’s emotional life and is likely to kill any traditional romance. So a book with this setting will either be extremely thrilling or downright bad.

I admit, usually these books are bad. Pretty bad. Like smack-the-characters-with-a-frying-pan-because-they’re-so-incredibly-dumb bad.

And then comes along………… this book.

Before saying anything about the story itself, I want to take a deep bow to the author for portraying the porn industry realistically. For showing the gay for pay actors, the difficult friendships/liaisons that form among actors working together repeatedly, the intimate relationships that go to hell because of the porn, the problem of bareback porn becoming more and more popular and studios blackmailing actors into doing bareback if they want to stay where the real money lies. And also for touching the very delicate subject of HIV+ men going into porn – bareback – risking the lives of their colleagues. Sure, there is HIV medication, Truvada and what-not, but the studios putting pressure on people who rely on their money is the real crime here.
This book was the first that I know of that actually touched these subjects.

So THANK YOU, K.C. Wells!!

This book is clearly among my TOP 3 ALL TIME favorites in m/m romance. No kidding.

It's about 43 year old barkeeper slash porn actor, Mike, who has been in the industry for about 20 years and never managed to have a real long term relationship because of his… well…job. His day job (although it is actually more of a night job too) is working at a gay sports bar.

One night, he notices a very handsome young guy entering the bar and shyly occupying a seat, ordering Cherry Coke and not doing much, except watching Mike.

Mike is used to having admirers, but he has no idea that this new one, Tommy, is a student of agriculture hailing from rural Georgia where he grew up in a god-fearing farming family, hoping to one day take over his parents’ farm. Too bad he’s gay and his coming out left him more or less homeless and stranded him with the family of his college friend Ben, pondering about his future and his life. Tommy’s only guilty pleasure right now is spending Saturday nights at his favorite bar, watching the handsome older barkeeper with the shining blue eyes.

Long story short, despite the age difference, Mike and Tommy get together and become a wonderful couple, with Tommy evolving into a confident young man and Mike finding a soul mate that is so different from the type of guys he was usually going for.

Oh, yes, did we forget something important here? The PORN, right…..It’s one big sword of Damocles hanging over their relationship, because Mike is sure Tommy would choose the path of all his former lovers when he outed himself to them – so he keeps silent. And with Tommy being a rather conservative young man with traditional values, he knows that Tommy would not accidentally find him online while browsing porn, so no problem there, right?

Well, what happens with people who lie? Oh, sorry, Mike. I meant people who omit the truth?
The truth blows up in their face at some inconvenient point – and breaks their world apart.



About the characters (some plot spoilers, beware)



Mike is kind of a hairy daddy muscle guy who has lots of sex for the camera and his porn job is described pretty realistically here. He loves sex and has become a real porn star over the years. The money is good and he has old pals who he’s been doing porn with many times and he enjoys having sex with them for the camera – and then there are the gay for pay het guys who only get it up when they can watch a het porn movie on a tablet nearby while they fuck him. Which annoys him to no end…
He works for several studios, one of them urging him to switch over to a new bareback branch, because that’s ‘where the real money lies in the future’. Mike considers himself an advocate for safe sex and he refuses. So he is even more shocked when he learns that a porn pal and former lover of his has signed onto this new bareback studio, although the guy is HIV+.

And then there is Tommy, an approx. 21 year old student from a small countryside town in Georgia who was sent to Atlanta by his parents to study agriculture so he could take over his parents’ farm one day. Tommy is god fearing and naïve, never had sex with a guy and is pretty shy. But he’s also this hard working farm boy who spent lots of time in the sun and is – in one word – a stud. Gay men drool over him, but he’s easily intimidated and doesn’t even drink alcohol – because his parents taught him that that’s where all evil starts.

Despite his strict religious upbringing, Tommy is convinced that God loves him even though he’s gay and that God made him the way he is. But not all things go as planned, unfortunately.

When he finally works up the courage to tell his parents that he is gay, he sincerely hopes that they would understand, because they have been loving parents all his life. However, the next morning after his big coming out revelation on Christmas Day, he wakes up with the whole family AND the community’s reverend gathered in the living room confronting him with the life of sin he has chosen and trying to force him to undergo therapy to cure his abhorrent ways.

Tommy is angry and starts a discussion with the reverend about what the bible says and how things can be interpreted differently and how God made him this way and it wasn’t a life style he deliberately chose, but his uncle knocks him down cold and nobody speaks up for him. The people he loved all his life turn their backs on him.

Tommy leaves his family and returns to Atlanta, not knowing how to go on with his life. His college roommate (who is bisexual and cannot wrap his mind around Tommy’s celibacy) lets him stay at his parents’ place. The Wellingtons, Ben’s folks, are a wealthy couple of lawyers. They are understanding of Tommy’s sexuality and offer him shelter and support. For the first time since the disaster with his own family Tommy feels welcome.
Still, he is devastated, as his future is absolutely uncertain now. After all, he was studying agriculture because of his parents. What was the point now with no farm to return to?
His only guilty pleasure is spending his Saturday nights at Woofs, a gay sports bar in Atlanta, where Tommy silently watches the handsome older barkeeper, Mike. Mike, who of course notices the handsome young guy too, offers him silent company, serving him Cherry coke and burgers and fights off the drunken gay guys who keep making advances on Tommy when the boy clearly wants to be left alone.

On New Year’s eve, Mike’s barkeeper colleagues (who are having a lot of fun, watching Tommy and Mike stare at each other over weeks) finally encourage Mike to go after the younger guy and ask him out on a date. Tommy is more than happy when the man of his dreams comes after him in the parking lot and the two end up having breakfast at a diner and get to know each other.

Mike has never met a guy like Tommy and silently wonders if the boy really doesn’t know him from his movies. After all, why would a handsome young guy like him want to spend time with a 43 year old man, if not for the sake of fucking a porn star?

Tommy, of course, is oblivious and after a few sweet dates (Tommy even brings Mike flowers to the bar, classic gentleman style), Tommy finally works up the courage and tells Mike what’s been on his mind for some time. “I want you to be my first.”

Oh. My. God. Do you see why I ADORE this book? Why I could eat it up with a spoon like a chocolate pudding?

Of course, Mike once again suspects that Tommy just wants to fuck a porn star and hesitates, but Tommy explains that he feels safe with Mike and that he trusts Mike to be the one for him, despite the age difference. Mike realizes that Tommy is actually clueless about his porn alter ego and interested in him as a person.

Mike, who has never had sex with a virgin promises him to think about it and after consulting his barkeeper friends (who of course advise him to pop that cherry!! You just gotta love Kevin) he invites Tommy over to his place for dinner and tells him to be ‘prepared to stay the night.’ He wonders what will happen once Tommy finds out about the porn, though.



It is absolutely realistic. I am so in love with both these characters. Mike is such a sweet guy with Tommy. It’s so interesting to see him react to Tommy when they’re together. He doesn’t take him for a silly green kid at all and listens to him talk about his friends and his coming out struggles. He is just as unsure about where this is going as Tommy, but for totally different reasons. Mike is this seasoned professional who keeps getting fuck requests from fans even on facebook, but never anything like what Tommy offered him. Tommy, who doesn’t even watch porn. Tommy, who brings him flowers, for God’s sake! He’s never even been with a young guy Tommy’s age outside of porn.
And all his previous relationships ended because of his porn career. So, what should he do?!


Even the big revelation and Mike’s struggles were satisfying towards the end, even though I had short moments of doubts concerning Mike’s sanity when he dragged Tommy to a real porn set hoping to show him that behind the scenes, it’s just a job and nothing else.

But the book takes a very interesting turn at that point and I gotta say,


I have hardly ever felt as happy after reading a book as I felt here. This story absolutely convinced me – and I too fell in love with both Tommy and Mike. And I can totally see the attraction between a younger/older couple now.

A thousand grateful stars from this devoted reader ;-)

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was just something about this one that kept me from loving it. Can't really put my finger on what.

It was good. But something was missing.

Or maybe it's because Mike was a big fat hypocrite!

I honestly wasn't too bothered by the whole porn star thing and Mike keeping it a secret. Until he said...

"My point is, when two adults are in a relationship, they talk about things, and that includes sex."

Needless to say, Mike does not heed his own advice and it comes back to bite him in the ass. As I knew it would.

That little bit aside, and a few of Mike's "working" scenes, I did enjoy this one. Tommy was so sweet and naive and innocent.

His family...yeah



Hate, hate, hate! But Ben's family more than made up for them. Loved them.

I know a lot of people don't like the fact that Mike has on-page sex with other people. Which normally bothers me. But for me, there is a definite distinction between how the porn sex scenes were written and the sex scenes with Tommy were written. So for the most part I was able to handle it.

So overall, a pretty good read.

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*

It seems crazy when I think about it, but I've read nearly a dozen books featuring porn stars. The concept of the seasoned porn star and the eager virgin is not new at all, but there is some part of me that is always drawn to that theme.

First has a ton of tropes that are common in M/M romance. Religious family- check! Closeted virgin in college?- check! Family drama upon coming out?- check!

So was this book new feeling? Not really... but I still liked it.

I liked the romance, which was slow to develop, and I liked the chemistry of the two MCs together. The story worked for me on many levels, though when I analyze the story more deeply, I come up with a lot of little niggles. That's okay. My overall impression is one of "I enjoyed this," which is the most important thing for me. Combine that with a nice audio narration from Gregory Salinas, and I am a happy camper.

My issues have a lot to do with the last 25% of the plot. I didn't like that Mike kept his porn career a secret from Tommy, and I thought that Tommy's reaction was... inconsistent. With his background, I expected the shock, judgement, and indignation, but I didn't like how Tommy turned his opinion around so quickly. It didn't work for me. I also thought that Mike was insanely stupid about what was bothering Tommy near the end of the story. There were a lot of missteps there, and I think the HEA shouldn't have been so smooth.

Overall, I think that this was a very decent listen. I liked it more than I expected to, and I think that this was another successful porn star story.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

[Wendys Wycked Words · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shit this book. So this was what I was doing while reading this : laughing, snorting, crying, cursing, yelling, fanning myself, swooning and so on....

I loved it !!! Every single page.

It's a bit of a cliche I think. Older pornstar (42) meets young innocent virgin farmboy (19), but let me tell you, this was very different from what I expected.

Tommy has grown up somewere in the south and his parents are god fearing idiots. Tommy is gay, but he never acted on it, because he was told that being gay means being possessed by the devil. When he goes to college he realises things are a bit different than what his parents told him. He makes some good friends. One of them is his best friend Ben, who is bi and who wants to show Tommy that there is nothing wrong with being gay.

Tommy comes to realise he likes who he is and he doesn't have to change for anybody. He even comes out to his parents...talk about a clusterfuck..damn that shit was fucked up.




When is parents kick him out he goes to live with Ben (who is also his roommate in college) Ben's parents are awesome !! Loved his mom...she was so funny and sweet !!

Tommy meets Mike in a gay sportsbar, Mike is a bartender there on the weekends. He instantly falls in lust, but doesn't really know what to do with that, or how to do it. So he just keeps coming around stalking Mike. Ofcourse Mike is lusting after Tommy as well, but he thinks he is too old for him, plus there is this little problem called his porn career.

Eventually they do strike up conversation and it turns out they really like each other. Tommy finally puts on his big girl panties and propositions Mike...to be his first.



After talking to his friends Mike accepts. After all he has been a pornstar for 20 years and he's sure he can make it good for Tommy.....he does by the way ;)

Now this is when shit gets real, because Tommy is developing feelings and so is Mike. They keep seeing each other, but it's not just sex anymore. They hang out, they cuddle...a relationship is forming.

But Mike hasn't told Tommy dick about his porncareer yet and still goes on, doing all these pornshoots. Now this was pissing me off. So you say you're in a relationship...Well that is not how a relationship works. But Mike, he's scared. All his relationships in the past got fucked up because of his career.....I wonder why (dumbass).



When the truth comes out (as it always does), its doesn't happen in a good way. But you could have guessed that right ?!

Both Mike and Tommy have some decisions to make ....

I loved this story, it doesn't hold back. It shows all of Mike's career, how the pornindustry works, how the shoots come to play. It was very interesting. It also pissed me off quite a bit. So for those of you who don't want to read about the MC havig sex with other people...skip this one.

I loved the steam between Mike and Tommy, it was a lot different than the scenes between Mike and his pornstar colleagues. It was sweeter and more intens.



I understood Mike was scared and were he was coming from...but to me... he still fucked up.
In my opinion Tommy went a little so easy on him, but I'm just a vengefull bitch, so don't mind me ;)

5 full stars for this one !!!

[Ele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is there an author whose books are your complete comfort reads? Where you turn to, when you had a bad day and you want to read something "safe", meaning that it's almost certain that you 'll like it? K.C.Wells does that for me and this book was no exception. Like all her books, it is sweet, steamy, somewhat angsty ( the kind that breaks your heart at some point but puts it back together very gently) with a sparkling HEA.

Mike is a 40 something porn actor. He has been in the industry for more than 20 years (see sexy bear on cover). He hasn't manage to maintain a relationship because none of his boyfriends could cope with dating a porn actor (well, it's not like we can blame them, right?). Some nights, he's also a bartender at a gay sports bar. This is where he meets Tommy.

Tommy is a shy college student who recently came out. He quickly became a regular in the bar where Mike works. He's also a virgin. Guess who he wants to be his first (see sexy bear on the cover) .

There is a big age gap between the MCs, we 're talking about more than 20 years. This could have been an issue if it wasn't for Tommy's character. Tommy is not your typical college student. He may be innocent but he's pretty mature for his age and quite old fashioned. He knows what he wants and this is Make, not to fuck his way through campus. (Also, Mike is so hot...that sexy bear on the cover...)

“You mine, Tommy?”
“Yours. Have been yours since you took me that first time.” He smiled. “Been waitin’ for you to catch on.”

Stories with porn actors are not my favorite. And there is a lot of porn in this book. Mark shoots quite a few videos and the sex with his co-stars is all on page. Some of them took place while Mike was in a relationship with Tommy and this is a big NO for me. Because he lied, he hid his other profession and had sex with other guys, it's really that simple.

BUT I have to say that this was the first time I read a book where the porn industry is so realistically portrayed and it was quite enlightening! Gay for pay actors acting like spoiled brats and watching straight porn while filming , guys talking sports in between sex acts, men hating each other going at it for the camera and generally how clinical it all is in reality.

And Mike really does treat it as a job. He is not ashamed of it but doesn't flaunt it either. It wasn't like he had no other choice but do porn, he just kept building his career and a devoted fan base.

I loved Tommy's reaction when he learned Mike's secret. Finally, an honest reaction from a character who just learned that his boyfriend is a porn star!

The characters are very well-sketched and have amazing chemistry. The resolution is everything I hoped for and the HEA swoon worthy.

Overall this was a great story and despite the porn thing, (which has to do with my personal preferences and if it's not a thing for you you 'll totally love this) I do recommend it.

*Review cross posted on Reviews by Jessewave. ARC provided by the the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally posted at Sinfully... Addicted to All Male Romance

Nineteen year old Tommy Newsome has just started his second year at the University of Georgia. Raised in a conservative, religious household, he was fairly sheltered on the farm where he grew up and spent the first year of college in his room coping with the culture shock. He has just set foot into his first gay club in Atlanta with his friend and roommate Ben and knows it is not for him. Gathering his courage and his fake ID, he makes his way alone to a nearby gay sports bar. From the moment he enters he can’t take his eyes off of Mike and he soon becomes a regular every weekend at Woofs, watching Mike but afraid to make a move.

On the weekends Mike Scott is a bartender at Woofs, but his other job is as “Scott Masters”, a 20 year veteran gay porn actor. Although Mike enjoys what he does and is still in demand at forty-three, he sees the changes in the industry and the scenes he’s being asked to do and is considering cutting down on the number of scenes he films with an eye to eventual retirement. Mike has taken notice of the handsome young man who comes into Woofs every weekend and watches him as he sips his Cherry Coke and eats his dinner, but it takes a push from the other bartenders, who are tired of watching the two stare at each other, before Mike finally approaches Tommy.

Mike has plenty of experience and is willing to share that with Tommy and help him find his footing as an out gay man. Mike is taken aback when Tommy asks him to be his first but after careful consideration and advice from his friends Mike agrees. As their relationship progresses and Mike realizes he’s serious about Tommy, he struggles with how to tell him about his other job without driving him away. But of course secrets have a way of coming out when and how you least expect it.

As I was reading I kept checking the progress on my Kindle, not because I was hoping I was almost done, but because I was enjoying Tommy and Mike so much I was hoping for more. They make a wonderful couple and while Tommy is the inexperienced one Mike manages to rack up a quite a few firsts of his own.

Tommy is innocent and optimistic, but mature for his age with a strength that you might not expect. What he lacks in experience, he makes up for in determination. His decision to live his life true to himself has unexpected consequences, both good and bad and he meets them all head on. From his judgmental family, to his shock at Mike’s chosen career, Tommy is not a doormat and manages to work through his issues with a surprisingly level head. I loved the way Tommy blossomed and was an unexpected force for Mike to deal with behind the shy, innocent exterior.

With an upbringing that instilled a lot of shame, Tommy may know what he wants, but isn’t always able to articulate it. Mike knows just how to make Tommy comfortable and treats him with the utmost respect and tenderness. That’s not to say the sex isn’t hot, especially when Tommy begins to let go. The amount of struggle Mike goes through deciding how to tell Tommy about the porn and the way he tries to ease Tommy’s concerns once it is out there shows the depth of his feelings.

I’ve read plenty of books where a character is involved in the porn industry, but very few of them have presented it the way it was here. Mike likes his job and he is good at what he does. He is not forced to do it and it is not a last resort. He has co-workers that he loves and those that make him cringe and the job is as full of politics as any office job. While Mike is very clear that the sex he has at work is just that, acting with no real intimacy, it is sometimes hard for him to see it through another’s eyes. It’s one thing for Tommy to understand it’s just a job, but another thing to be able to accept that the man he loves is having sex with someone else regardless of that knowledge. For all the potential stumbling blocks in their relationship, this is the one that Mike fears will destroy everything as it has in the past, but this time he knows he wouldn’t be able to bear losing Tommy.

There are some entertaining secondary characters helping the guys navigate their relationship. Tommy finds a surrogate family in Ben’s parents and sister who quickly embrace him and are more than willing to chime in on Tommy’s life. As smart and intuitive as Mike is in his professional life, he can use a helping hand with his personal life. Thankfully he has his co-workers Patrick, Kevin and Jack, as well as his amazing mother to offer advice.

First is a completely enjoyable opposites attract romance. The story has a good balance of drama, sex and humor, and a happy ending that will leave you with a big, sappy smile.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

First is the story of Tommy Newsome, a very young and naïve man who is away from his religious family attending college and who is coming to terms with his sexuality. With is best friend, Ben being a little more forward in his sexuality, Tommy finds it hard to find his footing amidst the pulsating music and barely dressed men in the club – leaving to find a more laidback setting. Woofs.

Mike might be a favorite bartender for many but it’s is other job that brings him the glimmer of fame. Scott Masters. Twenty year veteran of the gay porn industry. But for Mike finding something solid and steady hasn’t come easy – in fact it hasn’t come at all. And the infatuated boy who sits at the end of his bar each weekend hasn’t gone unnoticed.

I really (really) enjoyed being a voyeur into their lives as they formed their relationship. As Tommy works up the courage to take their budding friendship to the next level and let Mike take his virginity, Mike struggles a bit with not only the age difference but also the fact that he hasn’t admitted to Tommy just who he is.

I wanted to shake Mike each time he avoided telling Tommy the truth or left for a shoot. But I loved watching him come to his own conclusions and the determination to prove to Tommy that he mattered to him. Mattered enough.

This was a sweet m/m romance in every sense of the word. Although the sexy times felt a bit tame compared to some of the other books in this genre I’ve read, I did truly enjoy the intimacy of Tommy falling in love and making his way. I think given his upbringing and their situation, it really needed to stay on the sweet side not just hot sex.

This was my first read from this author and I really picked it up by chance. The cover caught my eye and I do have a thing for first time experiences. I have a feeling I might be finding myself picking up more of her writing.

[Papie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I loved the beginning of the book. Tommy, a hot young religious virgin, from a small town, meets Mike, a hot older porn star, and asks him to be his first. It was cute, sexy, fun!

Except he doesn’t know he is a porn star. And even after they start a relationship, Mike still doesn’t tell him. So I’m annoyed with Mike, yet delighted about the upcoming drama and angst once Tommy finds out. I like breakups and heartbreaks, what can I say?

But it wasn’t as angsty and dramatic as it could have been. There were a few tears, and then it turned kinda…mushy? The last 25% dragged forever, with Mike questioning what to do and basically having the exact same conversation with all his friends. Omg, just make a decision already, we all know what is coming anyway.

My other complaint is that there is A LOT of sex. Sex between Mike and Tommy, a million times, sex scenes between porn stars with Mike and without. It was a lot and it got a little boring.

So it started at 4.5 stars and ended around 2.5. 🤷‍♀️

[BevS · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars from me, no other rating will do. The fact that I've been lucky enough to get an ARC yet again from KC has nothing to do with it either...it’s all about the story, the wonderfully engaging characters [Tommy Newsome I 💙 you], the crisp prose [this time, the story is set in the US and reads as though it is] and the overwhelming Puddle of Goo factor, which for me, sealed the deal.

I'm not going into too much detail cos you all REALLY need to read this one BUT as the blurb suggests, Mike is heavily involved in the Porn Industry [OK fine, possible trigger point for some] until he meets Tommy and falls in love, and that might be another trigger point..the age gap between the two guys; however, you shouldn't let it put you off reading this really sweet and tender love story. Mike is Tommy’s First EVERYTHING, and he WILL eventually realise that he'll lose Tommy unless he comes clean about his job...yes, he was wrong not to tell Tommy straight away BUT in view of what had happened to him in previous relationships, who can blame him for not blurting it out at the start??

Tommy’s friend Ben had an amazing family, and his mom Caroline in particular was just awesome...as warm and understanding as Tommy’s surrogate mum as his real mother should have been but wasn't. As for Tommy’s real parents, well as far as I'm concerned, the less said about them the better, them and their ’Pray the Gay Away religious camp’. Religion sucks most of the time as far as I'm concerned, and for a boy who has grown up being kind, courteous, hard-working and the apple of his mother’s eye, to be thrown out for having the courage to tell them what was in his heart doesn't bear thinking about but I know it happens to a lot of kids.

I have KC’s go ahead to give a shout out to the Lost n Found charity in Atlanta, which features in this story and an little known anthology Kris Jacen and Tom Webb brought out a couple of years ago called strangely enough Lost and Found. All profits from the sale of the anthology go directly to the charity, and all the authors involved [Diane Adams, Tom himself, Dakota Chase, Jeff Erno, Tabatha Heart and Caitlin Ricci amongst others gave their time and their stories for free]. Honestly, it’s a really good anthology and for a very worthy cause obviously.

[Josy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really enjoyable! Good story and great narration of the audiobook.

There have been a few niggles, one rage-inducing moment caused by Tommy's religious family, and one how-can-you-be-so-stupid moment when Mike behaved... well, stupidly but otherwise it was a sweet and steamy story with a lot less angst than I expected given the porn star theme.

The secondary characters were a great addition to the story. Mike's friends from the bar were interesting and I wouldn't mind reading their stories, too. And Tommy's 'adoptive' family, especially Mom Caroline, were just awesome!!

"We don’t get to choose our blood relatives, more’s the pity. But you’re gonna find there are lots of people out there who you will call family..."

So true!!


Read as part of my EuroPrideCon reading challenge: to read new-to-me-authors before the convention (https://europridecon.jimdo.com/).

[Trio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, intimate, and highly emotional, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about K.C. Wells’ novel First. Just the premise: an older, super sexy porn star and an inexperienced, virginal nineteen year old…, yes it’s hot as hell and as erotic as I’d hoped. (Just imagine learning how to make love from a porn star, the dirty talk is out of this world!) From their first sexual encounter to the Skype scene, this slow-burn picks up speed and never looks back.

The story flows beautifully between Tommy and Mike’s points of view. Their relationship builds gradually, and there’s so much more going on in their lives than just getting naked. I appreciated the way Mike takes the time to draw Tommy out, and go at his own pace. It makes the age-gap work so well here.

One of my favorite aspects of First is the progression of Tommy’s story. Away from home for the first time, this young man is still figuring out who he is. Searching for someone special, when he sees Mike and recognizes their spark, it takes time for Tommy to work up the courage to even talk with Mike. And we get to experience all of Tommy’s emotions along the journey.

I’m not spoiling anything by saying that eventually Mike has to explain himself, and the turmoil Tommy goes through as he processes everything is very emotional. Just imagine the wealth of underlying doubts! Is Tommy mistaking his first sexually intimate experience for love? Is he even capable of knowing it’s real? Seeing “Scott” share the same things with his co-stars forces Tommy to dig deep and ask himself some tough questions.

K.C. Wells creates amazing relationships, some of my all time favorites, but the depth to which she explores these characters is incredible. It’s not just the main characters, but the supporting ones as well. Mike’s interactions with his co-workers, and the intriguing conversations between veteran porn actors which force them to face the changes in their business. And I love Tommy’s best friend Ben and his family members, they’re a story all by themselves.

I have to say that the industry scenes are all very interesting. It’s like an insider’s guide to the goings on in the porn studio. No idea how K.C. Wells did the research here, but it feels incredibly real.

Gregory Salinas performs the audio version of First and he does a wonderful job conveying the sweetness of this story. Never over the top, Salinas captures the intimacy between Tommy and Mike, and makes the most of every moment.

an audiobook copy of First was generously provided by the author for the purpose of my honest review

[AussieMum · Rating 2 out of 5]

Re-read March 2018
I'm killing myself with some of my 5 star re-reads from 2015/2016. Things that didn't bother me then, as I devoured just about anything I could get my hands on, sure AF bother me now.

Basically...

I love a good May/December romance, and I was ready to love this again...but Mike is a hypocrit and a lying douche, and I don't care for his "reasons". His attitude towards "the truth" and "being safe" and "being honest", seems to be more of a "do as I say, not as I do" type scenario.

Tommy's inexperience makes Mike's behaviour even worse. And for Mike to keep his secret for so long is unforgivable. I don't care how much this author fluffed up the end to sickly sweet and understanding, I do not see this as a lasting relationship. At all. End of story.

No more re-reading for me because my rose-coloured fiction goggles are clearly broken.

Rant over.

[BWT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tommy is 19, fresh off the farm, literally, and just beginning to own up to the fact he’s gay. His roommate, Ben, is bisexual and more than willing to take Tommy under his very experienced wing to the gay clubs in Atlanta so Tommy can start seeing, and maybe even getting, some action.

The club scene is too loud, too boisterous, and just too much for Tommy. After seeing an ad in a gay publication for a gay sports bar called “Woofs” in the area Tommy hikes up his big boy pants, heads over…and sees Mike the gorgeous, older bartender. He immediately begins crushing on Mike, even though Mike is 43.

Mike notices Tommy that night, and every Saturday night thereafter, as Tommy comes back and orders the same thing and sits and watches, shyly, Mike behind the bar. This could be creepy, but it was really well done by Wells.

After several months, Tommy comes out to his parents to a not-so-anticipated reaction, but it gives Tommy the impetus to finally ask Mike out. The two begin to see each other and Tommy asks Mike to be his first. IN ALL THIS TIME MIKE NEVER TELLS TOMMY HE IS, AND HAS BEEN, A PORN STAR FOR THE LAST TWENTY YEARS.



Instead of concentrating on all the "firsts" in play here for both Tommy and Mike, instead I find myself on tenterhooks waiting for the subterfuge to come to light.

Now here is where I begin seething…because Mike, in his life and porn life, is a huge advocate for safe sex. All condoms…All the time. Yet he doesn’t reveal his sexual history, or the fact he is having sex with other men, even AFTER he’s taken Tommy’s precious flower.

"My point is, when two adults are in a relationship, they talk about things, and that includes sex."

Anyway…whatever, you could see the train wreck coming and it did. Then there was the cleanup which I didn’t really care about anymore because I felt used up.

Allow me to make this very clear – It is not that Mike is (or was) a porn star that makes me rage, it is the fact that he had many occasions to impart that knowledge and did not thereby breaking Tommy’s heart. Asshole.

They work it out and you get an HEA. Overall, it's written well but that whole plot point just made me mad.

[Kristan · Rating 3 out of 5]

That's me and this book.

I loved parts of it.

An aging porn star who wants to get out of the business, and finally finds the man who motivates him to do so?

Age gap?

A virgin, and all that yummy, yummy exploration and first times?

Dirty talk?

This book is all that and the chocolate topping on a sundae.

But I also hated parts of it.

The side plots that created unnecessary drama.

The hypocrisy.

The lies.

And the glaring fact that nowadays, unless you specifically say the word exclusive and relationship in the same sentence, it pretty much means you can "cuddle" up with whomever you want. Even after you've had a conversation with your boyfriend and stated that you are in a relationship.

I mean, seriously, I know you're in porn, but WTF?

Mike is 40 years old, a part time bartender/part time porn star, and in desperate need of a change. He's lonely, and as his mother says, if he wants to catch a man, he'd better start fishing in a different pond.

In walks Tommy, literally fresh off the farm. Equal mix of wise and naive. Mike finds something refreshing about the shy smiles and the cute blush that flushes Tommy's face whenever he catches him looking. Tommy sees the sexiest man he's ever seen, and after a meal and a stolen kiss, decides Mike would be the perfect man to experience his first time with.

But Tommy doesn't know about the porn, and Mike doesn't know that Tommy is actually nineteen, not twenty-one.

One weekend blends into the next, and the result is a slow burning romance that's sweet and believable.

Until Tommy begins to wonder why he knows so little about his boyfriend.

And then our sweet romance gets buried under Mike thinking he can have both Tommy and porn. Or the convenience of taking Tommy to a shoot, and it just happening to be one of those days where the actors are gay for pay, and there's no chemistry on set. And the fact that I wished Tommy was twenty-one, not nineteen, because for some reason, that really bugged the shit out of me.

What was refreshing, was the maturity in which Tommy handled the upsets, and the communication between Mike and Tommy.

So, it's a middle of the road rating for me.

There may have been some bumps along the way, but this was a sweet and easy romance, with a smile inducing HEA. I can see why others love it.

[Peppa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A New favorite book discovered! I‘m speechless I didn’t expected to Love this that much!
It was beautifully written, really intimate and emotional. It had a bit of angst but was also so tender and sweet, almost innocent when it came to tommy and Mike bring together.
Also I’m a sucker for pornstar/sexworker trope and i was so glad that it actually had such a huge impact here, most of the time it comes a bit too short in some books or isn’t that detailed.
Tommy and Mike were the most adorable beautiful human beings ever, I loved their story and how their relationship started and then slowly changed, and how they discovered what they really feel for another. Both were so carful and gently towards another, I really loved their dynamic.
Tommy’s story made me tear up a bit, as his family disowned him as he told them he is gay, left me absolutely heartbroken. But I’m so glad bens family took him in and they all were so kind and caring, absolutely heartwarming.
I also have to say I liked most of he side characters, especially Kevin the bartender hehe.
I was hyped from the first page till the last one and I can only say that this book provided such an amazing reading experience!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

BR with Friends!Monday 14 December

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warm comfy MM romance with typical and familiar plot that didn't hold my interest. There wasn't enough sizzle to engage me and I even got bored and stopped reading at one point. The cover did tweak my interest into toggling over to one of my Dirk Caber's videos though. I didn't care enough about the MCs and their story. I just didn't warm up to Mike because he couldn't pull his head out of his ass without the coaching of his friends. Tommy was too naive and ignorant for this day in time, especially for a student at a large university. I did cheer for Tommy because he held strong to his integrity.

The British author totally messed up by having the characters talk with hick southern accents. People from Georgia and Atlanta don't talk like that. She described Atlanta with the flavor of a small country town when it is actually a large sophisticated city, with an old history, with a sprawling suburbia. It has old money, new money, and some very poor areas. Also, the sports bar where Mike worked was described as a small pub when in actuality, it would have been quite large and equipped with the latest technology. Pet peeve - in the U.S., it is a veterinary clinic or hospital specializing in small or large animals - not vet office. With Tommy's farming background, he would have been in demand as a large animal vet.

[Ula'ndi Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall book rating: 4.25
Audio book: Gregory - 4.5
Book cover: 3.8 Stars



CAMERA, LIGHTS, ACTION!!!!!

Mike Scott aka "Scott Masters" finds himself performing a role of a whole different kind when he's confronted with the refreshing innocence of college student Tommy Newsome.

Classic world wise guy meets shy youngster. But also oh so different. I really enjoyed the whole package that was Tommy and I liked the way the story unfolded. Even though Mike’s profession is something of a “pull-the-rug-from-under-my-feet” thing for Tommy he still sticks with the hope that there can be something more for them. I liked that the story revolved more around the relationship between the two MC's than the Porn Industry in itself. The blend was good I think.

If like me, you enjoy the occasional hot Porn star story, this will definitely be up your alley.

[DaisyGirl · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars (rounded down to 1.0)

I had a problem with the lying in this book. Lying by omission is lying and kissing/fucking is cheating IMHO. So I struggled with Mike's lies and sex for pay. I was close to DNF'ing this puppy around the 82% mark but decided to finish the book so I could review it.

Bottom line: pissed me off.

[The Reading's Love Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

RECENSIONE QUI: https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/...


La Wells è sempre bravissima a spaziare con generi diversi, regalando al lettore sempre storie belle, con quel qualcosa di particolare che ci tiene incollate e ci fa appassionare. Questa è la storia di due generazioni diverse che si incontrano e si innamorano. Due persone agli opposti come vissuto ed esperienze. Tommy è un ventenne che per la prima volta si trova a sperimentare la libertà che una città può offrire, è cresciuto in una fattoria con una famiglia religiosa timorata di Dio, è timido ed innocente, ma abbraccia la consapevolezza di essere gay e la possibilità di vivere la sua sessualità, anche se gli insegnamenti che gli sono stati impartiti tornano sempre a bloccarlo. Mike è un quarantenne, barista e porno divo di successo, libero, sicuro di sé e sexy, si destreggia nel suo ambiente con professionalità, ma qualcosa sta cambiando nel mondo del porno, cambiamenti che iniziano ad andare contro i suoi principi. Opposti che si attraggono, si uniscono e si completano ma soprattutto si accettano. Questa è una storia di tante prime volte per Tommy ma anche un po' per Mike, sono entrambi delineati perfettamente e seguiamo i loro pensieri, i desideri, la loro crescita. Tanti sono i cambiamenti che affrontano, ma è veramente bello vedere come restano comunque sempre fedeli a loro stessi, senza andare contro il loro essere ed i loro principi. Tanti sentimenti positivi si intrecciano con una sensualità dove la Wells è sempre una maestra. Molto interessante e illuminante la descrizione accurata di ciò che è realmente il dietro le quinte del mondo del porno gay. Oltre il rapporto tra i protagonisti quello che più mi è piaciuto e coinvolto è il rapporto con la famiglia di Ben, migliore amico di Tommy, il modo in cui lo amano come fosse figlio loro, dandogli tutto quello che la sua famiglia d'origine gli ha tolto: una casa dove è ben accetto, dialogo e consigli, accettazione. Una famiglia adottiva meravigliosa che c'è sempre nei momenti di bisogno. Anche i colleghi baristi di Mike sono fondamentali e assolutamente divertenti con i loro consigli e modi di fare. Lo stile della Wells, fresco e dinamico ci regala davvero un bel gioiellino di buoni sentimenti positivi, di grande dolcezza e sensualità…

CONTINUA SUL NOSTRO BLOG. VENITE A TROVARCI
https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/

[Helena Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my. I only just finished reading and I have to allow this book to percolate for a while before I write down my thoughts. This is something special though, and not JUST because it's a wonderful story.

My review comes with a bit of a warning. I'm fairly sure I've managed to avoid spoilers. However, if you want this book to surprise you while your reading it, I'd advice you to just stop reading here.


This is going to be a review in two parts and I’ll start with Mike and Tommy’s story.

As love stories go this one is sweet and mesmerizing. At first glance these two characters have little to nothing in common. Innocent, young and naive Tommy stems from a very religious family living in rural backwater. While studying away from home has more or less allowed him to come to terms with the fact he’s gay, he is not the type to go out partying and searching for new experiences.

Mike on the other hand is experience personified. Not only is he confident in who he is, he’s not ashamed of his almost twenty-year long career in porn either. If he has an issue with his chosen profession it is that the men he has dated in the past couldn’t deal with it and left him over it.

Despite the differences between them, the attraction between Mike and Tommy is instant. In fact the attraction on Tommy’s part is so strong that despite his shyness he continues to visit the club where Mike works as a bartender every Saturday night, just to be able to admire the man from a distance.

When the two men at last do come together it is a thing of beauty. The intimacy between them is as hot as it is tender. It almost makes you feel every virgin should have the opportunity to receive their introduction into sex at the hands of an older and very considerate partner.

While I wouldn’t call this an angsty book I have to admit that at times it was hard not to read this book with tiny knots in my stomach. When Tommy thinks about sex in these terms: “There are just some things you don’t talk about”, it’s impossible not to hold your breath and wait for trouble to arrive. I mean, if he can’t bring himself to talk about it, how on earth is he going to deal with Mike’s career in porn. In fact, the certainty that a crisis was awaiting these two characters I’d gotten so very attached to, kept me on a knife edge while reading. And yet when the issue of Mike’s career does explode between them, Tommy managed to surprise me. I don’t want to say too much about this because that would constitute a major and unforgivable spoiler but I would like to add that I love originality in my characters and Tommy certainly doesn’t react like the vast majority of characters in other books I’ve read.

Both Tommy and Mike were very easy characters to love. Tommy’s innocence when the book starts borders on being too much of a sweet thing. Watching him grow into himself and his relationship with Mike is a thing of beauty though and by the time the story ends he may have lost some of his innocence, he hasn’t lost any of his sweetness and his inner strength took my breath away. And before you think this makes him sound like a too good to be true character, let me reassure you; while he may be sweet he is never less than human and believable.

Mike, the more experienced person in this relationship both due to his age and his chosen career, is not always the more sensible of the two. And that gave the story a wonderful depth. It would have been so easy for Tommy to be the cause of the trouble they run into, but he isn’t. While he is younger in years, Tommy turns out to be one with the more sensible and level head on his shoulders when push comes to shove.

And that’s it for the first part of my review; an awful lot of words to tell you how much I adored this story.

Everything I wrote above would have been more than enough to rate this book five stars. What raises this book to the level of ‘extra-special’ is the way it deals with and the insight it gives us into the workings of the porn industry.

Gay for pay and bareback sex are not subjects I’d given a lot of thought to before reading this book. Obviously I’d heard about both, I just hadn’t paid much attention to them, other than to totally disapprove of bareback sex under almost all circumstances.

I’ve read stories set in the world of porn before but this was the first time I felt I got a real insight into that industry, where it has been, where it’s at and where it is going – and the picture isn’t always pretty. I walked away from this book feeling I had a better idea of what working in that industry is like on levels you could never get from ‘just’ watching a porn scene. The reflections on the porn industry in this book felt at times personal and that added an extra level to the reading experience. I usually rush my way through KC Wells’ books because she captivates me in the first paragraph and keeps me hooked until the very last word. And that was true for this story too; when I’ll re-read First, it will be in a reading marathon. But I forced myself to slow down for this book. I wanted to think about things and read between the lines. And that’s what made this book extra special.

Well that and Tommy and Mike and the wonderful secondary characters in their lives. Tommy’s adopted family and Mike’s colleagues were fun and enriched an already wonderful story. And then there is the cover. I rarely, if ever, remark on covers. While I like beautiful covers as much as the next person, they rarely influence whether or not I’ll take a closer look at a title. This cover speaks to my heart though. For the first time ever I may have to buy a printed copy of a book I already have on my Kindle because the image on my reader is too hidden for my liking.

[Elithanathile · Rating 2 out of 5]

NOT for me at all. I'm sorry, I really REALLY wanted to like it, but I just couldn't. Still I have to emphasize that this in NO way means I didn't appreciate KC's writing. Her writing is wonderful ... it's just the topic and the premise, and how things went about that really didn't work for me.
I have absolutely NO problems with the whole Porn or Rent-Boy trope, at all, whatsoever, and I've definitely really enjoyed quite a few books where one or both tropes have featured. It's just how things were handled within this specific premise and within THIS specific book that bothered me, and I just wasn't feeling it.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read January 20, 2024

[Barb ~rede-2-read~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.


From the moment I first gazed at that gorgeous man on the cover, to the moment I completed his story, I was captivated by Mike Scott, aka Scott Masters, porn star, and Tommy Newsome, the young man with whom he fell in love.

Mike is working his part time job as a bartender at Woofs, a gay sports bar in Atlanta, when he notices a fresh-faced young man at the end of the bar who seems to be checking him out. He’s offended at first, thinking this is going to be like every other encounter where a young guy recognizes him as Scott Masters from his porn film career, but he’s surprised when the sweet boy can barely utter hello in his sexy, southern drawl without blushing. Weeks later, the tall, muscular, shy man is still there, and now Mike and the other bartenders know his name is Tommy, and his favorite drink is Cherry Coke, but that’s about it. Tommy never hits on anyone, or lets other guys hit on him, but he seems to be fixated on Mike, watching every move he makes.

Tommy has acquired more knowledge at the university in Athens than what he’s been taught in his classrooms since he began his freshman year a few months ago. He now knows he’s definitely gay, and he’s picked up an LGBT education by attending support groups and reading their literature, so he’s now comfortable enough in his own skin to go out and try to find the right man for him. The problem is that he’s still shy and is finding it difficult to approach the one he wants—Mike, the hot bartender at Woofs, the bar where he used his fake ID to get in. After several weeks of sitting at the bar, watching Mike, he fortifies his courage, and when Mike finally comes out to the parking lot to talk to him as he’s leaving, Tommy asks Mike to be his first. Floored, Mike eventually agrees, and the two make plans to spend the next weekend together. If you are familiar with this author’s writing, I don’t need to tell you that you must get your personal fan ready for the chapter which encompasses that weekend. Hot flash is too mild a word for what may happen!

On Christmas break, Tommy, armed with his new LGBT attitude and his experience with Mike, breaks the news that he is gay to his highly conservative, religious parents. The next morning, he’s confronted with family, friends, and pastor in his living room, all telling him that they can help him overcome his affliction. They want to send him away to a camp to pray-the-gay-away, but he refuses and is kicked out of the house and told not to return until he sees the light.

Mike has been enjoying his time with Tommy, finding the young man to be so genuinely open, kind, sweet and loving. He’s spent twenty years in the porn industry and has never had a long-term committed relationship. Every time he tells a love interest that he works in porn, he loses the man, so this time, he’s going to tell Tommy—but not until he knows if the relationship might last. Big mistake.

I liked the way the author developed these characters, giving readers enough personality and backstory at the beginning to encourage readers to continue as they were then given more endearing qualities and personal histories which really sealed the deal. I rooted for them to overcome their hurdles and find a common ground on which to build a future. I also liked the way Tommy reacted to the news of Mike’s career, showing heartache, yet strength of character and mature behavior. But I think my favorite moments of the story were the times when Tommy and Mike would lie in bed talking quietly, kissing, stroking, and sharing the intimate moments that ultimately led to a loving relationship.

Secondary characters were well-developed with Tommy’s roommate Ben’s family being the poster family for abandoned gay teen support. I don’t mean that facetiously. They were definitely an interesting group of people and provided the safety net Tommy desperately needed. And Mike’s support? His fellow bartenders, Kevin and Patrick, were definitely the kind of friends I’d want on my side. Then there was Jack, an ex-lover, also a porn star and the voice of reason when Mike needed it.

Mike and Tommy are one of my favorite couples of 2015. The story is hawt, gives a good view of the porn industry without either glorifying or vilifying it, and features a virginal nineteen-year-old with a sexy, stunning experienced man over twenty years his senior. If you like a nice age gap or a sexy older man in your M/M romance, sprinkled with lots of lovin’, this book is for you. 4.5 stars

[Anna Goerlitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars

I was pretty conflicted about picking up this book.

Porn, yes, please. I love stories about porn actors. But K.C. Wells and me have not proven to be a good match in the past. This is the 4th book of hers I have picked up, and two of them I have had to just put down again, unfinished...

That was not the case here, though. This was a very enjoyable and (almost too) sweet story about an aging porn actor and a young naive man getting together.

Tommy is 19, just coming to turns with the fact that he is gay and crushing hard on the bartender at a local gay pub. His coming out to his religious parents does not go well, but luckily he has a support system in the shape of his dorm roommate extremely accepting family.

Mike is 43, a porn veteran, with 20 years of acting under his belt, who works part time as a bartender in a gay sports bar. He is attracted to Tommy, but their relationship starts out as a bit a "Gay big brother" arrangement, due to their age difference, until Mike clues on to the fact, that Tommy wants him.

The conflict in the story was obvious from the get go: Mike's porn career. And you just knew, that the secrecy was going to blow up in his face. But even when the conflict is at it's highest the two MCs actually try and talk it out, which was a nice touch.

This was one the more "real" depictions of porn I have read in MM-romance. I put the word real in quotation marks because I do not actually know, if this is "more real" than other books I have read, but at least it felt more real, with issues such a gay for pay actors, bare backing and HIV positive actors being mentioned. That was a nice touch. A lot of the time porn in romance books seems like one big happy fuck fest, with no issues other than the fact that other people are judgmental about it.

The romance part - and specially the ending - was a bit too rushed for me. I would also have enjoyed a bit more digging into the 20+ age difference. But all in all, this was a very enjoyable story.

[BR11 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars.
I'm usually not into big age gaps. If the gap it's 10 years or less, I find it manageable and that doesn't stop me from enjoying the book if it is good. Specially if the younger MC is wise beyond his years for some reason or another. This was not the case here.
I found the age difference to be too much and always in the back of my mind when the MCs were together. Tommy (even his name made him sound like a little kid) was 19 to Mike's 43. If you think about it, by the time Tommy is done with vet college, he's going to be 26 and Mike 50... I don't know...
Even if I could have put the age difference in the back of my mind, what I couldn't get past was their difference in life experience ... They were worlds apart. We are talking about a 19 year old that was a virgin, never had watched porn (heck, he had barely watched TV at the farm!) and was so innocent it was painful to watch. Mike, on the other hand, had been doing porn from before Tommy was born.
Also, the fact that he keeps doing porn while in a relationship with Tommy behind his back was kind of too much.
What made this book salvageable to me was that Mike was sweet with Tommy and I felt that he really was in love with the kid. Tommy also seemed to have very clear what he wanted and that was Mike. Also the story was well written.
If you don't have my hang-ups with the big age/experience gap and Mike doing porn without Tommy knowing, I recommend this story.

[Juxian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the way K.C.Wells writes, there is such sweetness about her stories. And sometimes you don't want a new and original story, you want something familiar and comfortable just to feel cosy. And while I usually don't enjoy stories that are based on one character keeping a big secret form the other, Mike and Tommy were so nice and likeable it was just fine reading about them whatever they did. I also liked very much all the scenes about Mike working - fascinating.
What I didn't like - and what truly disappointed me - was the whole resolution. Yeah, I think it was incredibly wrong of Mike to keep his work secret from Tommy - but excuse me? Here we have Tommy's mom who's saying she loves Tommy but will accept him only if he quits doing what he does - that is, being gay. And it is pictured as cruel and hypocritical and all. And then Tommy does EXACTLY the same thing - saying he loves Mike but ready to accept him only if Mike quits his job. What about accepting him as he is? I hoped for that, I hoped they'd meet halfway or something, like Tommy saying he's okay with Mike doing porn and Mike saying "oh, but I've just quit" - but it was Mike making amends all the way and, well, Tommy accepting him after he's changed. Felt wrong to me and soured my mood a lot, so I didn't really enjoy the ending.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been saving this like the last piece of chocolate cake and when it went down it was sweet. Well worth the wait. Lovely read. 4.5 stars and highly recommended!

A couple of side thoughts. Porn actors deserve hospitalization, a good pension plan and bonuses. Bleh, the shit you go through to make a living.

Age gap. Poorly written and it could come off as skeevy. Not here. I thought KC did a fine job with the over 20-year gap here.

The firsts in this book were well thought out and exceptionally written. From the sex to coming out and coming together, nice.

Lastly, the lovely man on the cover, a bonus for you sweetheart. I'm betting your heart is just as beautiful.

[Rayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was awesome. So sweet. I love that the age difference wasn't ever really an issue. I love how Mike never looked at Tommy as anything other that a suitable partner despite their age difference. I loved how Ben's family just took over when his own parents were shits.

I can't seem to find anything I didn't love about this story.