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Working out the Kinks
Mistakes aren't supposed to feel this good...
I learned early on that pretty much everything in life is a scam, and love's at the top of the list. Easy to fake, maximum payout, and people just never stop falling for it. Watching my mom break hearts and empty bank accounts as we bounced from house to house taught me just how dangerous feelings could be. That's a whole lot of hassle I don't need.
These days, I stick to three basic rules. I don't take something just because I want it. I don't ask for help, even if I need it. And I never look twice at a guy who has a bigger bank account than I do. I know where those things can get you, and it's not anywhere I need to go. I'm perfectly happy never getting too close to anyone. Just scraping by with my guitar, chasing the rock star dream until my time or my sanity runs out. At least, I thought I was.
Until Brett showed up.
Another thing I don't do is think about the past. Ever. So, the last person I need to go breaking all my rules for is the cocky, spoiled brat who used to be my stepbrother.
No matter how gorgeous he is now.
No matter how filthy he is in bed.
No matter how good it feels when he says all he wants in the world is me.
Working Out the Kinks is a steamy, kinky, forbidden romance about a grumpy, broken rock star who refuses to fall in love and a lonely, relentless, spoiled brat looking for someone to belong to. This book features a lengthy one-sided obsession, angsty arguments about a messy past, major class differences, kink discovery and exploration, and lots of spanking.
I learned early on that pretty much everything in life is a scam, and love's at the top of the list. Easy to fake, maximum payout, and people just never stop falling for it. Watching my mom break hearts and empty bank accounts as we bounced from house to house taught me just how dangerous feelings could be. That's a whole lot of hassle I don't need.
These days, I stick to three basic rules. I don't take something just because I want it. I don't ask for help, even if I need it. And I never look twice at a guy who has a bigger bank account than I do. I know where those things can get you, and it's not anywhere I need to go. I'm perfectly happy never getting too close to anyone. Just scraping by with my guitar, chasing the rock star dream until my time or my sanity runs out. At least, I thought I was.
Until Brett showed up.
Another thing I don't do is think about the past. Ever. So, the last person I need to go breaking all my rules for is the cocky, spoiled brat who used to be my stepbrother.
No matter how gorgeous he is now.
No matter how filthy he is in bed.
No matter how good it feels when he says all he wants in the world is me.
Working Out the Kinks is a steamy, kinky, forbidden romance about a grumpy, broken rock star who refuses to fall in love and a lonely, relentless, spoiled brat looking for someone to belong to. This book features a lengthy one-sided obsession, angsty arguments about a messy past, major class differences, kink discovery and exploration, and lots of spanking.
367 pages, ebook
First published May 29, 2017
616 people are currently reading
1036 people want to read
About the author
Misha Horne
39 books580 followersMisha Horne (they/them) is a queer kinky author of queer, kinky, character-driven romance. Expect lots of steam, snark, and spanking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
May 9, 2025
4,5 'unexpected' stars
Does it count as a re-read if I read only my favorite scenes... umm... multiple times?? For stress relieve?? Never mind, I'm counting it 😄
Yeah, second re-read was pretty much for the same purpose 😏
And I'm back with this book. This time a proper re-read. This one really became my smuty comfort read 😊
Gif by jimmysea
This book was such a perfect little hidden gem. I didn't have any special expectations and I was positively surprised!
I don't really know what to say, though. Actually, it was nothing special really. I don’t know, it just hit right. I mean, I'm truly a fan of those books that strip their characters of everything, so that only these raw, painfully naked emotions remain. It has to hurt a little, you know.
I think I loved everything about this book because reading about Lan and Brett was just so damned funny (I know I talked about angst before but they were also very cute together!)
I don't know what else to say, except that I really wish I could read a whole series about these two.
I've read this book fourth times and it still hits right. I just can't get enough of their insane chemistry ❤️🔥❤️🔥 At first it kinds of feels like insta lust (only from Lan's side because Brett has been obsessed with him like forever, lol) but Misha Horne really knows how to write relationships in such a tengible way.
Gif by gunsatthaphan
Gif by toptensupakorn
I can totally see myself re-reading this again. Lan and Brett are like a drug to me 💘
Gif by toptensupakorn
P.S. I highly recommend bonus epilogue scene. It's from Brett's POV and it's deliciously naughty, of course 😉
Does it count as a re-read if I read only my favorite scenes... umm... multiple times?? For stress relieve?? Never mind, I'm counting it 😄
Yeah, second re-read was pretty much for the same purpose 😏
And I'm back with this book. This time a proper re-read. This one really became my smuty comfort read 😊
I slid my hands up the sides of his neck and cupped his jaw, holding him still as I took a turn at his lips. Not the way he’d kissed me, all rude and obnoxious and hormone heavy— I kissed him slowly, waiting for the world to end, giving lightning plenty of time to strike me, the floor every chance to open up under me, the whole time lying to myself that this was how I always kissed. That it always felt this good. That I always kissed so long and hard I actually ran out of air.
Gif by jimmysea
This book was such a perfect little hidden gem. I didn't have any special expectations and I was positively surprised!
“You know I used to have a massive crush on you, right?” he asked me.
“I’m starting to put two and two together, yeah.”
“But you didn’t know then?”
“No. Sorry. Didn’t notice, what with you constantly acting like an asshole.”
“Yeah, well. I flirt a little better now.”
“You really don’t.” “Maybe you just like assholes better than you used to.”
I don't really know what to say, though. Actually, it was nothing special really. I don’t know, it just hit right. I mean, I'm truly a fan of those books that strip their characters of everything, so that only these raw, painfully naked emotions remain. It has to hurt a little, you know.
“No, you won’t. You want me to stay. You want to keep me.”
“If you think repeating yourself is gonna hypnotize me, I promise you it won’t. You can’t stay. I don’t want to keep you. I don’t even know what that means.”
Except I did. Some bizarre part of me wanted to keep him around like a stray puppy, hold him in my lap and pet him. Just let him move in and call it a day. Some part of me was actually pretty sure that had already happened. I was clearly losing my goddamn mind.
I think I loved everything about this book because reading about Lan and Brett was just so damned funny (I know I talked about angst before but they were also very cute together!)
“You still sore from last night?” I asked him. He didn’t look sore, but I didn’t know shit about it.
“No.”
“Not at all?”
“I think I’d know.”
“So that was bullshit earlier. In the kitchen. When you wouldn’t sit down.”
“I… yeah. I was lying.”
“Any particular reason?”
“Yeah. I wanted you to be thinking about my ass.”
I choked back a laugh. “Tomorrow you’ll be sore,” I promised him. “You’ll feel me all over you. And you’ll behave for a change. Won’t you? You’ll start doing what I tell you.”
I don't know what else to say, except that I really wish I could read a whole series about these two.
“Anything’s a drinking game if you have drinks. We can take out the dare part, because that’s too obvious. So, it just goes like this. I ask you a question, and if you answer it, you get to drink.” He pointed to himself. “And same deal.”
“How is that a game? It’s just a conversation with drinks.”
“Well, you have to tell the truth. How often do you have a conversation and only tell the truth?”
“Always.”
“Oh yeah? So, do you want to fuck me again? Tell the truth.”
“I don’t like this game.”
I've read this book fourth times and it still hits right. I just can't get enough of their insane chemistry ❤️🔥❤️🔥 At first it kinds of feels like insta lust (only from Lan's side because Brett has been obsessed with him like forever, lol) but Misha Horne really knows how to write relationships in such a tengible way.
“Please, Lan. Please.” His voice shook so much that every letter of every word seemed to stutter and sizzle. As bossy as he was, he was shockingly good at begging.
“Please what?”
“Everything. I want everything.”
Gif by gunsatthaphan
He grinned when he saw me coming, but I knew he didn’t expect me to slide my hand around the back of his neck and yank him up close to me, kiss him hard and rock star nasty, while the whole place watched. Seemed like the easiest way to let everyone know he was mine.
Gif by toptensupakorn
I can totally see myself re-reading this again. Lan and Brett are like a drug to me 💘
“Because I never want to have another day when I feel like I felt that morning when I thought you were gone. I never want you to walk away because I can’t get over myself. Because you’re the only thing I can’t live without. And I love you.”
Gif by toptensupakorn
“Good. I’m glad. Now, would you say you love me, please? And that you’ll stay?”
He laughed and leaned up to kiss me again. “Of course I love you. And I was never going anywhere. You’re an idiot if you thought that.”
I shook my head. “I never would have let you leave.”
P.S. I highly recommend bonus epilogue scene. It's from Brett's POV and it's deliciously naughty, of course 😉
He closed his eyes against a soft smirk, and really, that was better than yelling, better than teasing, it meant he thought I was so ridiculous he couldn’t help but love me. And that was my favorite thing of all.
November 14, 2019
3,5 stars rounded up
This is my first book by this author and it won't be my last.
It was free on Amazon when I grabbed it. I'll try to stick to my feelings here so I will point out that I was really sucked in the story and read a lot in one sitting. This story felt so real and row. I enjoyed being a witness in Lan and Brett's story. I am not a big fan of BDSM stories and here we get a main character addicted on being punished. It was very interesting to see Lan adjusting and giving into temptation. There's A LOT of banter. Both main characters have strong personalities.
I've enjoyed this story, even if it dragged at times. A lot of monologues from Lan. A lot of trying to do the right thing and push Brett away. Many times Lan acted like such a rude man, but I am glad Brett was pushing back with all he had.
Overall I enjoyed it so I will give a try to some other books by this author. It was something about the characters that really dragged me in. They both felt broken, but not irredeemable.
Oh and the sex is smoking hot!!!
This is my first book by this author and it won't be my last.
It was free on Amazon when I grabbed it. I'll try to stick to my feelings here so I will point out that I was really sucked in the story and read a lot in one sitting. This story felt so real and row. I enjoyed being a witness in Lan and Brett's story. I am not a big fan of BDSM stories and here we get a main character addicted on being punished. It was very interesting to see Lan adjusting and giving into temptation. There's A LOT of banter. Both main characters have strong personalities.
I've enjoyed this story, even if it dragged at times. A lot of monologues from Lan. A lot of trying to do the right thing and push Brett away. Many times Lan acted like such a rude man, but I am glad Brett was pushing back with all he had.
Overall I enjoyed it so I will give a try to some other books by this author. It was something about the characters that really dragged me in. They both felt broken, but not irredeemable.
Oh and the sex is smoking hot!!!
February 21, 2019
I love the depth Misha Horne puts into the relationships in her stories and Working Out the Kinks is the best one yet.
I’m a huge fan of Horne’s novella’s and I always enjoy her interesting characters. In Working Out the Kinks she really takes the time to develop the main characters, giving them an intriguing backstory and growing their connection over the course of the novel.
Brett and Landon have a little history, Brett was Landon’s annoying little step-brother for about a year when they were in high school. Meeting up again ten years later, Landon finds out Brett’s been crushing on him the whole time and the attraction between them now is undeniable.
Brett represents everything Landon despises; he’s the quintessential brat, a spoiled rich kid who needs someone to put him in line and keep him there. As much as Landon resists, Brett draws him into the game. Their play develops over the course of the story: the first time it’s just some erotic fun, the second time is for Brett’s release, and the third time is purely discipline. As their relationship progresses Landon realizes he also needs what Brett has been asking for all along.
Landon is facing a bit of a life crisis. His career is failing, but he isn’t willing to give up his dream or work for someone else. He’s also carrying a lot of judgmental baggage left over from his con-artist of a mother. Between Brett’s influence and some soul searching, Landon has to figure it all out if he wants to stay committed to his goals and stay true to his beliefs.
Landon blossoms steadily in the first half of the book, he has so many layers and watching him ‘work out his kinks’ is both amusing and a bit heart wrenching. As Landon grows more comfortable in his role, which Brett has basically forced on him, his confidence grows. Being in this position gives Landon a purpose and makes him feel needed and powerful.
As with her earlier works, Misha Horne’s clever banter and creative turn of phrase make for a completely enjoyable read.
Although I always enjoy her work I’m very impressed with the depth and creativity of Working Out the Kinks.
I’m a huge fan of Horne’s novella’s and I always enjoy her interesting characters. In Working Out the Kinks she really takes the time to develop the main characters, giving them an intriguing backstory and growing their connection over the course of the novel.
Brett and Landon have a little history, Brett was Landon’s annoying little step-brother for about a year when they were in high school. Meeting up again ten years later, Landon finds out Brett’s been crushing on him the whole time and the attraction between them now is undeniable.
Brett represents everything Landon despises; he’s the quintessential brat, a spoiled rich kid who needs someone to put him in line and keep him there. As much as Landon resists, Brett draws him into the game. Their play develops over the course of the story: the first time it’s just some erotic fun, the second time is for Brett’s release, and the third time is purely discipline. As their relationship progresses Landon realizes he also needs what Brett has been asking for all along.
“The rush of it, of what he was giving me; his pride, his shame, his need, all of him, it was heady. Some connection that let me own him for a minute even though I couldn’t. Let me understand him for a minute even though I didn’t. I was able to give him something he couldn’t get from just anyone, and he was giving me the same.”
Landon is facing a bit of a life crisis. His career is failing, but he isn’t willing to give up his dream or work for someone else. He’s also carrying a lot of judgmental baggage left over from his con-artist of a mother. Between Brett’s influence and some soul searching, Landon has to figure it all out if he wants to stay committed to his goals and stay true to his beliefs.
Landon blossoms steadily in the first half of the book, he has so many layers and watching him ‘work out his kinks’ is both amusing and a bit heart wrenching. As Landon grows more comfortable in his role, which Brett has basically forced on him, his confidence grows. Being in this position gives Landon a purpose and makes him feel needed and powerful.
As with her earlier works, Misha Horne’s clever banter and creative turn of phrase make for a completely enjoyable read.
Although I always enjoy her work I’m very impressed with the depth and creativity of Working Out the Kinks.
Want to read
February 19, 2019Freebie at the zon.com right now: https://smile.amazon.com/Working-Out-...
March 22, 2020
DNF@35%
this book is a neverending, annoying, boring constant monologue
this book is a neverending, annoying, boring constant monologue
June 17, 2017
4 stars
I picked this one up on a whim and ended up quite enjoying it. Spanking isn't really my kink, but reading this book could change my mind :) I really enjoyed watching Lan thaw under Brett's care and how encouraging Lan to give Brett what he wants, results in Lan getting so much more than he bargained for.
This is one of those books you go into with zero expectations and end up sitting back, enjoying and letting the story unfold. Good fun.
I picked this one up on a whim and ended up quite enjoying it. Spanking isn't really my kink, but reading this book could change my mind :) I really enjoyed watching Lan thaw under Brett's care and how encouraging Lan to give Brett what he wants, results in Lan getting so much more than he bargained for.
This is one of those books you go into with zero expectations and end up sitting back, enjoying and letting the story unfold. Good fun.
February 20, 2019
2/20/19 Currently FREE via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Working-Out-Ki...
5 Stars
Loved this! Misha Horne writes gorgeous and emotional stories that will capture your heart and tickle your fancy. Sparkling banter, snarky sass, kinky passion, and heartfelt sentiment make this story a delight. Highly recommend!!
5 Stars
Loved this! Misha Horne writes gorgeous and emotional stories that will capture your heart and tickle your fancy. Sparkling banter, snarky sass, kinky passion, and heartfelt sentiment make this story a delight. Highly recommend!!
April 23, 2019
DNF. I made it just over 30 percent, but I just couldn’t take it anymore. The constant internal dialogue was so boring I was skimming to try and get to the story. The only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of one is because the one sex scene was hot. Still I couldn’t believe this was written by the same person who wrote,”Not so Smart”
June 19, 2019
3.5 stars Rawness, vulnerability, and sexiness.
Lan ruling his life by his feeling he has debts to fulfill. His mother took from men, more than once. Ten years ago he left everything behind and started a life of his own with the promise never get involved with someone who has more money than he had. Never the feeling of taking what wasn’t his. So, there he was in an awful apartment, an empty fridge and shabby clothes. But it was all his own and that’s the point.
When Brett hit on him in a bar he didn’t recognize him at first, then he saw it was the boy he lived with ten years ago. The son of his moms' husband number umpteenth, a sort of stepbrother. A rich boy he doesn’t want to get involved with. Brett has other plans.
Brett was the biggest brat I’ve ever read about and he got sometimes annoyed demanding. Because there was no view from his point, I didn’t like him at times, way too demanding.
I really didn’t get to understand why he loved Lan so deeply.
Lan has a rude, filthy mouth, with a big heart. He was weak when it concerned Brett, way too weak.
A lot of f - words, a lot of cursing. A lot of push and pull and a lot of sexiness.
For my fun, it had too many repetitive actions. I also wanted desperately know more about Brett while reading but it was all about Lan and his state of mind.
Overall a nice, smoothly written story
Lan ruling his life by his feeling he has debts to fulfill. His mother took from men, more than once. Ten years ago he left everything behind and started a life of his own with the promise never get involved with someone who has more money than he had. Never the feeling of taking what wasn’t his. So, there he was in an awful apartment, an empty fridge and shabby clothes. But it was all his own and that’s the point.
When Brett hit on him in a bar he didn’t recognize him at first, then he saw it was the boy he lived with ten years ago. The son of his moms' husband number umpteenth, a sort of stepbrother. A rich boy he doesn’t want to get involved with. Brett has other plans.
Brett was the biggest brat I’ve ever read about and he got sometimes annoyed demanding. Because there was no view from his point, I didn’t like him at times, way too demanding.
I really didn’t get to understand why he loved Lan so deeply.
Lan has a rude, filthy mouth, with a big heart. He was weak when it concerned Brett, way too weak.
A lot of f - words, a lot of cursing. A lot of push and pull and a lot of sexiness.
For my fun, it had too many repetitive actions. I also wanted desperately know more about Brett while reading but it was all about Lan and his state of mind.
Overall a nice, smoothly written story
December 26, 2019
4.5 feel-good stars
I've read a few of Misha's books and enjoyed them enough to get on the mailing list, but this - this was far beyond the others I've read, which were sexy and kinky but not exactly emotionally deep (which is fine, and it's hard to get very complex in a short story).
I thought going in to this one, even after reading the blurb, that it would be some sexy spankings and hot sex and not much else. I am so glad I was wrong! The characters were layered and complex, and I enjoyed the banter and vulnerable moments as much as the sexy times.
My main quibble is that I ran across several typos - it could stand to go through one more proofreader - but that wasn't enough to detract from my enjoyment of the story. It left me with a huge smile on my face.
I've read a few of Misha's books and enjoyed them enough to get on the mailing list, but this - this was far beyond the others I've read, which were sexy and kinky but not exactly emotionally deep (which is fine, and it's hard to get very complex in a short story).
I thought going in to this one, even after reading the blurb, that it would be some sexy spankings and hot sex and not much else. I am so glad I was wrong! The characters were layered and complex, and I enjoyed the banter and vulnerable moments as much as the sexy times.
My main quibble is that I ran across several typos - it could stand to go through one more proofreader - but that wasn't enough to detract from my enjoyment of the story. It left me with a huge smile on my face.
July 10, 2017
I loved it. I was expecting a porny story with some character depth, sort of like Old School Discipline, but I think the proportions were actually flipped in this one, especially in the first half of the book. Taking broken, messed up people and rebuilding them is one of my favourite genres, and this story just hit the spot. I adored Lan, jus bitter humour, his doubts, his strength, his relentless drive to try to do the right thing and be a good person. I loved how much of his life we saw - the career, the music itself, his friends - it was unexpectedly fleshed out and so well written!
Read
June 9, 2017Puede que no me haya pillado en buen momento, pero me estoy aburriendo y el primer encuentro entre los protagonistas y sus primeras conversaciones me están pareciendo o.O ¿? eh?.
Es posible que no esté en el mood (creía que sí, es exactamente lo que me esperaba) y lo retome más adelante, pero de momento DNF en el 15% y no le doy rating.
Es posible que no esté en el mood (creía que sí, es exactamente lo que me esperaba) y lo retome más adelante, pero de momento DNF en el 15% y no le doy rating.
June 3, 2017
3.5* I really don't know how to review this one! I enjoyed it a lot but elements of it were pretty repetitive and it probably could have stood to be a bit shorter without going over the same internal dialogue.
Also, while I think the book did stick to being pretty realistic, I still found it hard to connect with just why Lan felt the way he did and what gave him is major hang up. That's not to say that I don't think it was a viable reason, but that it was so far removed from how I think I'd ever feel in the same situation that, at times, it just came across as being a bit of a childish leftover.
Brett was a manipulative little shit but I couldn't help liking him, he was fully up front with how much he was deliberately pushing all of Lan's buttons and oh boy did he push them. The sex in this is handled well.
It's not just erotica porn without plot, each time they come together there is character and relationship development (and a whole lot of introspection from Lan!).
There's a few grammatical errors and minor typos, not enough to take me out of the story though and it has a really sweet conclusion. There's also a good set of secondary characters and the wider world building is good.
It would have been nice to see inside Brett's head but, on reflection, I think that would have ruined the overall impact of the story narrative.
I've downloaded and read her Benched series on the strength of this book and, while I didn't enjoy it as much as this one, the BDSM (well spanking/punishment element only really) is also handled well in that series.
Also, while I think the book did stick to being pretty realistic, I still found it hard to connect with just why Lan felt the way he did and what gave him is major hang up. That's not to say that I don't think it was a viable reason, but that it was so far removed from how I think I'd ever feel in the same situation that, at times, it just came across as being a bit of a childish leftover.
Brett was a manipulative little shit but I couldn't help liking him, he was fully up front with how much he was deliberately pushing all of Lan's buttons and oh boy did he push them. The sex in this is handled well.
It's not just erotica porn without plot, each time they come together there is character and relationship development (and a whole lot of introspection from Lan!).
There's a few grammatical errors and minor typos, not enough to take me out of the story though and it has a really sweet conclusion. There's also a good set of secondary characters and the wider world building is good.
It would have been nice to see inside Brett's head but, on reflection, I think that would have ruined the overall impact of the story narrative.
I've downloaded and read her Benched series on the strength of this book and, while I didn't enjoy it as much as this one, the BDSM (well spanking/punishment element only really) is also handled well in that series.
February 28, 2019
DNF at 25%. The internal monologue is atrocious. How many times can one repeat "I shouldn't do this" and then do it anyway. Please... the vast majority of humans do not have thought processes where we need to dissect every nuance of our lives. All the "head talking" simply ruined the sex scene.
December 29, 2017
3.5
Quite delicious.
Quite delicious.
Want to read
February 19, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/19/2019)! 🎁
Blurb:
Mistakes aren't supposed to feel this good...
I learned early on that pretty much everything in life is a scam, and love's at the top of the list. Easy to fake, maximum payout, and people just never stop falling for it. Watching my mom break hearts and empty bank accounts as we bounced from house to house taught me just how dangerous feelings could be. That's a whole lot of hassle I don't need.
These days, I stick to three basic rules. I don’t take something just because I want it. I don’t ask for help, even if I need it. And I never look twice at a guy who has a bigger bank account than I do. I know where those things can get you, and it's not anywhere I need to go. I’m perfectly happy being a dive bar rock star who can barely pay his rent, chasing the dream until my time or my sanity runs out. At least, I thought I was.
Until Brett showed up.
Another thing I don’t do is think about the past. All the people I can never look in the eye again. Who know just how ugly I really am deep down. The last person I need to get mixed up with is someone on that list. The last person I need to go breaking all my rules for is the cocky, spoiled brat who used to sleep in the room across the hall.
No matter how gorgeous he is now.
No matter how filthy he is in bed.
No matter how good it feels when he says all he wants in the world is me.
Blurb:
Mistakes aren't supposed to feel this good...
I learned early on that pretty much everything in life is a scam, and love's at the top of the list. Easy to fake, maximum payout, and people just never stop falling for it. Watching my mom break hearts and empty bank accounts as we bounced from house to house taught me just how dangerous feelings could be. That's a whole lot of hassle I don't need.
These days, I stick to three basic rules. I don’t take something just because I want it. I don’t ask for help, even if I need it. And I never look twice at a guy who has a bigger bank account than I do. I know where those things can get you, and it's not anywhere I need to go. I’m perfectly happy being a dive bar rock star who can barely pay his rent, chasing the dream until my time or my sanity runs out. At least, I thought I was.
Until Brett showed up.
Another thing I don’t do is think about the past. All the people I can never look in the eye again. Who know just how ugly I really am deep down. The last person I need to get mixed up with is someone on that list. The last person I need to go breaking all my rules for is the cocky, spoiled brat who used to sleep in the room across the hall.
No matter how gorgeous he is now.
No matter how filthy he is in bed.
No matter how good it feels when he says all he wants in the world is me.
January 12, 2023
M/M, hea, rock star, step brothers, rich/poor
Spice: medium
Angst: low to medium (trying real hard to be medium to high)
Plot: Landon is a rock star. Well, he plays music in bars anyways. After a particularly bad night he runs into the last person he expected to meet. His step brother.
My opinion: I liked the idea of this story but there was so much "will they won't they" that I nearly threw the book. Thankfully I didn't because it's on my phone and these smart phones aren't as sturdy as those old Nokias. I tend to read to help distract from the amount of pain I'm in but this one couldn't hold my attention to keep me distracted from the pain, despite me overall loving the story and finding it very cute.
Spice: medium
Angst: low to medium (trying real hard to be medium to high)
Plot: Landon is a rock star. Well, he plays music in bars anyways. After a particularly bad night he runs into the last person he expected to meet. His step brother.
My opinion: I liked the idea of this story but there was so much "will they won't they" that I nearly threw the book. Thankfully I didn't because it's on my phone and these smart phones aren't as sturdy as those old Nokias. I tend to read to help distract from the amount of pain I'm in but this one couldn't hold my attention to keep me distracted from the pain, despite me overall loving the story and finding it very cute.
August 7, 2019
I’m reading all the back list now. This is a mm contemporary story in first person. I love this author ‘s work and this book is outside my usual genre but it had me hooked. Landon and Brett are the main characters and the book is Landon’s view on the world. Great story, and again lotsa highlighting. Off to read the bonus now.
June 21, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Ok, so I’ll admit, this story pretty much had me at the blurb as soon as it mentioned spanking, brats, and stepbrothers. And yes, this book definitely is full of brooding rockers, super spoiled brats who won’t take no for an answer, and lots of sexy spanking. But there is also so much more here than I had expected. Horne has created a story with a lot of depth and some rich and fascinating character development that really impressed me and took this sexy story to another level.
Ok, so starting with the juicy stuff, these guys are smoking hot together. Horne does such a nice job with the chemistry between them and the attraction is just palpable. We can feel the intensity of Landon’s attraction for Brett, the pure heat that consumes him whenever they are together. Brett makes Landon pretty much out of his mind with lust, and for Landon that is a good thing, as he needs so desperately to let himself go and enjoy. These guys are dirty and sexy together in a really fun way. Brett is the brattiest of brats. He is spoiled and pushes and gets what he wants and it should be totally annoying but somehow it isn’t. Landon doesn’t think so either. Brett makes him wild, as does Brett’s desire for spanking. Landon has never been into spanking kink before, but it doesn’t take him long to get fully on board. This isn’t a BDSM story, but there is definitely spanking, as well as some hot, aggressive sex. There is also a hint of the stepbrother taboo given that their parents were married for about a minute, but they have never considered themselves family, and though Landon falls back on that to justify his hesitation to get involved with Brett, these guys really don’t see themselves as related. It is just enough to add a little twist, but nothing too intense if this isn’t your kink.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Ok, so I’ll admit, this story pretty much had me at the blurb as soon as it mentioned spanking, brats, and stepbrothers. And yes, this book definitely is full of brooding rockers, super spoiled brats who won’t take no for an answer, and lots of sexy spanking. But there is also so much more here than I had expected. Horne has created a story with a lot of depth and some rich and fascinating character development that really impressed me and took this sexy story to another level.
Ok, so starting with the juicy stuff, these guys are smoking hot together. Horne does such a nice job with the chemistry between them and the attraction is just palpable. We can feel the intensity of Landon’s attraction for Brett, the pure heat that consumes him whenever they are together. Brett makes Landon pretty much out of his mind with lust, and for Landon that is a good thing, as he needs so desperately to let himself go and enjoy. These guys are dirty and sexy together in a really fun way. Brett is the brattiest of brats. He is spoiled and pushes and gets what he wants and it should be totally annoying but somehow it isn’t. Landon doesn’t think so either. Brett makes him wild, as does Brett’s desire for spanking. Landon has never been into spanking kink before, but it doesn’t take him long to get fully on board. This isn’t a BDSM story, but there is definitely spanking, as well as some hot, aggressive sex. There is also a hint of the stepbrother taboo given that their parents were married for about a minute, but they have never considered themselves family, and though Landon falls back on that to justify his hesitation to get involved with Brett, these guys really don’t see themselves as related. It is just enough to add a little twist, but nothing too intense if this isn’t your kink.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
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February 13, 2022
MM Romance
Ex-Stepbrothers
3.5 stars rounded down
I was in the mood for a good stepbrother story and a bit of kink but that’s not what I got with this book despite the title and blurb. Brett and Landon were stepbrothers a decade ago and haven’t seen each other since but one night Brett tracks Landon down at the bar his band is playing at and they are reunited. These two were only stepbrothers for 2 years so Landon doesn’t recognize Brett at first and once he does, he doesn’t want anything to do with him for a few ridiculous reasons. Landon has some hang ups but Brett knows how to get under Landon’s skin and they end up having what is supposed to be a one night stand.
The entire book is in Landon’s POV and while I liked him at first, he has a glass half empty pessimistic view on life and it was a chore at times to slog through his never ending I hate the world inner thoughts. Landon is his own worst enemy and being in his mind got a bit repetitive especially when this book is over 350 pages. I would have loved to have a few chapters in Brett’s POV just to liven the book up a bit because it was hard at times to want to keep reading this. I’m glad I stuck with it because the last 20% had great character growth and I really liked the epiphanies Landon had about his life.
My only other niggle was I also thought this book would be kinky because the blurb mentions Brett being filthy in bed but with the exception of spanking, this was pretty tame. They do have a lot of sex and it was hot at times but not what I was looking for. And lastly, this was more of a HFN because I felt like there were a few loose ends when it came to Landon’s band and Brett’s job but despite everything, I still enjoyed most of this book. There’s a bonus scene if you subscribe to this author’s newsletter and I liked this book enough to do just that.
Ex-Stepbrothers
3.5 stars rounded down
I was in the mood for a good stepbrother story and a bit of kink but that’s not what I got with this book despite the title and blurb. Brett and Landon were stepbrothers a decade ago and haven’t seen each other since but one night Brett tracks Landon down at the bar his band is playing at and they are reunited. These two were only stepbrothers for 2 years so Landon doesn’t recognize Brett at first and once he does, he doesn’t want anything to do with him for a few ridiculous reasons. Landon has some hang ups but Brett knows how to get under Landon’s skin and they end up having what is supposed to be a one night stand.
The entire book is in Landon’s POV and while I liked him at first, he has a glass half empty pessimistic view on life and it was a chore at times to slog through his never ending I hate the world inner thoughts. Landon is his own worst enemy and being in his mind got a bit repetitive especially when this book is over 350 pages. I would have loved to have a few chapters in Brett’s POV just to liven the book up a bit because it was hard at times to want to keep reading this. I’m glad I stuck with it because the last 20% had great character growth and I really liked the epiphanies Landon had about his life.
My only other niggle was I also thought this book would be kinky because the blurb mentions Brett being filthy in bed but with the exception of spanking, this was pretty tame. They do have a lot of sex and it was hot at times but not what I was looking for. And lastly, this was more of a HFN because I felt like there were a few loose ends when it came to Landon’s band and Brett’s job but despite everything, I still enjoyed most of this book. There’s a bonus scene if you subscribe to this author’s newsletter and I liked this book enough to do just that.
July 4, 2022
This book had many of the elements I've come to expect from a Misha Horne book; a brat in need of discipline, a lot of spanking, and plenty of introspection. I liked it, but not as much as I've enjoyed the other books I've read by Misha Horne. Part of it is that I'm just not that into musician MCs, and part of it was that I found the book to be emotionally exhausting to read in a way that I didn't find Horne's other books. In this book we don't get the brat's perspective, which made his behavior more tiring to read for me. This was exacerbated by Landon's personal issues, which took a long time to work through, and sometimes the book dragged a bit too much. It was still an okay read, but I just didn't feel the enjoyment I felt when reading other books by this author.
May 28, 2023
Too long! I did not like Brett. He was bratty, bossy and demanding. He would break Landon's things or completely ignore what Landon asked him to do (or not do) and then he would throw himself at Landon and insist on a spanking. Maybe it would have helped if we heard Brett's POV, but the story was completely Landon's POV. Too much inner monologue from Landon. I had to skim quite a bit.
Free follow-up to this A Very Kinky Christmas
Free follow-up to this A Very Kinky Christmas
February 25, 2019
So I have mixed feelings on this one. It felt like a slog at times, somewhat repetitive... but I persisted because I really wanted to see the outcome. LAN really had issues and struggled to move past these and accept that life could be good. Brett had been deeply in love with LAN for years and finally found the courage to push. Their story had a twist of kink... a little annoying at times but finally a resolution!
March 31, 2023
Free on Amazon 3/31/2023
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2.5 rounded up
Not my favorite by this author. I really enjoyed the writing, as I always do, and the blend of kink and emotions was great, but the plot was a bit sparse. It was also a single POV book, and I have no issues with that in general, but here I found Brett to be a little opaque and I found myself really wishing we had his perspective. Personally, the approach to the kink here wasn't quite my favorite flavor--Brett's pushiness and refusal to take no for an answer felt a little squicky for me at times. I also found Landon's stubbornness to be quite frustrating. Both of these issues might have been alleviated with dual POV so that we could see Brett's perspective, and have a break from Landon's. There are better books by this author, though I admit many of my issues with this one are just personal preference things so YMMV.
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2.5 rounded up
Not my favorite by this author. I really enjoyed the writing, as I always do, and the blend of kink and emotions was great, but the plot was a bit sparse. It was also a single POV book, and I have no issues with that in general, but here I found Brett to be a little opaque and I found myself really wishing we had his perspective. Personally, the approach to the kink here wasn't quite my favorite flavor--Brett's pushiness and refusal to take no for an answer felt a little squicky for me at times. I also found Landon's stubbornness to be quite frustrating. Both of these issues might have been alleviated with dual POV so that we could see Brett's perspective, and have a break from Landon's. There are better books by this author, though I admit many of my issues with this one are just personal preference things so YMMV.
April 6, 2024
Really enjoyed this but I do wish he hadn't been so hung up on the fact that they were briefly stepbrothers a decade ago!
November 26, 2017
Have you ever picked up a book thinking you know it's going to be cheesy and stupid? Of course you have, we all have, and Kindle Unlimited's MM section seems chock full of it especially. So this... this blew me away with how good it was.
I mean common, I can't resist that type of writing. And I love it when an author digs into the feelings behind the kink. Sure, Brett wants to be spanked - but what he really wants is someone to care enough about him and his behavior to want to correct it. And Landon doesn't want control, he wants to be needed, to matter to someone because he certainly never mattered to his mom.
My insides seemed crushed in some way that felt almost good. There was something he needed from me. And it made me feel useful, feel special, feel like something other than just another human shaped nobody to fill one of a billion human shaped holes.
I mean common, I can't resist that type of writing. And I love it when an author digs into the feelings behind the kink. Sure, Brett wants to be spanked - but what he really wants is someone to care enough about him and his behavior to want to correct it. And Landon doesn't want control, he wants to be needed, to matter to someone because he certainly never mattered to his mom.
August 10, 2022
I was going to mention the plot, but let’s be honest, it was mostly about spanking.
September 14, 2017
**4 stars**
My first book with this author. I really enjoyed this. But it started out iffy for me. Reading the first chapter, I wasn't sure I was going to finish it.
I loved the relationship between the MCs. Brett the Brat was precisely that. I'd have knocked him in the head for some of the things he did.....
I felt the heat when Brett and Lan first meet, very hot. I felt the relationship grow, at least from Lan's perspective. The story was told in Lan's POV. I'm not a big 1st person fan, but it was alright.
The morning after the first night together, Lan was a bit regretful. Even though he thoroughly enjoyed himself!
"I dropped my head back down onto one of my too flat pillows and stared at the cracks in my ceiling— maybe the only thing he hadn’t complained about. Probably because he slept on his stomach. Like a freak. A sexy little bare ass freak, that I needed to get out of my house. “Shit.”
“You can’t kick me out before breakfast,” Brett informed me, his voice appearing out of nowhere. “That would be rude.”
"Yup. Knew it. Sneaky little cocksucker, just laying there, waiting for me to wake up. Waiting to throw me off my game. I knew how he worked. And he knew how I worked. And that made me extremely fucking nervous."
“Breakfast is over,” I told him, refusing to look his way, even though I could feel his eyes on me. “It’s noon.”
“Brunch is fine.”
“No brunch.”
“Glass of water for my troubles?”
The dialogue between them was cute. I loved how Lan tried to satisfy Brett's kink. It wasn't a MAJOR kink, but a kink nonetheless.
The ending was ok. A bit anti-climatic...but it worked.
Things I felt needed work:
I felt the growing feelings that Lan was experiencing. Brett, not so much. Brett basically came on scene feeling a certain way and ended up getting the intimacy with Lan he was desiring. Maybe if we had Brett's POV, his feelings would have been clearer. His character needed to be fleshed out a bit more.
And a pet peeve of mine....words, words, and more words. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy reading the internal dialogue of characters to get their motivations and feelings, but sometimes it's too much. I skimmed a bit through Lan's just to get back to some dialogue. But it wasn't terrible.
Finally, for a book about kink, the sex scenes weren't that hot. I mean, the spanking was...but other than that? not much was described. I LIKE my SEX!!! lol
But overall, a good book. I really got that Brett was a BRAT and I got the growing feelings Lan was experiencing. I giggled at some of Brett's antics and really felt Lan's frustration.
I'll be reading more from this author.
My first book with this author. I really enjoyed this. But it started out iffy for me. Reading the first chapter, I wasn't sure I was going to finish it.
I loved the relationship between the MCs. Brett the Brat was precisely that. I'd have knocked him in the head for some of the things he did.....
I felt the heat when Brett and Lan first meet, very hot. I felt the relationship grow, at least from Lan's perspective. The story was told in Lan's POV. I'm not a big 1st person fan, but it was alright.
The morning after the first night together, Lan was a bit regretful. Even though he thoroughly enjoyed himself!
"I dropped my head back down onto one of my too flat pillows and stared at the cracks in my ceiling— maybe the only thing he hadn’t complained about. Probably because he slept on his stomach. Like a freak. A sexy little bare ass freak, that I needed to get out of my house. “Shit.”
“You can’t kick me out before breakfast,” Brett informed me, his voice appearing out of nowhere. “That would be rude.”
"Yup. Knew it. Sneaky little cocksucker, just laying there, waiting for me to wake up. Waiting to throw me off my game. I knew how he worked. And he knew how I worked. And that made me extremely fucking nervous."
“Breakfast is over,” I told him, refusing to look his way, even though I could feel his eyes on me. “It’s noon.”
“Brunch is fine.”
“No brunch.”
“Glass of water for my troubles?”
The dialogue between them was cute. I loved how Lan tried to satisfy Brett's kink. It wasn't a MAJOR kink, but a kink nonetheless.
The ending was ok. A bit anti-climatic...but it worked.
Things I felt needed work:
I felt the growing feelings that Lan was experiencing. Brett, not so much. Brett basically came on scene feeling a certain way and ended up getting the intimacy with Lan he was desiring. Maybe if we had Brett's POV, his feelings would have been clearer. His character needed to be fleshed out a bit more.
And a pet peeve of mine....words, words, and more words. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy reading the internal dialogue of characters to get their motivations and feelings, but sometimes it's too much. I skimmed a bit through Lan's just to get back to some dialogue. But it wasn't terrible.
Finally, for a book about kink, the sex scenes weren't that hot. I mean, the spanking was...but other than that? not much was described. I LIKE my SEX!!! lol
But overall, a good book. I really got that Brett was a BRAT and I got the growing feelings Lan was experiencing. I giggled at some of Brett's antics and really felt Lan's frustration.
I'll be reading more from this author.
December 20, 2017
This was an interesting book to read. Working Out the Kinks is about Landon and Brett. Once, many years ago, they were step-brothers for a short time. Landon's mother marrying men for their money. It's what she did. Marrying and divorcing men, usually leaving with quite a bit of money from the divorce. Landon never liked his mother doing those things and the time he spent living with Brett's family was one where he also knew it would end at some point. Brett is wealthy and has nice things. Landon never had any of that. He's a rock star, or as much as he could be with his band. He doesn't have much, but he wouldn't trade what he has for anything else. One night, Landon and Brett do reunite and sparks fly between them.
I feel like I didn't enjoy this book as much as some other books I have read by the author, BUT Working Out the Kinks did get me out of my reading funk. The main hurdle I could not really get over in this story is that the love interests are ex-step-brothers. I know. They're not related by blood and their parents are no longer together. I have read ex-step-sibling romances before and haven't had an issue with the trope if it's done well. But in this case, it's part of their kink, so...it's just not my thing. The writing is good. There is a story and there is angst that breaks my heart, which is what the author does so well. So, I guess it’s kind of weird to say the relationship in this book just isn't for me while there are many aspects about the story I did enjoy?
The ending is nice, if not abrupt. We do get a nice little HFN between Landon and Brett. But by the time I got to the last sentence, I felt like I wanted more. The author writes very well-written books that have lots of sex (usually involving spanking) and a lot of angst and heart-wrenching moments.
It was way too easy to believe that because it felt right, it was right. That was bullshit. A lie people told themselves to keep from feeling guilty when they did stupid, terrible things.
I feel like I didn't enjoy this book as much as some other books I have read by the author, BUT Working Out the Kinks did get me out of my reading funk. The main hurdle I could not really get over in this story is that the love interests are ex-step-brothers. I know. They're not related by blood and their parents are no longer together. I have read ex-step-sibling romances before and haven't had an issue with the trope if it's done well. But in this case, it's part of their kink, so...it's just not my thing. The writing is good. There is a story and there is angst that breaks my heart, which is what the author does so well. So, I guess it’s kind of weird to say the relationship in this book just isn't for me while there are many aspects about the story I did enjoy?
The ending is nice, if not abrupt. We do get a nice little HFN between Landon and Brett. But by the time I got to the last sentence, I felt like I wanted more. The author writes very well-written books that have lots of sex (usually involving spanking) and a lot of angst and heart-wrenching moments.
I had no need for attachment. I didn't play long games at anything. Yet, here I was...Him dismantling me piece by piece until I'd actually started just handing parts of me over.
Him making me want to believe that all broken things could be fixed. And that maybe I wasn't quite as broken as I'd always thought I was.
July 13, 2017
3.5 stars - This sounded like a slightly taboo, slightly kinky rich kid/poor kid story, and it was, but not nearly as much as I was expecting. Brett and Lan were stepbrothers for about a year and a half back when they were in high school. Lan’s mom was a career gold digger who managed to land Brett’s dad. Back then, Lan thought Brett was nothing more than a spoiled rich kid and a royal pain in his side.
Fast forward about ten years, and Brett walks back into Lan’s life, still a spoiled rich kid who becomes an even bigger pain in his side. Brett was a master manipulator who was used to getting what he wanted, and now he wants Lan…to punish him, make him behave, take control, etc., mostly in the form of spankings.
Lan has quite a few issues going on. He carries an extreme amount of guilt over the way his mother lives, going from one rich guy to the next and caring little about anything. He lives day to day, not taking anything from anyone or letting anyone close. He ekes out a living playing dive bars in a band, refurbishing and reselling used music equipment, and spending the bare minimum on essentials, like food, clothing, etc. He is happy living this way, being his own boss, and not needing things, or so he believes.
Brett is the proverbial spoiled brat, which was quite annoying at times, but his persistence paid off. Equally as annoying was the constant inner dialog arguments Lan had about everything. But, as these two spent time together, it was easy to see Brett making headway until the final aha moment where Lan realized he wanted something after all – someone who cared about and was just happy being with him. Brett showed him that it was ok to want or enjoy things, and Lan was able to give Brett (who had anything he wanted but just wanted to be with Lan) what he needed to be focused and content. Although there were a few unanswered questions, and could have used an epilogue, there was a lot that felt could have been pared down without losing much of the story. Still, if you add the dirty talking, slightly slappy kinky sex, it was a rather enjoyable read.
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
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