When video games evolve into sex games, she has no idea what she’s risking… Tristan Weaver, accountant for a successful video game company, is in way over her head. Honestly answering a company-wide survey and criticizing the sexist stereotypes used in the company’s games was enough to catch her boss’ attention. But speculating on his sex life within his earshot has unexpected consequences when her hot, but nerdy, boss invites her to model for him. Owner, artist and lead developer of Brecken Games, Rory Brecken, has a strict no fraternizing with employees rule. However, when he overhears Tristan’s conversation with her friend about his rumored kinks and begins to suspect her curiosity about the submissive side of sex, he’s more than a little tempted. When her interest is undeniably confirmed, he suggests a onetime only, colleagues-with-benefits hook-up. Though neither want a relationship, once isn’t enough for either one of them. As their encounters become more intense, Rory makes a huge mistake that may cost him the woman he’s coming to love.
Bronwyn Green is an award-winning author, blogger, and compulsive crafter. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two children and three somewhat psychotic cats. When not frantically writing, she can be found binge-watching Netflix while working on her latest craft project.
I enjoyed this audiobook more than I expected. The narrator, Tatiana Sokolov, did an impressive job with this office romance. It was light and fluffy with a very surface emphasis on BDSM. The story flowed very well and entertained from beginning to the end.
Rory Brecken, CEO of a videon gaming company named Brecken Games, sent out an office survey in hopes of improving employee relations as well as find out new ways to improve the video games he offers. When he overhears his accountant Tristan Weavers discussing the one dimensional characterization in the video games as well as the rumors about the CEO's sex life, Rory decides to indulge Tristan's curiosity. The rest is a journey of mutual exploration and personal growth as Rory and Tristan have to deal with their perceptions about sex and relationships.
The author did a great job in telling the story in a snapshot of moment style. There wasn't a lot of character building or development as to who they were. Instead, the narrative is a present accounting of the Tristan and Rory in the workplace and who they are right now. I enjoyed their banter, their trysts, and their discovering of their own personal desires in and out of bed.
This author is new to me, but I will be reading this author again because I found the writing style kept me interested and engaged. The narrator did a great job with the various voices and I listened to the entire audiobook within two days. I docked it half a star because of the very little character development. I had wanted a little more information to truly understand why the characters were unfulfilled and hesitant in asking for what they truly wanted. Still, it was a good read.
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I give the overall plot 3 stars, since it was fairly simple and didn't go far. But, the smut was a 5! There were some great scenes and the narrator did a pretty good job of reading. I would have liked a male to do Rory's parts, but still good. The back plot of this was Rory's videogame company trying to make a more inclusive game that caters to people other then straight males. I did like that idea, there just wasn't much development of that. Rory and Tristan had good chemistry and I did like seeing their relationship grow from purely sexual to love. This was pretty short and I got through it all at once. Not a bad romance read!
An accountant works for a video game creator. Sounds kinda boring, huh? Not when Ms. Green writes about them. When Rory overhears employees discussing his sex life, he isn't pleased, but he notices something surprising about Tristan, the pretty accountant. He thinks she might be interested in what interests him in the bedroom....a little kinky fun. This is a hot, hot tale that also manages to be sweet and romantic. It's a quick read that will leave you fanning yourself .
Tristan Weaver is an accountant for a popular video game company. She's not one to mince words, so when the company satisfaction survey rolls around, she tells it like it is. That she thinks the females in the video games they make have unrealistic characteristics. You know the types if you're played a game that had a female character, they all wear skimpy clothing and have ginormous breasts. I'm going to guess it's like the romance genre and large dicks *coughs* When the owner of the company reads the surveys he spots the constructive criticism and decides to take action. Instead of firing Tristan, he hires her and two other females in the company to be models for new characters.
During their modeling, Tristan and Rory find their attraction coming to the forefront. They decide to embark on a no strings attached type relationship and just see where it goes. There is some kink in the novel which spiced it up a notch, so keep that in mind. I was really happy to read this one since the main character is an accountant and that's my day job. I don't think I've read many (or any?) with an accountant as the main character. The writing and plot were sound, and I really enjoyed Drawn That Way. If you're looking for an erotica book with a dash of nerdy you should give this one a try!
Now, I’m not willing to say that I’m a big fan of romantic erotica YET. My failures are still too fresh in my mind. But this book served as a good reminder of why a reader should never close themselves off from an entire category of books based on a few bad choices.
First of all, I’m a fan of Bronwyn Green. I read Rewritten, and thought it was brilliant. Drawn That Way is a little different than Rewritten, in that it is less of a category hopper—meaning, I would say this one can be classified more securely as romantic erotica than contemporary romance.
BUT, that being said, there was still enough of an emotional connection between the characters that I think readers of contemporary romance will be pleased. (But any readers of clean, sweet, cozy romances—or those Amish romances—should politely avert their eyes, lest they be thoroughly scandalized. Ahem.)
Other than the fact that I knew going in that I liked the author’s style, what drew me to this book (ha! See what I did there?) was the idea of a nerdy dom. Rory, the hero, wasn’t your typical billionaire exec. He was an artist and a gamer who ran a gaming company. You don’t get too many nerd heroes in romance, and I thought Rory breathed a breath of fresh air into the old, tired alphahole hero trope we see so often in the genre.
Tristan was a great heroine, too. She’s smart, hardworking, outspoken, and not at all afraid/ashamed to explore her interest in somewhat kinky sex. She never lied to herself about the nature of her relationship with Rory. He’d offered a friends-with-benefits scenario, and she accepted. She didn’t get mad at him later in the story when he stuck to the terms of that arrangement. Never once was Tristan a clingy, TSTL heroine. (Thank you for that, Bronwyn Green!)
Sexy times were VERY sexy, as I would expect from romantic erotica. Now, I don’t read a ton of the stuff, so I couldn’t tell you if the BDSM was legit and representative of what really goes on in those types of relationships, but there wasn’t anything there that tripped my bullshit meter or made me tip my head to one side and stare at my Kindle like a confused puppy while reading. So, I have to assume everything was as it should be in terms of properly representing a healthy BDSM relationship.
Now, I’m not going to lie and say this was a perfect read. There were a few points in the story where I kind of wanted to smack both Tristan and Rory upside the head. I mean, here’s two grown-ass adults who both want to make their friends-with-benefits relationship something more meaningful, and neither of them can seem to find their words and talk it out. Grrr. But that was a minor quibble and didn’t really detract too much from my overall enjoyment of the story. (It accounted for a ½ star reduction in my rating, though. I’m grumpy that way.)
All in all, this was a highly entertaining read from an author I’ve grown to trust. (Which is saying a lot, because I’m totally paranoid and hardly ever trust ANYONE.) Fans of romantic erotica and contemporary romance alike will enjoy this one.
Note: we received an ARC from the author free of charge.
I love how Tristan and Rory's story unfolds you get the full picture of two people who start out thinking a short fling is what they're interested in to maybe there's something deeper than mutual lust. This was an enjoyable read for a slow afternoon!
Tristian and Rory, they drove me insane (in a good way). The battles between each other was hot. The battles within themselves was frustrating. Unsure of where they were going, or if the other wanted the same path, they learned a lot about themselves and each other.
I listened to the audio version of this book and enjoyed it. The storyline and narration were great. This was a new author to me, but I will definitely check out the other books.
A sexy nerd and hot accountant!! This book had so much heat!!
Tristan and Rory embark on a new project at work and the late nights lead to all. the. heat!! These two had so much chemistry. I finished this audio in about a day and half because I just couldn't stop listening.
Tristan is such a strong woman. I loved how she stood her ground and her sassy nature. Rory is a hot nerd who knows everything he wants. They have so much chemistry and I was drawn into their story from the very beginning!
Tristan Weaver, accountant for a successful video game company, is in way over her head. Honestly answering a company-wide survey and criticizing the sexist stereotypes used in the company’s games was enough to catch her boss’ attention. But speculating on his sex life within his earshot has unexpected consequences when her hot, but nerdy, boss invites her to model for him.
Owner, artist and lead developer of Brecken Games, Rory Brecken, has a strict no fraternizing with employees rule. However, when he overhears Tristan’s conversation with her friend about his rumored kinks and begins to suspect her curiosity about the submissive side of sex, he’s more than a little tempted. When her interest is undeniably confirmed, he suggests a onetime only, colleagues-with-benefits hook-up.
Though neither want a relationship, once isn’t enough for either one of them. As their encounters become more intense, Rory makes a huge mistake that may cost him the woman he’s coming to love.
Review:
This story had so many great elements going for it that I will try to cover as many I can.
Geeks-love that both of the main characters are "geeky", and I use that in the best sense of the word. They are brilliant, successful and in this case Rory is the owner of a video game company and Tristan is a math wiz. Based on Tristan's office survey Rory goes about trying to change characters into something that everyone could relate to. Office Romance-loved their secret affair and thought it was done in a way that is totally believable. Always love that will they/won't they get caught tension. That leads into BDSM-Ms. Green can sure write a super sexy scene and it started right from the beginning when Rory gets a glimpse of Tristan's secret Tumblr page and keeps going. Boy Does Something Stupid-well its true most of the time and Rory did. It put the love that was growing between the two at risk. I felt so bad for Tristan, that I wanted to stand up to Rory for her.
I thought the whole story was well put together. The characters were likable and interesting, the setting of the story was timely, and the sexy was perfect for the story. Now, this is a series, but each story in the series is totally stand-alone, at least at this point. I am reading the first book right now and they seem to center around BDSM and so far both have a character who is English.
Loved the story and highly recommend this book and Ms. Green's other work too.
When I discovered that the authors of one of my favorite series, Bound by Jessica Jarman and Bronwyn Green, published the first two books in audiobook format, I think I squealed out loud for a bit. Would I like the opportunity to review them? Hell yes!
Before I get into the audio/narration part of the review, I want to state that I strongly enjoyed both books the first time around. Much of what I wrote in my original reviews of both London Bound and Drawn That Way still holds true, and I’ll summarize my thoughts on the story as taken from my original review.
Drawn That Way: I absolutely adored Drawn That Way! Rory and Tristan make a wonderful pair, and their chemistry is palpable. I was emotionally connected to each character right from the get go; able to relate in some way or another to both. Watching each let go of their hangups and worries as they give into their mutual lust is satisfying. I also appreciated that the author addresses the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace, which is a serious issue in today’s society. Overall, I totally loved Drawn That Way. While the story isn’t overly complex, it is emotionally satisfying. The characters are completely likable and grow enough to make the book fulfilling. The eroticism is equally emotional as it is sexual.
As for specifics to the audiobook version:
One thing I noticed about listening to the books - I didn’t realize how much sex was in both books until listening!
The second story, Drawn That Way, was equally as enjoyable the second time around. I found that I had forgotten parts, and I didn’t realize until listening that this book is related to a book that comes later in the series (Out of Sync). I enjoyed Tristan and Rory’s chemistry. The only minor issue I had with this one is that the narrator’s performance of both Tristan and Rory morphed over the course of the book. In the beginning - first 10 chapters or so - I felt Rory’s voice was off. I’m not a linguist expert, so it’s hard for me to pinpoint what it was exactly, but the “r” sounds were “pinched” or something, but after a while, it smoothed out and didn’t bug me. Similarly, Tristan, a native of the UK, starts with a mild accent, but by the midpoint of the book, it’s pretty much disappeared. While the narration wasn’t perfect, I found that I still immensely enjoyed the opportunity to revisit one of my favorite books from the past year.
Tristan Weaver, originally from U.K. is in the U.S. to make her own way in the world and enjoys her job as the accountant for Brecken Games. But when her boss, Rory Brecken, overhears Tristan and a coworker gossiping about Rory’s kinky sex life, she thinks her job may be over.
Rory admits he enjoys sex and isn’t looking for a relationship, so when he is tempted both intellectually and physically by Tristan, he decides to break his own rule of never sleeping with his employees. Yet after one night, neither Rory nor Tristan are ready to end things.
I absolutely adore Drawn That Way! Rory and Tristan make a wonderful pair, and their chemistry is palpable. I was emotionally connected to each character right from the get go; able to relate in some way or another to both. Watching each let go of their hangups and worries as they give into their mutual lust is satisfying. I also appreciate that the author addresses the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace, which is a serious issue in today’s society.
Overall, I totally loved Drawn That Way. While the story isn’t overly complex, it is emotionally satisfying. The characters are completely likable and grow enough to make the book fulfilling. Really, no shortcuts are taken in the story; it has a great flow and is enjoyable to read. The eroticism is equally emotional as it is sexual.
My Rating: A, Loved It Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About Review copy provided by author.
I have to admit I bought this book to read because I was so fascinated by the cover art. One of the more unique ones I've seen, the guy with the glasses totally hooked me. Just adored how he looked and couldn't get him out of my mind.
I'm happy to say the hero as written lived up the cover art. Finally! I really enjoyed this book.
The book is a straight up erotic romance with very mild bondage. Not a Dom/Sub book at all, nothing very heavy, all the sex is very straightforward, despite what they might want you to believe. It has a storyline that holds it together, it's believable, and the sex is so freaking hot. The author did a great job with her characters and the interaction and the dialogue. I just loved it. That said, I felt like there were a whole lot more places they could have taken the sexual scenes and the author was really timid or inexperienced at writing them and they just didn't go there. I kept thinking the next one will be more, but they were really all the same. Oral or straight up, just a lot of teasing. Nothing new or original but written really well that I didn't care because I enjoyed it a lot. I highlighted my favorite scene in the headline. Loved that one! Ruler was a nice touch.
So if you want a nice erotic read to while away a few hours, this one will do. I'd give it 3.5 stars, and rounded up to 4.
I couldn't read this one fast enough! OMG it kept me glued to it until I finished. This is my first Bronwyn Green book and this chick can write!
This was an office romance with a wicked twist. I wish the characters had talked to each other more...but at least we didn't have a global chase and a bunch of typical drama. There's a HEA...although I wondered if there'd be a plot twist involving a betraying staffer and a certain camera. (I'm relieved every time the worst case scenario doesn't pan out, btw.)
I had barely started this read before going to pick up this author's latest release. I like that instead of feeling like the H is being borderline degrading/somewhat extreme, Ms. Green makes the partners respectful of each other. That's a nice touch that makes the H/h falling in love seem realistic.
It's done gradually and not instalove where you just add water after pressing that "I believe" button. That's also a deviation from the standard trope. Well done on making a well written, somewhat believable and STEAMY story. This is my first book by this author but it certainly won't be my last!
Second book of the series saw me up way to late just to finish again. Loved the topic of sexism in Video Games as a gamer girl myself and enjoyed the dynamic between Tris and Rory until... I wish that more had been said about the location the office was set in, because it seemed like the Author was trying to make the area a third character, but it was never really fleshed out. The mentions of the beach and the water as a backdrop were nice, but I kept thinking 'oh yeah, it's set in Michigan' like it had slipped my mine until that vague mention. Again, a very fast and enjoyable read, hot sex scenes and semi-believable scenario. I think that I've become a cynic when it comes to the casual coincidence of BDSM starter relationships.
Dominant Geek? That may sound like it should be an oxymoron but Bronwyn Green shows you that it can exist, at least in a book and my fantasies.
Nerdy gaming CEO Rory Brecken has a no sex with the employees rule. Yet when Tristan Weaver, his accountant, submissive side is revealed temptation proves to be too much. Though both agree to a one night only rule, one night turns into a full on “friends with benefits”. Both start off the liaison professing not to want a relationship. Yet with each encounter both fall head over heels and are determined not to let the other see. Can these two find a way to admit their love for one another?
Drawn That Way is the second book in the Bound series. It is a series I am sure to love. This book is my favorite Bronwyn Green book to date. A sexy BDSM love story with a nerd for the Dom is just what I have been waiting for. Thank you Bronwyn Green for showing me I’m not alone in fantasizing about these types of men.
Tristan is an accountant at a game software company and her employee survey catches the attention of the boss. Secretly intrigued by office gossip of his kinks, she accepts his offer to implement some changes within the game. Working so closely with the sexy geek only leads to confirmation of the secrets she’s heard. They agree to a no-strings-attached, one-time tryst but will that be enough for either of them?
This is my first BDSM novel and I think it’s a great start, the elements are accurate to the lifestyle and the roles are respectful and in good taste. The characters have their hang ups to work past but they do it in a believable manner without stepping on each other’s toes too much. The flirting is cute and the scenes are hot. Well written and very entertaining. Glad I got the opportunity to read this book.
Ms. Green has a way with characters and writing naughty, kinky sex that appeals in the best of ways. Add in some video game aspects, geekery at it's finest. I couldn't put this one down. It was definitely an up-all-night read and I highly encourage. It's not a full-length, but not so short to leave you wishing for more. A satisfying read with a delicious ending.
The pacing is spot on, the setting realistic, and the characters... in the end, I love a well-written character. It's what keeps me coming back to other authors over and over again. On that note, I'll be reading more of Ms. Green's works in the future.
P.S. If you like BDSM, you'll like this story. The sexytimes weren't prescription, which is something I loved. Sexy times are difficult, and when an author brings something new to them I sit up and take notes... I mean, notice. :)
From the start this book sparked my interest. I love stories with a strong female lead, one that is not afraid to speak her mind and take a chance. This is Tristan. Rory holds all the qualities I like in hot, alpha male and the little extra side of geek with his kink had me hooked. Bronwyn Green created a magical, believable BDSM story that had me laughing, sighing and wanting more with every page. Tris and Rory were steamy hot. Their connection sizzled on page and he definitely pushed her to discover new things. All I have to say is dirty tumblr. I loved the supporting cast, Clover and Annie just added to this wonderful story with their wit, charm and support to both Tris and Rory. This is hands down one of my favorite books this year.
I loved this book. Rory is definitely one of my all-time favorite heroes. He's smart, sexy and has that hint of geeky charm that isn't often brought to life in characters. But wow, does he come alive. And Tristan is completely adorable, with her British sass and high level of intelligence. I loved the interaction between these two. While Rory is the dominant in their sexual relationship, I enjoyed how he wasn't intimidated by Tristan's skills. Allowing her to shine in her own right. And how he acknowledged that just because she was submissive, didn't mean he got to disrespect her. This is a fantastic read you won't be able to put down. With well developed characters and a great action, you'll want to read this one over and over. I know I have.
Full disclosure, I was a beta reader for this book before it was published. My plan was to read about a chapter a day due to my schedule. That went right out the window the moment I started reading. I inhaled the entire thing in two days. Drawn That Way is hands down my favorite erotica book I've read this year. I had all the feels, thanks to the wonderful talent of Bronwyn Green. I adored the characters, I loved the plot line, and the writing was spectacular. And did I mention it's hot? Like hot, hot, hot. With all the exclamation points. Do yourself a favor and read it. You won't be disappointed. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down.
Someone asked if I thought weather Rory was "Alpha" enough and I have to say YES. He's not an "alpha-hole" and that makes me love him even more. He cares about Tristan and treats her with respect, but he also shows complete control in the bedroom - as a proper Dom should. Love, love, love that man. The one thing I wish was for more of a reason for them to be apart. Not wanting a relationship just wasn't enough for me and it seemed as though it was repeated several times and got redundant after a while. When Rory screwed up at the end though, I absolutely don't blame Tristan for walking away. I would have too. And then come back once he explained himself. Men are stupid, after all. :)
I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this title. I like that this is a team effort series between two authors. The stories, so far, can be read as standalone. The narrator is the same and her performance is outstanding. I would pick up a new to me author if she is the narrator as her performance truly breathes life into the story. However, the linking element of bondage between the titles keeps them connected. I enjoyed Tristan and Rory's journey. It was an interesting twist on the workplace romance between a boss and subordinate. I was surprised by the twist of conflict at the end and enjoyed how they were able to work past it. I look forward to reading more in this series.
Drawn That Way combines so many of my favorite things - a well-written BDSM romance that places high value on consent from both parties, office romance, a slightly geeky hero who also manages to be all kinds of hot (SWOON), a heroine I could relate with, and steamy love scenes, including a jaunty into role-play. Ms. Green crafts the story in such a way I couldn't put it down. The pace was perfect and kept me turning pages as quickly as I could because I had to know where Rory and Tris ended up. When I finished, Drawn That Way claimed a permanant spot on my Favorites & Keeper shelf.
* * ARC given on behalf of obsessed by books for an honest review * * when words come back to bite you in the rear do take it in stride? well that's exactly what happen to Tristan , she works for a popular video game company and when she voiced her opinion about how unrealistic the female characters looked she got hired to model for the company. Rory is intrigued by Tristan and while working together realize their attraction for each other and decide on a friend's with benefits type relationship and see just were it takes them , the book was hot, sexy and a fun read.