Ripped

by Van Barrett

A dangerous drug called Rip is tearing through the city streets and wrecking lives. But can it bring two unlikely lovers together?

Heading into his ten year high school reunion, Erik Severyn knows he should be proud -- after all, the former valedictorian has lived up to lofty expectations. So why does he still feel like something's missing?

Leave it to his old rival, Hunter Cole, to zero in on his weakness. Cole, a bright but rebellious mind, might as well be the patron saint of wasted potential. Too damn handsome for his own good, Cole left a grim trail of broken hearts in his wake -- girls' hearts, mind you, 'cause Cole never went for boys. Just one more reason to be disappointed in the rock-hard stud.

Erik is sure the bad-boy has an ulterior motive -- if only he could figure it out. Amid the testosterone-fueled tension, the two boys sneak off together to drink and argue and reminisce about all the times they spent at other's throats ... until the night abruptly ends with an ill-fated kiss.

Could Cole actually be curious? Or is Erik falling for a straight boy that thinks with his crotch and can't keep his head out of trouble?

Hunter Cole's devastating good looks and don't-give-a-damn demeanor had hearts throbbing in high school.

But high school's just another bad memory now. And while everyone else moved on with their lives, Cole kept stumbling backwards ... until he fell into the seedy underworld of crime.

At least, that's what you'd think if you believed the gossip. But no one ever bothered to get to know the real Hunter Cole. The man so obsessed with the truth, he'd lurk in the shadows and bear the brunt of everyone's disappointment like a badge of honor.

Cole knows he sticks out at the reunion like a sore thumb. But he manages to get Erik alone, just like he'd planned. But what happens next -- when alcohol flows and inhibitions flee -- surprises him. Troubles him, even.

All Cole knows is that he has to get closer to Erik. No matter what. Can Cole set aside his confusion, his feelings, and focus on his mysterious one-man mission?

***

Ripped is a 55,000 word dark romance with crime thriller and suspense elements! Stand-alone novel with a HEA, no cliffhangers.

Genres: M M Romance, LGBT, Gay For You

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2016

About the author

A lot of so-called straight guys think they're only into girls. Until they run into another hot boy who won't take no for an answer.

Hey, I'm Van Barrett, and that's exactly what I write: confused & curious straight boys who just can't resist another man's big, hard, and chiseled -- umm, bod -- and end up begging for it.

Me? Well, I'm a 30-somethin', outdoorsy, sporty kinda guy who used to live in the big city. Got tired of the hustle and bustle, so I moved out to the country and settled on a plot of land. When I'm not working the land, I'm writin' my stories. Hope you enjoy.

If you wanna be the first to hear about my new releases, be sure to sign up for the Van Barrett Newsletter at the link below:

http://bit.ly/1GAiecQ

Reviews

[Raj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Except for the excessive overuse of the word boys when describing men in their late twenties I actually enjoyed this book maybe more than I should have.

Yes it is over the top dramatic.Yes it exudes cheesiness but it is also dirty hot & downright filthy in all the parts that count.And I was counting them to the very last page.So if you ever had that fantasy of visiting your high school reunion & molesting that very bad boy that got away than here is your one chance to live out your dream via this book.

[Rebecca Franklin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was cheesy. I was so pumped to read a Bad boy virgin book and even though this was that book.....it sooo wasn't. In the book the guys were constantly being called boys. Drove me crazy since they were supposedly well past the boy age. The character setup, I could get behind, but the way they talked was not ok. It was more porn-ish than erotic. Almost every paragraph had an italicized word or exclamation marks. The audio might be better but if you reading, I would say pass on this one.

[Sharon Hatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten years…things are so different and yet the same or so thinks Erik of his 10-year High School reunion. Same cliques and his old crush… even HOTTER, but still straight and still apparently a drug-addicted loser. However, when Hunter Cole singles Erik out and wants to talk to him, Erik feels that same odd chemistry they shared in High School but one drunken kiss sends Hunter running and leaves Erik hurt and confused (a constant state of being when around Hunter). Unexpectedly, Hunter shows up for a planned lunch (one Erik thought was canceled when he ran after the kiss), now Erik suspects there are ulterior motives to Hunters pursuit, he has good reason to feel that way, the only question is are Hunter’s motives going to get Erik killed or not. This was a wonderful story, sucked me in and turning pages til it was over (yep got the book hangover to prove it!). I loved the characters, Erik’s straight-laced never did anything wrong (at least to his knowledge), neat as a pin paired against Hunter’s Bad Boy don’t care what anyone thinks, reckless mess was the perfect “magnet” relationship (you’ll understand when you read the book, it’s a reference that really struck me!). Seeing how the characters adapted to each other and went from repelling to attraction was fascinating and really well written as was the plot that eventually leads the boys to their HEA. Definitely, a book I would recommend!!

[Ben Mcpeake · Rating 1 out of 5]

This started of at around a 5 because i didn't hate the book but it wasn't good either, until about the 90% mark where it just ruined it. The errors were extensive in this book and the use of the words 'Dude' and 'Man' were incredibly annoying and ill-timed but the thing that really ruined this story for me was that it was just so anti climactic and insta-lovey. Just because they knew each other in high school doesn't mean that they go from meeting and disliking each other to 'i love you' in the space of what 3 weeks?

Both characters were annoying and while the sex was steamy at times the writing let it down on multiple occasions and the errors in the writing made some of the story just plain wrong and contradictory. The only character in the book that i even remotely liked was Mason because he was so obvious and the deal he offered Erik was one i kinda wish he had taken because while it wouldn't have made sense at all it would have been a surprise and it would have been hot :P

2/10 won't be trying this author again.

[Buffy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the story but the relationship parts not so much. kinda cheesy. IMO, I don't think a straight man who hasn't been with a man before would be so knowledgeable and willing to do some of the stuff he does right off the bat. The story involving their jobs is worth the read if the book is free or 99¢.
Some of the wording was annoying too.."dude" was used too much and naught and dirty were used when I didn't think is was all that naught or dirty.
I don't normally nit pick but it bugged me.
Gosh, I make this book sound worse than a 3 star, but like I said I liked the story line involving the story about the drug rip.

[Shaztwirl · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 60%

I just couldn't keep going. This read like a really bad m/f romance and I tried really hard to keep reading but when Erik slapped Hunter across the cheek (of course Hunter didn't flinch) I gave in to the deep yearning to stop reading! I can see from the reviews that there are plenty who enjoyed it but this book is really not for me.

[Biblio · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was so amateurish, written like a bad porn movie script. Author's favorites words are juicy, plump, cream, creamy...he use them to describe asses, dicks and lips. Just a bad book, not worth the time or money.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunter and Erik use to be rivals in high school and they meet up for their 10 year high school reunion. Erik works for a pharmaceutical company and everyone thinks Hunter is a drug dealer. At the reunion Erik is the only one who talks to Hunter and when they go off to hash things out Erik kisses him.
This book was just as amazing as the first book I read by this author. Except this had a bit of suspense and criminal activity in it. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Van Barrett is now another favorite author of mine.

[Jessica Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ripped follows a high school reunion and the re-meeting of a jock and a geek who realise maybe there is more to them than they ever thought back in school. Cole was a jock in school and after a try at the police academy, fell into bad ways and became a drug dealer. Erik took his smarts to build a great career and a life he can be proud of, even if he is rather lonely. The two share an explosive reunion of their own. Add in a mystery of where and how a new drug found its way on the streets, with a connection to Erik, and this one is just as much about that mystery than only a romance. While I wasn’t surprised by any of the twists that this story presented, I still found it enjoyable and easy to read. I just wish the ending wasn’t so rushed and neat fitting. I look forward to reading more work by this new to me author.

[James Kenneth Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ripped is an Excellent read. If you haven't read Van before, your are in for a real Treat. He is Fantastic in Every way. His novels and short stories are the Best.

Ripped is Great. Make sure Van Barrett novels are on you Must Read List. You will Definitely Enjoy Every One of them.

[Isha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. Erik was really annoying in the beginning, but he grew on me towards the end. Loved Hunter...he got a bad rap, but was vindicated in the end.

[jess crazy Book lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book loved it

[C V · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Bambi Teague · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down. Didn't want it to end. Great characters. Want to read more from this author.

[AyoDollFace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok read. Not sure if I'd read it again. I was annoyed with the fact that these men were often referred to as 'boys' many times.