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What He Wants
Christo's life fell apart when his partner of eight years walked out on him. There wasn't even a reason for it: sometimes love just fades, as quickly and mysteriously as it appears in the first place.
Enter Damien. Damien's the guy with a different man on his arm for every event, he's smooth and arrogant and always impeccably turned out. Christo hates him. But God, he's gorgeous. Damien could be exactly what Christo needs to get him over John.
It's only going to be a fling. Nothing serious, nothing that will affect their working relationship or the rest of their lives. So why are they fighting through the night rather than letting go and walking away? Why does Damien's secretive nature bug Christo so much? And why does he even care that the other man might not be as tough as he pretends to be?
Enter Damien. Damien's the guy with a different man on his arm for every event, he's smooth and arrogant and always impeccably turned out. Christo hates him. But God, he's gorgeous. Damien could be exactly what Christo needs to get him over John.
It's only going to be a fling. Nothing serious, nothing that will affect their working relationship or the rest of their lives. So why are they fighting through the night rather than letting go and walking away? Why does Damien's secretive nature bug Christo so much? And why does he even care that the other man might not be as tough as he pretends to be?
ebook
First published April 1, 2012
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About the author
Kate Aaron
36 books338 followersBorn in Liverpool, Kate Aaron is a bestselling author of the #1 LGBT romances What He Wants, Ace, The Slave, and other works.
Kate swapped the North West for the Midwest in October 2015 and married award-winning author AJ Rose. Together they plan to take over the world.
Kate swapped the North West for the Midwest in October 2015 and married award-winning author AJ Rose. Together they plan to take over the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
May 2, 2012
Finished!
I deserve a medal!
For the positive aspects of the story - they are undeniably there - please read MandyM`s review here.
But just one star from me, I know it`s harsh but let me explain...
Story started out promising with likeable characters or I wouldn`t have made it to the point where - at first the writing,short time later the story really started to rub me the wrong way...big time!
At 40% I was debating to DNF the book but I decided to read on...and deeply regretted it.
Overall good writing but with one major issue...and a major pet peeve of mine.
The overuse of terms like "the smaller man", "the bigger man", "the older man", "the other man" as replacements for character`s names. Especially the term "the other man" - now that must be a new record! Number of times the term was used = 197!
It was bearable at the beginning but the "horror" crept up slowly the terms were coming more frequently to the point where I dreaded them and was wincing when they popped up.Ugh...
The second major issue was Christo`s inconsistency. Unfortunately the POV - being in his head was NOT a pleasant place,let me tell you! Sometimes just a jumbled mess of thoughts that truly lacked sense!
Here the book title fit perfectly - "What He Wants" - truth to be told...I had NO idea...
For example:
Christo relished being the passive/submissive part in his RLS with Damien because in his former RLS with John he was to 99% the TOP.So far so good but 20 pages later this here:
"He’d never thought of himself as a particularly kinky person, but something about Damien brought out the dominant in him. Making love to John had been more about personal preference than filling any pre-determined roles, it was just another way they fit together. With Damien it was different, it felt different. It was about power, submission, strength. Christo admitted to himself that the idea of owning Damien, of possessing him totally – even if only for an hour or two – was thrilling. Ruling a man as strong as Damien, bringing him to his knees, making him tremble and beg for more… Make Damien need Christo the way Christo needed him back.
But no worries...he went back to being passive/ submissive BIG way in the infamous chapter 10 (will come to it soonish...) and in chapter 12 back to DOM (including safeword!). Well,yes...why not....meeeeerrrrrry-go-round.......
And now the truck-size issue or the "infamous chapters 10,11 and 12" and nearly everything what came after that!
I`ll do it short - a rape!
A rape in a domestic relationship with Damien`s (the culprit) 5 year old daughter sleeping in the room next door(!).
And now guess...Christo let him because Damien "needed" that! (the first WTF!?? moment...)
No lube,forced penetration and the bedsheets full of blood don`t tell me anyone this was less than a rape!
Rape happens in m/m romance (but very rarely in relationships with the love interest!) and usually I don`t mind reading about it but the problem I had with this one here was how the "problem" got handled and glossed over!
Insensitive and implausible can`t even begin to describe it!
The second WTF!?? moment and the final straw what led to my one star rating - the infamous chapter 11...EXCUSES!
An excerpt:
He shifted his weight gingerly in his chair, still sore three days later. Why the hell would he want anything more to do with Damien after that little performance? What the hell had he been thinking to allow it? In a flash he saw Damien’s expression, his haunted eyes, and he knew he’d do it all over again. That hadn’t just been rough sex, it had been therapy in its crudest form. It was primal, animalistic, instinctive. It had been a cry for help from a desperate man so lost he couldn’t see a way out. Christo burned to know what fuelled it, what had damaged Damien so badly. He wanted to take him in his arms and hold him and kiss him and make everything better.
What? WHAT? WHAT?
THERE ARE NO EXCUSES FOR RAPE!!!!!
This is a victim of domestic violence talking, sitting bruised up,raped and beaten in the ER and already making up "excuses", over justifying - the circle of violence! Usually with a long history of abusive relationship(s)!
But Christo? There was no abuse - not as a child, not as an adult...so WHY the excuses?
His relationship with Damien with its messed up power shiftings is doomed to fail IMO...
Btw - Damien - damaged? Was it the accident where he lost his parents and thought it was his fault?
I didn`t know if I should laugh or cry or be angry....I went with being angry! Well and truly pissed off!!!
So how to kiss it all better?
The infamous chapter 12....
With sex of course! Christo (back in Dom-mode) tying poor Damien down, showing him how good they are together and comforting the poor guy.....that made me gag...!
Needless to say I couldn`t read the sex scenes and affection bullshit that came after these chapters it bordered on being disgusting!
So lots of skipping to the final...HEA?
Well, good luck you two!
Long review,sorry - but I`m done now....
I deserve a medal!
For the positive aspects of the story - they are undeniably there - please read MandyM`s review here.
But just one star from me, I know it`s harsh but let me explain...
Story started out promising with likeable characters or I wouldn`t have made it to the point where - at first the writing,short time later the story really started to rub me the wrong way...big time!
At 40% I was debating to DNF the book but I decided to read on...and deeply regretted it.
Overall good writing but with one major issue...and a major pet peeve of mine.
The overuse of terms like "the smaller man", "the bigger man", "the older man", "the other man" as replacements for character`s names. Especially the term "the other man" - now that must be a new record! Number of times the term was used = 197!
It was bearable at the beginning but the "horror" crept up slowly the terms were coming more frequently to the point where I dreaded them and was wincing when they popped up.Ugh...
The second major issue was Christo`s inconsistency. Unfortunately the POV - being in his head was NOT a pleasant place,let me tell you! Sometimes just a jumbled mess of thoughts that truly lacked sense!
Here the book title fit perfectly - "What He Wants" - truth to be told...I had NO idea...
For example:
Christo relished being the passive/submissive part in his RLS with Damien because in his former RLS with John he was to 99% the TOP.So far so good but 20 pages later this here:
"He’d never thought of himself as a particularly kinky person, but something about Damien brought out the dominant in him. Making love to John had been more about personal preference than filling any pre-determined roles, it was just another way they fit together. With Damien it was different, it felt different. It was about power, submission, strength. Christo admitted to himself that the idea of owning Damien, of possessing him totally – even if only for an hour or two – was thrilling. Ruling a man as strong as Damien, bringing him to his knees, making him tremble and beg for more… Make Damien need Christo the way Christo needed him back.
But no worries...he went back to being passive/ submissive BIG way in the infamous chapter 10 (will come to it soonish...) and in chapter 12 back to DOM (including safeword!). Well,yes...why not....meeeeerrrrrry-go-round.......
And now the truck-size issue or the "infamous chapters 10,11 and 12" and nearly everything what came after that!
I`ll do it short - a rape!
A rape in a domestic relationship with Damien`s (the culprit) 5 year old daughter sleeping in the room next door(!).
And now guess...Christo let him because Damien "needed" that! (the first WTF!?? moment...)
No lube,forced penetration and the bedsheets full of blood don`t tell me anyone this was less than a rape!
Rape happens in m/m romance (but very rarely in relationships with the love interest!) and usually I don`t mind reading about it but the problem I had with this one here was how the "problem" got handled and glossed over!
Insensitive and implausible can`t even begin to describe it!
The second WTF!?? moment and the final straw what led to my one star rating - the infamous chapter 11...EXCUSES!
An excerpt:
He shifted his weight gingerly in his chair, still sore three days later. Why the hell would he want anything more to do with Damien after that little performance? What the hell had he been thinking to allow it? In a flash he saw Damien’s expression, his haunted eyes, and he knew he’d do it all over again. That hadn’t just been rough sex, it had been therapy in its crudest form. It was primal, animalistic, instinctive. It had been a cry for help from a desperate man so lost he couldn’t see a way out. Christo burned to know what fuelled it, what had damaged Damien so badly. He wanted to take him in his arms and hold him and kiss him and make everything better.
What? WHAT? WHAT?
THERE ARE NO EXCUSES FOR RAPE!!!!!
This is a victim of domestic violence talking, sitting bruised up,raped and beaten in the ER and already making up "excuses", over justifying - the circle of violence! Usually with a long history of abusive relationship(s)!
But Christo? There was no abuse - not as a child, not as an adult...so WHY the excuses?
His relationship with Damien with its messed up power shiftings is doomed to fail IMO...
Btw - Damien - damaged? Was it the accident where he lost his parents and thought it was his fault?
I didn`t know if I should laugh or cry or be angry....I went with being angry! Well and truly pissed off!!!
So how to kiss it all better?
The infamous chapter 12....
With sex of course! Christo (back in Dom-mode) tying poor Damien down, showing him how good they are together and comforting the poor guy.....that made me gag...!
Needless to say I couldn`t read the sex scenes and affection bullshit that came after these chapters it bordered on being disgusting!
So lots of skipping to the final...HEA?
Well, good luck you two!
Long review,sorry - but I`m done now....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2012
This is a lovely. very believable and romantic lovestory between two CEOs who only on the surface appear to be similar.
There was so much I loved about this book: the reality and real maleness of the characters, the British understated and cultured authorial voice, the forthright glimpse into the male mind, for the author, albeit female herself, has got it right so many times. Even though I at times wanted to thump Damien and Christo into displaying more sense, they behaved like so many real men I knew and have met and call my friends, that I was happy to see it in a story. There were some intense emotions handled with a stiff upper lip, there was sizzlingly hot sex (without vulgarity) and there were some truly detestable baddies.
I didn't give it a full 5 stars because I think the book would have profited quite a bit from some work on the subplot of the men's workplace. I'd have loved getting more detail, having a "real" company with a real field they were working and possibly a more serious take on how both men suffered from the bullying within the job.
On the whole I enjoyed this and I liked the characters, especially Todd (yeah, me sucker!). Seriously, at times I thought I was listening to friends of mine and that's the best thing one can say about most m/m stories.
A last and important thing here...
There is definitely no rape anywhere in this book. All sex within it was perfectly and entirely consensual. I say this because someone alleged there is rape because "violence (to tissues, not to a person) + blood + pain = rape" for her. This person should have a raincheck, seriously. By her qualifications my own defloration was rape. Her unjust accusation comes over as kink-shaming people who like their sex violent, painful and bloody, and I really dislike kink-shaming. Just saying. So, no rape in this book!
There was so much I loved about this book: the reality and real maleness of the characters, the British understated and cultured authorial voice, the forthright glimpse into the male mind, for the author, albeit female herself, has got it right so many times. Even though I at times wanted to thump Damien and Christo into displaying more sense, they behaved like so many real men I knew and have met and call my friends, that I was happy to see it in a story. There were some intense emotions handled with a stiff upper lip, there was sizzlingly hot sex (without vulgarity) and there were some truly detestable baddies.
I didn't give it a full 5 stars because I think the book would have profited quite a bit from some work on the subplot of the men's workplace. I'd have loved getting more detail, having a "real" company with a real field they were working and possibly a more serious take on how both men suffered from the bullying within the job.
On the whole I enjoyed this and I liked the characters, especially Todd (yeah, me sucker!). Seriously, at times I thought I was listening to friends of mine and that's the best thing one can say about most m/m stories.
A last and important thing here...
There is definitely no rape anywhere in this book. All sex within it was perfectly and entirely consensual. I say this because someone alleged there is rape because "violence (to tissues, not to a person) + blood + pain = rape" for her. This person should have a raincheck, seriously. By her qualifications my own defloration was rape. Her unjust accusation comes over as kink-shaming people who like their sex violent, painful and bloody, and I really dislike kink-shaming. Just saying. So, no rape in this book!
May 14, 2012
PHEW. This book is heavy going. For all the reviewers who have been complaining about a lack of realistic books this one is for you.
Where to start? If I wrote everything I'm feeling after reading this book we'd be here all week, that is the type of book this is.
The characters are written beautifully and there is a gradual growth to Christo and Damian's relationship that continues to build through the entire book. There were few places where questions remained unanswered and the setting was perfectly described. At the beginning the pace was a little sluggish but once Ms Aaron hit her stride it became a comfortable medium paced book.
I've read alot of complaints about the dynamics of this duo and I will admit it was a little chaotic. For me that helped add to the realism of this book. Christo and Damian's relationship was not one of Dom/Sub and while Damian was the more dominant of the two there were circumstances where they switched. These two characters are not one or two dimensional but have a full compliment of behaviors, insucureties and nurosies, while I believe that is a compliment to Ms Aaron's writing it does not always make for comfortable reading.
The most uncomfortable scene for me was the one of dubious consent. Notice I'm not screaming rape. The dubious thing was the thought process behind Christo's 'he needs this, I'm not objecting, not even letting on that I'm uncomfortable let alone in pain' thought process. In this scene Christo encouraged Damian to take what he wanted and not once was there mention of 'no' or 'stop'.
I will admit to being slightly mystified as to the exact reason behind Damian's behavior and think it would have bennifited the scene to have that more thoroughly explained.
So, not comfortable but again I mention characters with 'behaviors, insecurities and nurosies'.
This is not really my style of book, this is not a modern day fairy tale, not a sweet romance, and not book that skims the surface. It is not necessarily HEA but rather more life like, they are still together, still arguing, still loving, still trying and there is hope for the future.
If you like a deep plot, realism and an emotional connection this may be the book for you.
Where to start? If I wrote everything I'm feeling after reading this book we'd be here all week, that is the type of book this is.
The characters are written beautifully and there is a gradual growth to Christo and Damian's relationship that continues to build through the entire book. There were few places where questions remained unanswered and the setting was perfectly described. At the beginning the pace was a little sluggish but once Ms Aaron hit her stride it became a comfortable medium paced book.
I've read alot of complaints about the dynamics of this duo and I will admit it was a little chaotic. For me that helped add to the realism of this book. Christo and Damian's relationship was not one of Dom/Sub and while Damian was the more dominant of the two there were circumstances where they switched. These two characters are not one or two dimensional but have a full compliment of behaviors, insucureties and nurosies, while I believe that is a compliment to Ms Aaron's writing it does not always make for comfortable reading.
The most uncomfortable scene for me was the one of dubious consent. Notice I'm not screaming rape. The dubious thing was the thought process behind Christo's 'he needs this, I'm not objecting, not even letting on that I'm uncomfortable let alone in pain' thought process. In this scene Christo encouraged Damian to take what he wanted and not once was there mention of 'no' or 'stop'.
I will admit to being slightly mystified as to the exact reason behind Damian's behavior and think it would have bennifited the scene to have that more thoroughly explained.
So, not comfortable but again I mention characters with 'behaviors, insecurities and nurosies'.
This is not really my style of book, this is not a modern day fairy tale, not a sweet romance, and not book that skims the surface. It is not necessarily HEA but rather more life like, they are still together, still arguing, still loving, still trying and there is hope for the future.
If you like a deep plot, realism and an emotional connection this may be the book for you.
February 6, 2022
Drunk sex (r u kidding me?)
Sex to solve problems (why is this a thing, haven't these people heard of 'conversation'?)
There is a line that said rough sex was the crudest form of Therapy. (Imma psychology student and I'm gonna rip you apart)
Too much ex drama
Too much unnecessary drama.
Only good thing was the dog that came too late.
Sex to solve problems (why is this a thing, haven't these people heard of 'conversation'?)
There is a line that said rough sex was the crudest form of Therapy. (Imma psychology student and I'm gonna rip you apart)
Too much ex drama
Too much unnecessary drama.
Only good thing was the dog that came too late.
October 1, 2013
This reminded me of Gold Digger and Rough Canvas. I liked that it was about the relationship and not 'being gay'. There was very little external conflict, and for men, their work is very important to them. Full of beautiful phrases and a very romantic and sexy appreciation of eachother.
March 2, 2014
Sweet rivals to lovers story. Business turns to pleasure as Christo realizes Damien isn't the man he thought he was. Decent read, but I felt disconnected from it. Might be because the book I read just before had stellar dialogue and this one limped along.
August 28, 2019
One of those books I've owned for four or five years, it finally came up on a challenge and, of course, I wonder now why I didn't read it sooner. Authentically Brit, I enjoyed the author's writing style, UK terminology, and most definitely I enjoyed the characters.
Damian and Christo were rivals at their company, more so in Christo's mind than in reality, but after a series of false starts, Christo decides to give Damian the benefit of the doubt and the two become friendly, then bedmates, and then more than simply lovers.
Christo is hurting from the breakup of his 8 year relationship and is feeling inadequate in general. Why believe his hot work rival who seems to have everything, including wealth. This is a slow burn, one step at a time relationship-building story. There wasn't any major physical dramas or scary plot points, though it wasn't mellow, for sure. Just two guys who find their way to happiness.
Damian and Christo were rivals at their company, more so in Christo's mind than in reality, but after a series of false starts, Christo decides to give Damian the benefit of the doubt and the two become friendly, then bedmates, and then more than simply lovers.
Christo is hurting from the breakup of his 8 year relationship and is feeling inadequate in general. Why believe his hot work rival who seems to have everything, including wealth. This is a slow burn, one step at a time relationship-building story. There wasn't any major physical dramas or scary plot points, though it wasn't mellow, for sure. Just two guys who find their way to happiness.
June 24, 2020
I did not think that I would but I really liked it. Damien and Christo were really good together and I really liked that they fought for each other .
there were no forced non-communications and I liked that Christo called, when Damien wanted to freeze him out and Damien just stayed with Christo when he was afraid.
I would have liked it when we would have seen more page time with them at the end.
all in all a good read
there were no forced non-communications and I liked that Christo called, when Damien wanted to freeze him out and Damien just stayed with Christo when he was afraid.
I would have liked it when we would have seen more page time with them at the end.
all in all a good read
August 1, 2013
~~~
3.5 Romantic Stars
First off I have to thank Kate Aaron for mailing me (from the UK to the USA) a copy of her wonderful book. I won this during the Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia:
http://hopagainsthomophobia.blogspot....
THE STORY
What a wonderfully rewarding romance. This is ALL about the developing relationship and romance of two men who are initially competitive teammates, but are compelled to work together to avoid a difficult workplace scandal.
Neither of these two are looking for a long term relationship, but watching it develop from a tenuous friendship to a real, true romance and relationship is very fulfilling.
For those looking to read about real struggles and clever solutions, I think this will be the ticket. It's nice to read about a whole, complete relationship. Plus it's sexy, believable and romantic.
*light BDSM play
THE CHARACTERS
Christo - Totally insecure and a worrier, he is just coming out of an 8 year relationship. He's been living a half life and needs to snap out of it before he loses everything.
Damien - Confident, gorgeous and a player, he isn't someone to trust, to depend on or to fall for, but...
THE WRITING
Right off I enjoyed the direct tone and quick pace. I was impressed by the editing and quality of the writing. However, there is some POV switching that could mess up the flow. 90% of the work reads from one POV, but there are glimpses from the other m/c's head that I felt were out of place. Nonetheless, the story and characters stand out and I found myself quite absorbed.
Thanks again Kate!!!
~ ~ ~
Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:
http://www.attentionisarbitrary.blogspot.com
3.5 Romantic Stars
First off I have to thank Kate Aaron for mailing me (from the UK to the USA) a copy of her wonderful book. I won this during the Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia:
http://hopagainsthomophobia.blogspot....
THE STORY
What a wonderfully rewarding romance. This is ALL about the developing relationship and romance of two men who are initially competitive teammates, but are compelled to work together to avoid a difficult workplace scandal.
Neither of these two are looking for a long term relationship, but watching it develop from a tenuous friendship to a real, true romance and relationship is very fulfilling.
For those looking to read about real struggles and clever solutions, I think this will be the ticket. It's nice to read about a whole, complete relationship. Plus it's sexy, believable and romantic.
*light BDSM play
THE CHARACTERS
Christo - Totally insecure and a worrier, he is just coming out of an 8 year relationship. He's been living a half life and needs to snap out of it before he loses everything.
Damien - Confident, gorgeous and a player, he isn't someone to trust, to depend on or to fall for, but...
THE WRITING
Right off I enjoyed the direct tone and quick pace. I was impressed by the editing and quality of the writing. However, there is some POV switching that could mess up the flow. 90% of the work reads from one POV, but there are glimpses from the other m/c's head that I felt were out of place. Nonetheless, the story and characters stand out and I found myself quite absorbed.
Thanks again Kate!!!
~ ~ ~
Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:
http://www.attentionisarbitrary.blogspot.com
November 17, 2014
DNF at 30%
It is appalling really just how terrible this writing is.
Here's a woman who just moseyed on over to her laptop one day under the misconception that she's a writer to the detriment of the reading public on whom she seeks to foist this rubbish that evinces an utter lack of any skill.
It is appalling really just how terrible this writing is.
Here's a woman who just moseyed on over to her laptop one day under the misconception that she's a writer to the detriment of the reading public on whom she seeks to foist this rubbish that evinces an utter lack of any skill.
did-not-finish
May 3, 2012DNF..... After reading the chapter with the rape and subsequent excuse for it, I disliked the way it glossed over the issue. Not for me.
contemplating-its-sins
May 12, 2012Not going to make it through this one - not getting into it, and inconsistencies have already shown up, just a chapter or so in.
February 25, 2016
This was an amazing novel that kept me entranced throughout. Aaron sets forth some brilliantly crafted descriptions that allow you to visualise everything in detail. This novel was very well and naturally written. Aaron’s fluid writing style allows you to float through life right alongside the characters. Everything that this brilliant author presents to you shows just how real the world that she sets forth is. You don’t read this novel, you live it.
The main characters in this novel are phenomenal. They are both strong individuals. They are also perfectly crafted for their roles, although neither are perfect. I appreciate the fact that although these characters have had less than perfect lives the issues and trials that they have faces are realistic ones. They are the things that we may face at any point in our lives. The characters are very different from one another, but you can easily see how they fit together as a couple. You fall in love with them as they fall in love with each other.
Throughout this novel Aaron makes you giggle while making you feel for the characters. Above all, I appreciate how well written and edited this novel is. She created a novel that you cannot help but love.
Please note that I won this book through Goodreads First Reads program.
The main characters in this novel are phenomenal. They are both strong individuals. They are also perfectly crafted for their roles, although neither are perfect. I appreciate the fact that although these characters have had less than perfect lives the issues and trials that they have faces are realistic ones. They are the things that we may face at any point in our lives. The characters are very different from one another, but you can easily see how they fit together as a couple. You fall in love with them as they fall in love with each other.
Throughout this novel Aaron makes you giggle while making you feel for the characters. Above all, I appreciate how well written and edited this novel is. She created a novel that you cannot help but love.
Please note that I won this book through Goodreads First Reads program.
February 19, 2014
I fell in love with oh-so imperfect Christo and Damien!
This was a gem of a find for me, I loved almost everything about this book, its real-ness, its slow build to a relationship, even the characters struggle to re-invent themselves professionally in order to stay together. This was a very real book, with all the imperfect and flawed behaviour of two young men, one who was just climbing out of the depression of the end of a long-term relationship and then other who has jerk-syndrome. In fact I liked that they did not get along for starters and then once they started seeing each other they showed each other how much they really loved one another. I did not care for the extensive shop-talk and the business speak, I guess it was a case of write what you know but it could have been skipped, but surprisingly it did not annoy me too much. I loved Christo and his need for a strong relationship with Damien which he himself denied but it was the underlying truth and part of his make-up, I loved Damien too, who was wearing a mask to protect himself from hurt and abandonment but was really eager to strip away the facade and appreciate Christo's affection. More than anything else, it has been a while since I've read such intimate love scenes, where I felt that I was almost intruding into someone's privacy, this made the story even more beautiful for me.
This was a gem of a find for me, I loved almost everything about this book, its real-ness, its slow build to a relationship, even the characters struggle to re-invent themselves professionally in order to stay together. This was a very real book, with all the imperfect and flawed behaviour of two young men, one who was just climbing out of the depression of the end of a long-term relationship and then other who has jerk-syndrome. In fact I liked that they did not get along for starters and then once they started seeing each other they showed each other how much they really loved one another. I did not care for the extensive shop-talk and the business speak, I guess it was a case of write what you know but it could have been skipped, but surprisingly it did not annoy me too much. I loved Christo and his need for a strong relationship with Damien which he himself denied but it was the underlying truth and part of his make-up, I loved Damien too, who was wearing a mask to protect himself from hurt and abandonment but was really eager to strip away the facade and appreciate Christo's affection. More than anything else, it has been a while since I've read such intimate love scenes, where I felt that I was almost intruding into someone's privacy, this made the story even more beautiful for me.
August 5, 2012
Interesting, sweet, & well-written. It felt a bit slow for me, but I'm not sure why it felt that way as the plot advanced normally. A pretty realistic at an every-day romance with real-life pressures (job, finances, etc.)
Want to read
February 17, 2014Big price drop to $0.99 from $4.99 at Amazon US, 2/17/14 :)
July 17, 2012
Um what the heck was this?
The story started good...I like the characters a lot and though wow there could be some amazing stuff here coming...but then I came to 20% of the book and was booooooored to death.
Christo was so boring...why the heck did we only get his perspective on things?!! The guy has no idea what he wants and reading his thoughts was just dreadful...he kept thinking of nothing and everything and was confusing as fuck...he would then make up his mind then change it a chapter later...then change it again and again...wtf?!!!
The story simply went nowhere...or so it seemed.
It was all just damn boring until the rape scene and what came after it...now that was not boring...it was horrible...and not because I felt bad for the Main character...I actually fully disliked him at this point...I frigging disliked everything about this book from then on.
Damien the poor abused and tortured guy ends up raping Christo...um wait...no...he was never abused...there was no violence in his childhood...there was no forced sex or rape...so wtf?!!
Yes his parents died when he was a child and that did mess him up and he blamed himself...but when he actually talks about this...finally opens up Christos reaction was...aww I feel so bad and sad for you...but wait...did you say you were mega rich?!!! And then follows a huge rant about money...LOL seriously?!!!!
The fact that Damien never really apologizes for the rape boggled my mind too...and that Christo made excuses and went for more was beyond normal.
Ugh this whole thing was just messed up...I read this one book (actually it's a series but with different MC's in each book so it is this only one installment I am talking about) where nothing major really happens...no huge action scenes, no big gun fights, no saving the world...just a guy with kids meets another guy and they try to make it work in every day life...the book was really good and I could keep reading them doing the dishes or cleaning the house every day and I wouldn't get bored...but this...I barely made it thought this book.
One star...and that is just for the beginning and for what could have been.
The story started good...I like the characters a lot and though wow there could be some amazing stuff here coming...but then I came to 20% of the book and was booooooored to death.
Christo was so boring...why the heck did we only get his perspective on things?!! The guy has no idea what he wants and reading his thoughts was just dreadful...he kept thinking of nothing and everything and was confusing as fuck...he would then make up his mind then change it a chapter later...then change it again and again...wtf?!!!
The story simply went nowhere...or so it seemed.
It was all just damn boring until the rape scene and what came after it...now that was not boring...it was horrible...and not because I felt bad for the Main character...I actually fully disliked him at this point...I frigging disliked everything about this book from then on.
Damien the poor abused and tortured guy ends up raping Christo...um wait...no...he was never abused...there was no violence in his childhood...there was no forced sex or rape...so wtf?!!
Yes his parents died when he was a child and that did mess him up and he blamed himself...but when he actually talks about this...finally opens up Christos reaction was...aww I feel so bad and sad for you...but wait...did you say you were mega rich?!!! And then follows a huge rant about money...LOL seriously?!!!!
The fact that Damien never really apologizes for the rape boggled my mind too...and that Christo made excuses and went for more was beyond normal.
Ugh this whole thing was just messed up...I read this one book (actually it's a series but with different MC's in each book so it is this only one installment I am talking about) where nothing major really happens...no huge action scenes, no big gun fights, no saving the world...just a guy with kids meets another guy and they try to make it work in every day life...the book was really good and I could keep reading them doing the dishes or cleaning the house every day and I wouldn't get bored...but this...I barely made it thought this book.
One star...and that is just for the beginning and for what could have been.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 15, 20152.5
0.5 stars from the rating because
It was good read but not perfect.
I couldn't connect with Christo and he is the main character. Damien was a bit more likeable but it doesn't say much when I'm comparing him with Christo. But this time it's not a bad thing, because both men seemed real enough and no one is without faults.
0.5 stars from the rating because
It was good read but not perfect.
I couldn't connect with Christo and he is the main character. Damien was a bit more likeable but it doesn't say much when I'm comparing him with Christo. But this time it's not a bad thing, because both men seemed real enough and no one is without faults.
February 27, 2014
Sorry, but this was a miss for me. I didn't particularly like either MC. The book was very poorly edited. I encountered some of the longest run on sentences I've ever seen. There's only so many times you can say "I looked into his chocolate-orange eyes" before it makes you scream. I almost DNF the book but I persevered to the end, which was not a very satisfying ending for the length of that book.
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January 24, 2023This book was ok but didn't fully live up to its potential for me. I liked both the main characters, Christo and Damien and I enjoyed large parts of the story. However, at times I found the story, particularly the parts discussing office politics, a trifle boring. I think I would have enjoyed this a little more if the book was shorter (this is the opposite of what I usually wish for!).
June 21, 2020
A good read. What starts out as friends to enemies, turns to hurt comfort with building friendship and love. Christo’s key issues is not really learning to love again, but to trust again. Living through Christo’s stress with his job was just depressing. So glad for the HEA at the end.
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October 1, 2019It was a OK of a book
July 30, 2019
This was just an okay read for me. I thought the story was a bit wordy and the ending was really abrupt. I really liked the MCs and the concept was good but it all got kind of lost in all the unnecessary words. I found my self skimming over sections especially after the 50% mark.
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June 29, 2012I enjoyed the previous book I read by this author, but it was, well, light, in the meaning that it was an average read. So yes, I didn’t expect nothing different from this one, and I was very pleased to discover that instead this was a very good contemporary novel, an old fashioned office romance, and a story that well develops the relationship between Christo and Damien.
Just out from a 8 years long committed relationship and a bad break-up, Christo doesn’t want to be involved again so soon; Christo is not even the no-strings attached type of guy, and so, well, he thinks celibacy is the best option. But when co-worker Damien offers to be his rebound lover, without commitment and regrets, Christo reluctantly accepts the offer.
Christo has never really liked Damien on a personal level, actually probably their competition on the workfield reflected on the opinion Christo had of Damien as a man, a flirt, someone who is not able to commit, someone who, from his position as second half of a couple, he was only able to condemn and pity. But now Christo is alone, no one of his previous friends, that are also friends of his former partner, are there to help him cope with his newfound “freedom”, and Damien instead is offering help and comfort.
Damien is very different from what Christo was thinking, his incapacity to commit is not due to unwillingness, but to deep emotional scars Damien is bringing along from when he was only a child. They are more similar than what Christo thought, and actually, Christo was probably luckier than Damien, despite all Damien’s money and good looks.
I really loved the slow paced evolution of Damien and Christo’s relationship, how they fell into a long-term commitment without even realizing it, how they are able to face and overcome all the trouble they stumble upon, simply considering their love is more important than everything else. Damien and Christo are destined to a wonderful life together and it was nice to read how they met and fell in love.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007YUJCN0/?...
Just out from a 8 years long committed relationship and a bad break-up, Christo doesn’t want to be involved again so soon; Christo is not even the no-strings attached type of guy, and so, well, he thinks celibacy is the best option. But when co-worker Damien offers to be his rebound lover, without commitment and regrets, Christo reluctantly accepts the offer.
Christo has never really liked Damien on a personal level, actually probably their competition on the workfield reflected on the opinion Christo had of Damien as a man, a flirt, someone who is not able to commit, someone who, from his position as second half of a couple, he was only able to condemn and pity. But now Christo is alone, no one of his previous friends, that are also friends of his former partner, are there to help him cope with his newfound “freedom”, and Damien instead is offering help and comfort.
Damien is very different from what Christo was thinking, his incapacity to commit is not due to unwillingness, but to deep emotional scars Damien is bringing along from when he was only a child. They are more similar than what Christo thought, and actually, Christo was probably luckier than Damien, despite all Damien’s money and good looks.
I really loved the slow paced evolution of Damien and Christo’s relationship, how they fell into a long-term commitment without even realizing it, how they are able to face and overcome all the trouble they stumble upon, simply considering their love is more important than everything else. Damien and Christo are destined to a wonderful life together and it was nice to read how they met and fell in love.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007YUJCN0/?...
October 3, 2014
This book was amazing, apart from two things. Christo and the "rape" scene, and both of these together. Either Christo is really fucked up and has no idea what he wants (title of the book), at first he is all dominant, 99.99% top, then he gets almost brutally "raped" by Damian. It wasn't a rape as you would think and as it is defined (sexual intercourse of any kind without consent), but WHY? Simply, WHY? Maybe because he wanted to be needed SO BADLY he allowed that? While being a top? Doesn't make sense to me.
But don't get me wrong, the book is amazing! It reads wonderfully and I was sad it was over. I didn't enjoy the sex scenes too much, but the romance was very nice.
I noticed in some of the reviews, the readers bitched about the phrases "the other man", "the smaller man" and so on. This is simply a British way of talking. For example, a British chap would likely ask you: "Where is your man, erm ... Derek?" translating to "Where is your friend, (what's his name?)... Derek?" I hope I make sense and it clears that up for you.
Also, the book is now free. Go get it.
But don't get me wrong, the book is amazing! It reads wonderfully and I was sad it was over. I didn't enjoy the sex scenes too much, but the romance was very nice.
I noticed in some of the reviews, the readers bitched about the phrases "the other man", "the smaller man" and so on. This is simply a British way of talking. For example, a British chap would likely ask you: "Where is your man, erm ... Derek?" translating to "Where is your friend, (what's his name?)... Derek?" I hope I make sense and it clears that up for you.
Also, the book is now free. Go get it.
March 23, 2013
4.5 stars. Pushing it up to 5 coz it deserves this..
I am sighing oh-so pleasantly ever since I started reading this book. Christo and Damien have made me fall in love with them. Their journey is superb, and it seems so realistic. Like, it is always something that I can relate happening in real life. The events that happen - some good, some unimaginably worst – bring these two sweethearts closer and as you read their story, you realize how badly you want them to have their happily ever after by the end.
Read the rest of my review here: http://sidlove.wordpress.com/2013/03/...
I am sighing oh-so pleasantly ever since I started reading this book. Christo and Damien have made me fall in love with them. Their journey is superb, and it seems so realistic. Like, it is always something that I can relate happening in real life. The events that happen - some good, some unimaginably worst – bring these two sweethearts closer and as you read their story, you realize how badly you want them to have their happily ever after by the end.
Read the rest of my review here: http://sidlove.wordpress.com/2013/03/...
February 22, 2014
This is a right time frame kinda book
I would have rated this a 3 stars if i had read it at another time. Since i read it at a time when i knew exactly the kind of book i wanted, hence the 4 stars.The sex is hot. The MC's are arrogant at times. They made excuses for each other as a way of forgiveness to explain their behavior and stay together.
But i did like the story line. Professional work rivals who are attracted to each other and fall in love. And also there was no unnecessary conflict and drama.
I would have rated this a 3 stars if i had read it at another time. Since i read it at a time when i knew exactly the kind of book i wanted, hence the 4 stars.The sex is hot. The MC's are arrogant at times. They made excuses for each other as a way of forgiveness to explain their behavior and stay together.
But i did like the story line. Professional work rivals who are attracted to each other and fall in love. And also there was no unnecessary conflict and drama.
February 20, 2014
This is my favorite Kate Aaron book so far! That's saying something since I think she's extremely talented in all her writings. This book is wonderful! Damien and Christo go from boardroom enemies to bedroom lovers. Watching the entire thing transform before your very eyes is entertaining and joyful. Both men are as stubborn. Both want the same thing. I want to hide Damien away for my very own and never return him. LOL! This is a beautiful story and I loved every part of it.
December 18, 2014
This was a pretty good story. Damien and Christo were hot together...when they finally got together. I felt that Damien was very misunderstood by Christo and that Christo's opinion of him was unwarranted. The author tried to have us understand why Damien was so
"awful", but I didn't see that come through. I ended up finding Christo to be unfair when it probably wasn't intended that way. I liked when they finally got together, however, and the growth of their relationship.
"awful", but I didn't see that come through. I ended up finding Christo to be unfair when it probably wasn't intended that way. I liked when they finally got together, however, and the growth of their relationship.
October 9, 2015
3.5 to 4
It's a fleshed out relationship book, which is a bit of a change in this market, but a great change. I've read later Kate Aaron books and her writing has definitely improved from here, but i did enjoy this.
The hysterical review at the top of GR stating there is rape is pretty misguided - rough yes, consensual yes <- and that is the key
Wasn't really a keeper or a loved one, but it was good deeper read from some of the light crap I've skimmed over recently
It's a fleshed out relationship book, which is a bit of a change in this market, but a great change. I've read later Kate Aaron books and her writing has definitely improved from here, but i did enjoy this.
The hysterical review at the top of GR stating there is rape is pretty misguided - rough yes, consensual yes <- and that is the key
Wasn't really a keeper or a loved one, but it was good deeper read from some of the light crap I've skimmed over recently
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