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Game Point
Game, set… match made in heaven.
Spoiled socialite Quinn Valenzuela has no interest in sports or his family’s huge sporting goods empire, Sparta Athletics. So when Quinn learns his grandfather has died and he’s in control of the corporation, no one is more surprised than Quinn himself.
Dedicated COO Porter Davis has little time and less patience for brats like Quinn who have never done a day’s work, but circumstances leave him with little choice. Quinn claims he’s ready to leave partying behind and grow up, but it’ll take more than words to earn Porter’s respect. As it turns out, they can work—and play—together after all. A friends with benefits arrangement makes sense for the two busy men, but are they too different for it to ever develop into more? Not if Quinn can convince Porter he has his head in the game.
Spoiled socialite Quinn Valenzuela has no interest in sports or his family’s huge sporting goods empire, Sparta Athletics. So when Quinn learns his grandfather has died and he’s in control of the corporation, no one is more surprised than Quinn himself.
Dedicated COO Porter Davis has little time and less patience for brats like Quinn who have never done a day’s work, but circumstances leave him with little choice. Quinn claims he’s ready to leave partying behind and grow up, but it’ll take more than words to earn Porter’s respect. As it turns out, they can work—and play—together after all. A friends with benefits arrangement makes sense for the two busy men, but are they too different for it to ever develop into more? Not if Quinn can convince Porter he has his head in the game.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2017
6 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
M.J. O'Shea
86 books948 followersMJ O’Shea has never met a music festival, paintbrush, or
flower crown she can stay away from. She loves rainstorms
and a perfect cup of tea, beach days, music, bright colors, and
more than anything a cozy evening with a really great book.
She is from the Pacific Northwest. While she still lives there
and loves it, MJ has the heart of a wanderer. So she puts all
her dreams of far off places and extraordinary people in her
books.
Except for every once in a while when she does what all
travelers have to do on occasion… come home.
flower crown she can stay away from. She loves rainstorms
and a perfect cup of tea, beach days, music, bright colors, and
more than anything a cozy evening with a really great book.
She is from the Pacific Northwest. While she still lives there
and loves it, MJ has the heart of a wanderer. So she puts all
her dreams of far off places and extraordinary people in her
books.
Except for every once in a while when she does what all
travelers have to do on occasion… come home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
April 20, 2018
3.5 rounded up
The Audio was good.
The story was short, cute and fluffy fits well with the dreamspun desires series.
Overall it was enjoyable.
The Audio was good.
The story was short, cute and fluffy fits well with the dreamspun desires series.
Overall it was enjoyable.
January 2, 2020
3.5 Hearts
Definitely one of the more enjoyable Dreamspun Desires stories, this went down the hatch with nary a hiccough!
Porter, who is content and happy being the head of operations of one of the top sporting goods conglomerates is understandably devastated when the founder of said company dies suddenly. It’s bad enough that he’s lost his mentor, but when the entire company is left to the prodigal grandson Quinn, no one is more shocked than Porter. Quinn, who has been absent for years, is set to inherit the majority of shares but only if he chooses to stay and step into his grandfather’s position. The thought of the pampered young man being Porter’s boss is enough to make his blood boil!! He simply thinks of Quinn as a spoiled brat with not one responsible bone in his body, and thus wholly ill equipped to do the job. Suffice it to say, pissed off and indignant doesn’t even come close to how Porter feels.
Now granted, Quinn has not been the poster child for initiative and work ethic. Admittedly, he has been living the high life of parties and debauchery but lately, he’s been feeling a bit restless and not so satisfied. Quinn doesn't know why he’s avoided his family for so long, but his grandfather’s death is really just the push he needs for some serious life evaluation, and he’s determined to give this new opportunity a good go. Now, if Quinn can just navigate the sexy COO’s hostile attitude towards him, things might just go his way.
These two not surprisingly, don’t hit it off at all. Somehow though, circumstances force them to lay out the harsh truths and they grudgingly agree to give each other a chance, and lo and behold, both are amazed at just how well their strengths and assets work together. It doesn’t take long for them to establish a great working relationship, one that is busy and stressful and fulfilling, and perhaps could benefit from blowing off some much needed steam.
With. Each. Other. Yep!
Narrated by Kenneth Obi, this was my first listening experience with him, and it went just as smoothly as the story did. Overall, Game Point was pretty much angst free, with the obligatory denial of feelings where perhaps that denial carries on just a tad too long. However, it really was a sweet story of enemies to friends to lovers (with a touch of age gap, a dollop of opposites attract, and a dash of sexy). O’Shea typically excels at such fluff, so fans of hers shouldn't have much complaint if at all, with this easy breezy read.
Thanks to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for a honest review
Definitely one of the more enjoyable Dreamspun Desires stories, this went down the hatch with nary a hiccough!
Porter, who is content and happy being the head of operations of one of the top sporting goods conglomerates is understandably devastated when the founder of said company dies suddenly. It’s bad enough that he’s lost his mentor, but when the entire company is left to the prodigal grandson Quinn, no one is more shocked than Porter. Quinn, who has been absent for years, is set to inherit the majority of shares but only if he chooses to stay and step into his grandfather’s position. The thought of the pampered young man being Porter’s boss is enough to make his blood boil!! He simply thinks of Quinn as a spoiled brat with not one responsible bone in his body, and thus wholly ill equipped to do the job. Suffice it to say, pissed off and indignant doesn’t even come close to how Porter feels.
Now granted, Quinn has not been the poster child for initiative and work ethic. Admittedly, he has been living the high life of parties and debauchery but lately, he’s been feeling a bit restless and not so satisfied. Quinn doesn't know why he’s avoided his family for so long, but his grandfather’s death is really just the push he needs for some serious life evaluation, and he’s determined to give this new opportunity a good go. Now, if Quinn can just navigate the sexy COO’s hostile attitude towards him, things might just go his way.
These two not surprisingly, don’t hit it off at all. Somehow though, circumstances force them to lay out the harsh truths and they grudgingly agree to give each other a chance, and lo and behold, both are amazed at just how well their strengths and assets work together. It doesn’t take long for them to establish a great working relationship, one that is busy and stressful and fulfilling, and perhaps could benefit from blowing off some much needed steam.
With. Each. Other. Yep!
Narrated by Kenneth Obi, this was my first listening experience with him, and it went just as smoothly as the story did. Overall, Game Point was pretty much angst free, with the obligatory denial of feelings where perhaps that denial carries on just a tad too long. However, it really was a sweet story of enemies to friends to lovers (with a touch of age gap, a dollop of opposites attract, and a dash of sexy). O’Shea typically excels at such fluff, so fans of hers shouldn't have much complaint if at all, with this easy breezy read.
Thanks to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for a honest review
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November 6, 20175 Hearts
Do you see that? This huge grin on my face after finishing this book? This grin that says I am so in love with this story that I don’t want to contain my happy. The girl who doesn’t smile at work can’t stop and doesn’t care? *sigh*
This is one of my favorite tropes; enemies to lovers. I realized it while reading this that my love started with the 90’s movie The Cutting Edge. For months the off matched new couples skating pair of Kate Mosely and Doug Dorsey has been nothing but bickering back and forth. When the pair is at an important competition and Doug is supposed to be napping but Kate and her finance Hale run into him with another pair skater giggling and heading out, Kate flips. In her hotel room she rants and raves about what Doug should be doing, and why she doesn’t like him etc. but Hale gives a voice to her true feelings…
That right there is everything and it’s why I love the enemies to lovers trope. There is something so damn satisfyingly sexy about crossing that line between loathe and lust that does it for me. When one doth protest too much, they really just want to let out some steam and fuck out their frustrations.
So anyway, now that I’ve got that out of the way.
This story actually begins on a somber note. Porter awakens to a call from Marisol, the daughter of his boss and associate telling him that the man he has come to feel as his father has suddenly passed away. Hector Valenzuela, CEO of Sparta Athletics had worn so many labels in Porter’s life after his knee injury ended his tennis career. Hector was not only a mentor who took Porter under his wing giving him a new life and career but the man shared his life and family with Porter and his sister Perry. Losing Hector hits Porter hard.
Meanwhile, Hector’s blood relative Quinn Valenzuela is off living the playboy life in Spain with his best friends Dane and Hunter when after a night out clubbing, he has many missing calls from his mother. Getting in touch with her and hearing of his grandfather’s passing has Quinn on a plane headed for Seattle, his home that never really felt like it.
We know from Porter’s POV that he has unkind feelings toward Quinn and it takes a bit to get down to the actual why. Porter’s had to work for everything he has and resents that Quinn hasn’t. It’s not just Quinn’s problem though as we learn more about Porter’s parents, it makes sense why he would have the initial reaction to Quinn.
All Quinn wants to do is come home, to spend some time with the mother that sent him away as a young boy to boarding school as the best option of him. Sadly, the option to send him away from his family has led to Quinn feeling lost and ungrounded but while the reason he is home is a melancholy one, he’s determined to make his grandfather proud.
We don’t get much of Quinn and Porter together in the beginning of the book until Hector’s Will is actually read and then the shit hits the fan. Porter never expected that he would be given Sparta fully, he expected that Hector’s shares of the company would go to Marisol, but Hector had other ideas and bequeathed his shares to Quinn. No one is more surprised by this decision than Quinn and though he tries to give them to his mother, he ultimately makes the decision to honor his grandfather and do the job he’s been given.
To say Quinn is unhappy would be putting it lightly. He doesn’t want to work with Quinn and considers having him in the offices a distraction he doesn’t have time for but Quinn is technically his boss so he has to deal with it. It’s a good thing Quinn has had a lot of practice charming the pants off everyone from socialites to royalty so winning over one Porter Davis shouldn’t be that hard should it?
These two were a blast to hang out with while I did nothing at work but sneak read this book. Yeah, it was that good that I kept reading when I should have been preparing my annual report but I couldn’t stop. Once Quinn stands up to Porter, which of course impresses Porter and Porter realizes what an asset Quinn can truly be to him and the company, the romance gets going and the going was good.
When enemies become friends and friends realize their hot friend who they only just acquired the knowledge was gay needs to burn off steam and tennis just won’t do, you do the only thing you can to help. Offer up your ass for sex so you can both benefit. Yup, not only do we get enemies to lovers we get it with friends with benefits and that first kiss was perfect.
Watching Quinn and Porter become friends was adorable. Watching them become fuck buddies was hot. But watching them fall so deep in love they don’t want to admit it or really recognize it was happening was pure joy to my hopeless romantic heart.
Sure, there are some ups and downs with these two but they build a foundation of friendship and trust with one another that’s strong that even a misunderstanding can’t upset the romance. It did hurt my heart to see the couple hurting and how everyone needed to show them how truly in love they were but the last scene was worth it.
M.J. O’Shea has created on hell of a romantic story with Game Point that has both men winning at love. It’s a story about taking a chance, finding home and opening up yourself to the possibilities of true romantic affection.
Do you see that? This huge grin on my face after finishing this book? This grin that says I am so in love with this story that I don’t want to contain my happy. The girl who doesn’t smile at work can’t stop and doesn’t care? *sigh*
At first it had been all heat and no substance. Now? It was everything.
This is one of my favorite tropes; enemies to lovers. I realized it while reading this that my love started with the 90’s movie The Cutting Edge. For months the off matched new couples skating pair of Kate Mosely and Doug Dorsey has been nothing but bickering back and forth. When the pair is at an important competition and Doug is supposed to be napping but Kate and her finance Hale run into him with another pair skater giggling and heading out, Kate flips. In her hotel room she rants and raves about what Doug should be doing, and why she doesn’t like him etc. but Hale gives a voice to her true feelings…
Hale: You're falling for him.
Kate: What?
Hale: Doug.
Kate: [sarcastic] Yeah.
Hale: You are. You're falling for him.
Kate: Well, that's crazy.
Hale: You think so?
Kate: You're nuts.
Hale: Am I?
Kate: Well, you see how we act together.
Hale: Yes, I do.
Kate: We never get along. I mean, we're always fighting.
Hale: Foreplay.
That right there is everything and it’s why I love the enemies to lovers trope. There is something so damn satisfyingly sexy about crossing that line between loathe and lust that does it for me. When one doth protest too much, they really just want to let out some steam and fuck out their frustrations.
So anyway, now that I’ve got that out of the way.
This story actually begins on a somber note. Porter awakens to a call from Marisol, the daughter of his boss and associate telling him that the man he has come to feel as his father has suddenly passed away. Hector Valenzuela, CEO of Sparta Athletics had worn so many labels in Porter’s life after his knee injury ended his tennis career. Hector was not only a mentor who took Porter under his wing giving him a new life and career but the man shared his life and family with Porter and his sister Perry. Losing Hector hits Porter hard.
Meanwhile, Hector’s blood relative Quinn Valenzuela is off living the playboy life in Spain with his best friends Dane and Hunter when after a night out clubbing, he has many missing calls from his mother. Getting in touch with her and hearing of his grandfather’s passing has Quinn on a plane headed for Seattle, his home that never really felt like it.
We know from Porter’s POV that he has unkind feelings toward Quinn and it takes a bit to get down to the actual why. Porter’s had to work for everything he has and resents that Quinn hasn’t. It’s not just Quinn’s problem though as we learn more about Porter’s parents, it makes sense why he would have the initial reaction to Quinn.
All Quinn wants to do is come home, to spend some time with the mother that sent him away as a young boy to boarding school as the best option of him. Sadly, the option to send him away from his family has led to Quinn feeling lost and ungrounded but while the reason he is home is a melancholy one, he’s determined to make his grandfather proud.
We don’t get much of Quinn and Porter together in the beginning of the book until Hector’s Will is actually read and then the shit hits the fan. Porter never expected that he would be given Sparta fully, he expected that Hector’s shares of the company would go to Marisol, but Hector had other ideas and bequeathed his shares to Quinn. No one is more surprised by this decision than Quinn and though he tries to give them to his mother, he ultimately makes the decision to honor his grandfather and do the job he’s been given.
To say Quinn is unhappy would be putting it lightly. He doesn’t want to work with Quinn and considers having him in the offices a distraction he doesn’t have time for but Quinn is technically his boss so he has to deal with it. It’s a good thing Quinn has had a lot of practice charming the pants off everyone from socialites to royalty so winning over one Porter Davis shouldn’t be that hard should it?
These two were a blast to hang out with while I did nothing at work but sneak read this book. Yeah, it was that good that I kept reading when I should have been preparing my annual report but I couldn’t stop. Once Quinn stands up to Porter, which of course impresses Porter and Porter realizes what an asset Quinn can truly be to him and the company, the romance gets going and the going was good.
When enemies become friends and friends realize their hot friend who they only just acquired the knowledge was gay needs to burn off steam and tennis just won’t do, you do the only thing you can to help. Offer up your ass for sex so you can both benefit. Yup, not only do we get enemies to lovers we get it with friends with benefits and that first kiss was perfect.
I thought I was happy, you know, fine. But I wasn’t. I didn’t even know I was missing you.
Watching Quinn and Porter become friends was adorable. Watching them become fuck buddies was hot. But watching them fall so deep in love they don’t want to admit it or really recognize it was happening was pure joy to my hopeless romantic heart.
Sure, there are some ups and downs with these two but they build a foundation of friendship and trust with one another that’s strong that even a misunderstanding can’t upset the romance. It did hurt my heart to see the couple hurting and how everyone needed to show them how truly in love they were but the last scene was worth it.
M.J. O’Shea has created on hell of a romantic story with Game Point that has both men winning at love. It’s a story about taking a chance, finding home and opening up yourself to the possibilities of true romantic affection.
October 26, 2017
The more Dreamspun Desires books I read, the more I crave them. When I saw O’Shea’s latest addition to the collection, I knew I had to have it. Her stories never fail to entertain me and I was intrigued with this recipe-for-disaster hook up. Not only are Quinn and Porter a delightful “opposites attract” couple but they start off with sharp disdain for each other. Not exactly enemies but neither likes the other very much..or at all.
You see, Quinn has lived a very charmed life. He breezes through his days with his black AMEX leading the way. He is fabulously wealthy and excels at doing nothing. Surrounding himself with other elite partiers he has discovered he has everything money can buy yet he’s not truly happy. Drugs, sex, and rockin’ men have lost their luster and he’s feeling an emptiness he can’t seem to fill. Then his yacht surfing days are cut short when he receives word that his grandfather has passed. A break from his routine is exactly what he needs. However, he never expected to have his grandfather’s business (the source of his financial fluff) handed over to him. To make matter’s worse, he’s stuck with his grandfather’s right-hand man, Porter. Porter has been a more active member in his family than Quinn ever has…and he’s not even related! Which is a good thing because the grumpy guy stirs something deep inside Quinn. He wants to do better, be better and he wants to impress Porter at the same time. Now if only Porter will give him a chance….
What's to like: It’s easy to connect with both Porter and Quinn. Two very different men leading very different lives. When they drop their preconceived notions about the other, they find they actually like what they see. Porter is extremely focused and dedicated to his career. He hasn’t had the best of luck but that hasn’t stopped him. He is driven and hard-working with no social life. Quinn is on the opposite end of the spectrum; his social life IS his life. He’s never had to work for a paycheck or balance stress from a career. But you can’t berate him for the path he was set on. He thought he was doing what he was supposed to do, what the family wanted, to stay out of their hair. But not having the comfort and joy of having a home and daily interactions with his family was beginning to dim his inner light. He didn’t know how to be anything else…until he had no choice but to figure it out. He might stumble but he’s not going to give up.
What's to love: I loved the transitions we witness from both men. Porter gives Quinn something he’s never had before and at the same time, Quinn does the same for Porter. They push the other to BE better when they are together. I just adore it when a couple becomes two stronger parts when they connect. Quite simply, they make each other happy. The Seattle setting was fantastic and a strong secondary cast strengthens the story. I especially loved Porter’s sister. I also enjoyed their progression: not friends, tentative friends, friends with benefits and then…more than friends with benefits. They make an arrangement and enjoy the perks until feelings get in the way. Quinn doesn’t recognize what he has until he loses it. But the question is, can he get it back in time? Eek!!
Beware of: Loss of a family member clouds the beginning with grief. A slow burn, a sassy socialite, and a near slip through the fingers. Does it count as a second chance if one partner doesn’t realize he was given a first? Hmmm, I think so!
This book is for: If you’re in need of a dose of sweet and tender with a dash of sexy, this unlikely couple is sure to deliver the perfect combo.
Book UNfunk
You see, Quinn has lived a very charmed life. He breezes through his days with his black AMEX leading the way. He is fabulously wealthy and excels at doing nothing. Surrounding himself with other elite partiers he has discovered he has everything money can buy yet he’s not truly happy. Drugs, sex, and rockin’ men have lost their luster and he’s feeling an emptiness he can’t seem to fill. Then his yacht surfing days are cut short when he receives word that his grandfather has passed. A break from his routine is exactly what he needs. However, he never expected to have his grandfather’s business (the source of his financial fluff) handed over to him. To make matter’s worse, he’s stuck with his grandfather’s right-hand man, Porter. Porter has been a more active member in his family than Quinn ever has…and he’s not even related! Which is a good thing because the grumpy guy stirs something deep inside Quinn. He wants to do better, be better and he wants to impress Porter at the same time. Now if only Porter will give him a chance….
What's to like: It’s easy to connect with both Porter and Quinn. Two very different men leading very different lives. When they drop their preconceived notions about the other, they find they actually like what they see. Porter is extremely focused and dedicated to his career. He hasn’t had the best of luck but that hasn’t stopped him. He is driven and hard-working with no social life. Quinn is on the opposite end of the spectrum; his social life IS his life. He’s never had to work for a paycheck or balance stress from a career. But you can’t berate him for the path he was set on. He thought he was doing what he was supposed to do, what the family wanted, to stay out of their hair. But not having the comfort and joy of having a home and daily interactions with his family was beginning to dim his inner light. He didn’t know how to be anything else…until he had no choice but to figure it out. He might stumble but he’s not going to give up.
What's to love: I loved the transitions we witness from both men. Porter gives Quinn something he’s never had before and at the same time, Quinn does the same for Porter. They push the other to BE better when they are together. I just adore it when a couple becomes two stronger parts when they connect. Quite simply, they make each other happy. The Seattle setting was fantastic and a strong secondary cast strengthens the story. I especially loved Porter’s sister. I also enjoyed their progression: not friends, tentative friends, friends with benefits and then…more than friends with benefits. They make an arrangement and enjoy the perks until feelings get in the way. Quinn doesn’t recognize what he has until he loses it. But the question is, can he get it back in time? Eek!!
Beware of: Loss of a family member clouds the beginning with grief. A slow burn, a sassy socialite, and a near slip through the fingers. Does it count as a second chance if one partner doesn’t realize he was given a first? Hmmm, I think so!
This book is for: If you’re in need of a dose of sweet and tender with a dash of sexy, this unlikely couple is sure to deliver the perfect combo.
Book UNfunk
November 11, 2024
Quinn Valenzuela, heir to the Sparta Athletics empire, has spent most of his life, first at boarding school and then traveling the world, playing on the yachts of the rich and famous, drifting his life away, pretending this is all he wants from life.
Porter Davis, COO of the same company, hasn't had a chance to even enjoy the fruits of his labor, working his way up from athlete using the product to basically running the company for and with Quinn's grandfather and mother. He lives with his sister because it's easy, and pretends he's not lonely.
The book is a little heavy early on as the characters deal with the grief of losing the old man. Both men are adrift in different ways, neither quite sure how to move forward. Quinn decides he wants to learn how to run the company, but needs Porter's help to do so.
The relationship between the men progresses from reluctant acceptance to realizing that they work well together to developing a friendship to bedroom benefits, and the development felt natural and realistic within the confines of the plot. It was lovely to watch driven, workaholic Porter start to relax a little, and drifting, unsure Quinn find his footing and start to shine. Of course, it's not smooth sailing all the way, and the two men still have to figure out what they need long-term.
I liked the supporting characters as well - Quinn's mother and Porter's sister were two well-developed female characters who both supported and challenged our MCs as needed.
The requisite relationship hiccup was visible from a mile away, and I liked how the author handled Quinn's obliviousness and panic, but also how it wasn't dragged out for too long. I also think that this needed to happen for the relationship to actually grow beyond what it had become at that point, and for Quinn to think about what he really wants.
This is slow burn by design, though there's plenty of UST within. And tons of believable emotions, so that worked quite well for me.
It's a sweet romance and definitely worth your time.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A review was not promised in return. **
Porter Davis, COO of the same company, hasn't had a chance to even enjoy the fruits of his labor, working his way up from athlete using the product to basically running the company for and with Quinn's grandfather and mother. He lives with his sister because it's easy, and pretends he's not lonely.
The book is a little heavy early on as the characters deal with the grief of losing the old man. Both men are adrift in different ways, neither quite sure how to move forward. Quinn decides he wants to learn how to run the company, but needs Porter's help to do so.
The relationship between the men progresses from reluctant acceptance to realizing that they work well together to developing a friendship to bedroom benefits, and the development felt natural and realistic within the confines of the plot. It was lovely to watch driven, workaholic Porter start to relax a little, and drifting, unsure Quinn find his footing and start to shine. Of course, it's not smooth sailing all the way, and the two men still have to figure out what they need long-term.
I liked the supporting characters as well - Quinn's mother and Porter's sister were two well-developed female characters who both supported and challenged our MCs as needed.
The requisite relationship hiccup was visible from a mile away, and I liked how the author handled Quinn's obliviousness and panic, but also how it wasn't dragged out for too long. I also think that this needed to happen for the relationship to actually grow beyond what it had become at that point, and for Quinn to think about what he really wants.
This is slow burn by design, though there's plenty of UST within. And tons of believable emotions, so that worked quite well for me.
It's a sweet romance and definitely worth your time.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A review was not promised in return. **
November 12, 2017
3.75 stars. A sweet, feel good story. Not a lot of substance but quite a lot of fun.
May 5, 2019
This was probably the best book that I've read by this author in a long while. I quite enjoyed it.
October 27, 2017
4 Stars
When his grandfather dies, international socialite and professional party boy, Quinn, travels back home from Spain to Seattle and decides to stay there for a while and try to grow up a bit and be responsible and help run his grandfather’s company, since much to the displeasure of its CEO, Porter, the majority of shares have been left to Quinn.
Porter has no respect for Quinn and definitely isn’t offering his time and knowledge to someone he feels is just a spoiled brat and will be no good for the company he has worked years to help shape into what it is today, but seeing as how Quinn is now essentially his new boss, Porter may not have much of a choice in the matter.
Porter was a complete and utter twat and not very likable in the beginning because of what a jerk he was to Quinn. I know he had his reasons, and they were valid, to feel the way he did, but all it did is rub me the wrong way and I kinda wanted to punch him. Once Porter finally let Quinn in a bit, he showed a softer side and I warmed up to him.
In the very beginning, I wasn’t sure what to think of party-boy Quinn, but I loved him once I got to know him and I have respect for him that he was the bigger guy and was the one to make the first move to try to form a truce with Porter. He gets major props from me for that action.
Together Porter and Quinn sizzled and the chemistry between them was electric and undeniable. Whether they wanted to admit it or not, the love they shared shown through in the tender and sweet moments between them.
Now I’ll tell you what I didn’t like. It’s fine to have friends or family members in a story. They can be, and often are, a great support system for either one or sometimes both of the main characters, but sometimes they become a nuisance and that’s how I felt about Porter’s sister, Perry. I wanted to throw my iPad every time she showed her face. For me, she had too much of a presence in the story and I really wish the author hadn’t had Porter and Perry living together. I don’t understand why she had them living together, they were definitely both financially stable enough that there was no need for it. And frankly, it was annoying AF!! The author could have had them still have a close relationship without me having to see her constantly. Okay, rant over.
This was a sweet and sexy enemies to lovers story. While Quinn and Porter have lead very different lives, I think those life experiences and the differences in their personalities really complimented each other. I’m hoping this isn’t the last of this 'verse, because I’d love to get to know and read Quinn’s bestie, Dane’s story. Although Perry’s presence got on my nerves and I felt the ending was a bit rushed, this was still a well-written and enjoyable read that I’d definitely recommend!
*copy provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*
November 4, 2017
4.25 stars
One of the better Dreamspun Desires books IMO. Really liked these guys and their move from enemies to friends to lovers ...
One of the better Dreamspun Desires books IMO. Really liked these guys and their move from enemies to friends to lovers ...
January 2, 2018
This one was surprisingly good...
It's been a while since I've read a book by M. J. O'Shea so when the opportunity to review this one came up I was more than happy to give it a go. I'm always enjoyed books by this author and 'Game Point' has turned out to be no different.
Quinn Valenzuala is a trust fund baby. He leads the jet set life. Never staying in one place for to long until he jets off with his friends Hunter and Dane to the next party. He's foot loose and fancy free and has no interest in changing this. But when Quinn's mother calls him home with the news that his grandfather has died. Quinn begins to wonder if maybe it's not time for a change.
Porter Davis is the COO of the sporting goods company that Quinn's family owns a company that his grandfather has poured his heart and soul into and one that Porter had assumed would be passed on to Quinn's mother and not the jetsetting playboy that Porter would prefer go back to his carefree lifestyle and leave the running of Sparta Athletics to those more qualified.
When Quinn returns home he realizes that he's missed his mother and his home...that maybe it's time for him to put down some roots and accept that task that his grandfather has charged him with.
'Game Point' is truly an enemies to lovers story. Porter's determined not to like or give Quinn a chance. Quinn becomes equally as determined to make it work and become a business person his grandfather would be proud of and to prove to Porter that he's more than just a playboy with no real purpose in life.
Little by little Quinn changes Porter's mind showing Porter that not only can he do the job but Porter can count on him when he needs too and not just in the boardroom...nope, Quinn and Porter discover that they like each other and they becomes friends...very, very good friends with benefits. Which is all well and good until Porter realizes that what he feels for Quinn is a whole lot stronger.
This ones a slow burn...very, very slow and that works because these men have to get over the deaths of someone they both care about very much and adjust to the changes that brings to both their lives before they can even begin to get to the process of learning about each other, getting to know each other but get to know each other they do and things progress from friendship to friends with benefits in due course.
I like how Quinn and Porter balance each other. While Quinn wants to learn about his grandfather's company and actually contribute to it's operations he also adds a lighter side to Porter's life getting him to do something besides work when Quinn accepts his offer of friendship and the two men begin to spend time together outside of the office. At the same time Porter brings balance to Quinn allowing him to see that there's more to life than being a playboy and that life can be enjoyed and appreciated even if it's not all just one big party.
Quinn and Porter are not just good together...they're good for each other and the only thing that I would have changed about this story if I could would have been to make the ending a bit longer...maybe, an epilogue showing them a few months down the road...sharing their first Christmas...but maybe it's just the time of year making me think this.
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An audio book of 'Game Point' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
It's been a while since I've read a book by M. J. O'Shea so when the opportunity to review this one came up I was more than happy to give it a go. I'm always enjoyed books by this author and 'Game Point' has turned out to be no different.
Quinn Valenzuala is a trust fund baby. He leads the jet set life. Never staying in one place for to long until he jets off with his friends Hunter and Dane to the next party. He's foot loose and fancy free and has no interest in changing this. But when Quinn's mother calls him home with the news that his grandfather has died. Quinn begins to wonder if maybe it's not time for a change.
Porter Davis is the COO of the sporting goods company that Quinn's family owns a company that his grandfather has poured his heart and soul into and one that Porter had assumed would be passed on to Quinn's mother and not the jetsetting playboy that Porter would prefer go back to his carefree lifestyle and leave the running of Sparta Athletics to those more qualified.
When Quinn returns home he realizes that he's missed his mother and his home...that maybe it's time for him to put down some roots and accept that task that his grandfather has charged him with.
'Game Point' is truly an enemies to lovers story. Porter's determined not to like or give Quinn a chance. Quinn becomes equally as determined to make it work and become a business person his grandfather would be proud of and to prove to Porter that he's more than just a playboy with no real purpose in life.
Little by little Quinn changes Porter's mind showing Porter that not only can he do the job but Porter can count on him when he needs too and not just in the boardroom...nope, Quinn and Porter discover that they like each other and they becomes friends...very, very good friends with benefits. Which is all well and good until Porter realizes that what he feels for Quinn is a whole lot stronger.
This ones a slow burn...very, very slow and that works because these men have to get over the deaths of someone they both care about very much and adjust to the changes that brings to both their lives before they can even begin to get to the process of learning about each other, getting to know each other but get to know each other they do and things progress from friendship to friends with benefits in due course.
I like how Quinn and Porter balance each other. While Quinn wants to learn about his grandfather's company and actually contribute to it's operations he also adds a lighter side to Porter's life getting him to do something besides work when Quinn accepts his offer of friendship and the two men begin to spend time together outside of the office. At the same time Porter brings balance to Quinn allowing him to see that there's more to life than being a playboy and that life can be enjoyed and appreciated even if it's not all just one big party.
Quinn and Porter are not just good together...they're good for each other and the only thing that I would have changed about this story if I could would have been to make the ending a bit longer...maybe, an epilogue showing them a few months down the road...sharing their first Christmas...but maybe it's just the time of year making me think this.
*************************
An audio book of 'Game Point' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2017
Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.
This story got off to a slow start for me but then by about 20 or 25% I started to find it hard to put down. There’s a very enjoyable dynamic between the two main characters and there are strong secondary characters, including Quinn’s mother and his BFF, Dane, and Porter’s sister, Perry.
Basically, an enemies-to-lovers story, Quinn Valenzuela is summoned home when his grandfather suddenly passes away. Owner and CEO of Sparta, a sporting goods apparel corporation, he’s run the company with Quinn’s mother and a young man named Porter Davis. Porter is all left-brained—intellectual, analytical-thinking, and very straightforward in his speech. He’s quite shocked, along with all the others present at the reading of the will, to learn that the old man left the majority of his stock to his grandson and that he expects Quinn to come back to the Seattle area to live and to run the corporation.
Quinn’s mother is elated by the news, but the problem, from Quinn’s perspective, is that he never even attended college. He’s been living the life of the rich, gay playboy in Europe since he completed the boarding school his mother sent him away to when he was twelve. He and Dane and another friend, Hunter, have been almost like triplets, running up and down the Riviera, having flings and parties and literally living a life of decadence. The now twenty-six-year-old man hardly seems the type to take over running a corporation. What no one but Quinn knows is that he’s been bored with the party scene, but he loves his mother and truly loved his grandfather, so he’s willing to give it a try.
But in the epitome of enemies-to-lovers trope, Porter resists helping him—going so far as to shun him and relegate him to a less than human stereotype of party boy. Porter just hopes he can outlast him and that Quinn decides to quit and return to his friends.
Of course, he doesn’t count on Quinn standing up to him, nor does he count on the slowly developing friendship between the two, nor does he realize that the friends-with-benefits agreement the two make to lessen their work-related stress—more fun than tennis, naturally—will lead to something important between them.
Of course, there will be heartbreak before the end of the story. But the good news is that the author leaves us with a HEA.
This story got off to a slow start for me but then by about 20 or 25% I started to find it hard to put down. There’s a very enjoyable dynamic between the two main characters and there are strong secondary characters, including Quinn’s mother and his BFF, Dane, and Porter’s sister, Perry.
Basically, an enemies-to-lovers story, Quinn Valenzuela is summoned home when his grandfather suddenly passes away. Owner and CEO of Sparta, a sporting goods apparel corporation, he’s run the company with Quinn’s mother and a young man named Porter Davis. Porter is all left-brained—intellectual, analytical-thinking, and very straightforward in his speech. He’s quite shocked, along with all the others present at the reading of the will, to learn that the old man left the majority of his stock to his grandson and that he expects Quinn to come back to the Seattle area to live and to run the corporation.
Quinn’s mother is elated by the news, but the problem, from Quinn’s perspective, is that he never even attended college. He’s been living the life of the rich, gay playboy in Europe since he completed the boarding school his mother sent him away to when he was twelve. He and Dane and another friend, Hunter, have been almost like triplets, running up and down the Riviera, having flings and parties and literally living a life of decadence. The now twenty-six-year-old man hardly seems the type to take over running a corporation. What no one but Quinn knows is that he’s been bored with the party scene, but he loves his mother and truly loved his grandfather, so he’s willing to give it a try.
But in the epitome of enemies-to-lovers trope, Porter resists helping him—going so far as to shun him and relegate him to a less than human stereotype of party boy. Porter just hopes he can outlast him and that Quinn decides to quit and return to his friends.
Of course, he doesn’t count on Quinn standing up to him, nor does he count on the slowly developing friendship between the two, nor does he realize that the friends-with-benefits agreement the two make to lessen their work-related stress—more fun than tennis, naturally—will lead to something important between them.
Of course, there will be heartbreak before the end of the story. But the good news is that the author leaves us with a HEA.
March 16, 2022
Loved Porter and Quinn!! Porter is shocked that Quinn’s grandfather left the controlling interest of the company to Quinn. Porter thinks Quinn is an entitles brat, a waste of space. Quinn is intimidated by Quinn. I loved how they eventually worked together. This was a great total opposite attract, enemies to lovers romance. Fantastic chemistry!! Loved it!! Overall, a really great read! The story was really well written, the pacing flowed smoothly, highly recommend. I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received. My review is solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
November 18, 2017
Oh, what an interesting web Fate sometimes weaves, bringing together men who would have otherwise never met, definitely do not think they have anything in common, and struggle with even liking each other when they do begin to interact out of pure necessity. This story starts with a bang - the death of a sporting goods empire’s CEO who was like a father to Porter, chief operating officer, and is socialite Quinn's grandfather. The slowly emerging family details, subterfuge, and relationship dynamics pulled me in and provided a good focal point for the unfolding drama. The shock of an uninvolved and disinterested man like Quinn inheriting the shares that give him a voting majority increases the stakes and adds tension to the already bad relationship between Porter and Quinn. Developments from there contain lots of business details, but what is really interesting is the dynamic between Porter and Quinn. An excellent enemies-to-lovers story! As for the final twist - after I thought they'd made it - that is sheer evil genius!
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
November 2, 2017
Full review at: https://optimumm.blog/2017/11/02/revi...
What can I say? Game Point was a book that completely took me by surprise. When I first started reading the book, I thought that it was going to be a slow read and something I’d struggle to get into, but I’m happy to admit that I was very very wrong. The book was so attention-grabbing and enjoyable I really didn’t want it to end. There were even a couple of scenes that almost brought a little tear to my eye, which was completely unexpected.
Porter Davis is an ex-tennis star whose career ended due to an injury. Now at thirty-seven years old, Porter is the COO of Sparta Athletics in Seattle, Washington. Porter lives on his houseboat on Lake Washington with his sister Perry. His best friend, who’s more like family, is Marisol, who’s the daughter of the owner of the company. When Porter receives a call in the middle of the night from Marisol to say that her father has died of a heart attack, he rushes to the hospital to be by her side. When making the funeral arrangements, Marisol tells Porter that she needs to call her son Quinn to let him know what has happened to his grandfather. This puts Porter on edge because he doesn’t particularly like Quinn. He sees him as a lazy, selfish, spoiled brat, who only cares about travelling and partying and spending the money his grandfather’s company makes. But because Marisol is his best friend, Porter would never hurt her by revealing his feelings about Quinn.
Quinn Valenzuela spends his time travelling around the world from party to party and resort to resort with his two best friends, Dane and Hunter. At twenty-six, he’s starting to become tired and bored of the socialite lifestyle, but at the same time, he can’t think of anything else to do. He left home as a child to go to boarding school, so his family home has never felt like “home” to him and staying in one place for an extended period of time has never appealed to him either. Quinn returns home from a night out with his friends to missed calls and messages from his mother. When he returns the calls, she tells him that his grandfather has passed away and the company jet is being sent to bring him home. Quinn’s plan is to stay home for a few weeks until the funeral is over and everything has been tied up, and then meet up with his friends again in whatever country they happen to be in, but when his grandfather’s will is read, those plans go out the window.
Porter and Quinn are forced to work together to keep the company running as it always has been, but it’s not an easy start. Both men have formed wrong impressions of each other, which causes a lot of tension and arguments. They soon learn to work together and put their differences aside for the sake of the business, but what they didn’t expect was to actually begin to enjoy each other’s company and for a comfortable and easy friendship to develop. When Quinn finds out that Porter is gay, he suggests that they have a friends with benefits arrangement to blow off some steam and let loose. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to keep feelings out of the physical relationship between them.
This book was such a fabulous little read. It was well written and had a really nice flow and pace to it. The characters I just adored with every fibre of my being. I wanted to grab Porter and hug and squeeze him so hard, he was definitely my favourite. It was a perfect enemies to lovers story with a little bit of an age gap to add to it, I don’t think it would’ve been possible for me to love and enjoy it more than I did.
This was my first book from this author, and it definitely won’t be my last.
***The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
What can I say? Game Point was a book that completely took me by surprise. When I first started reading the book, I thought that it was going to be a slow read and something I’d struggle to get into, but I’m happy to admit that I was very very wrong. The book was so attention-grabbing and enjoyable I really didn’t want it to end. There were even a couple of scenes that almost brought a little tear to my eye, which was completely unexpected.
Porter Davis is an ex-tennis star whose career ended due to an injury. Now at thirty-seven years old, Porter is the COO of Sparta Athletics in Seattle, Washington. Porter lives on his houseboat on Lake Washington with his sister Perry. His best friend, who’s more like family, is Marisol, who’s the daughter of the owner of the company. When Porter receives a call in the middle of the night from Marisol to say that her father has died of a heart attack, he rushes to the hospital to be by her side. When making the funeral arrangements, Marisol tells Porter that she needs to call her son Quinn to let him know what has happened to his grandfather. This puts Porter on edge because he doesn’t particularly like Quinn. He sees him as a lazy, selfish, spoiled brat, who only cares about travelling and partying and spending the money his grandfather’s company makes. But because Marisol is his best friend, Porter would never hurt her by revealing his feelings about Quinn.
Quinn Valenzuela spends his time travelling around the world from party to party and resort to resort with his two best friends, Dane and Hunter. At twenty-six, he’s starting to become tired and bored of the socialite lifestyle, but at the same time, he can’t think of anything else to do. He left home as a child to go to boarding school, so his family home has never felt like “home” to him and staying in one place for an extended period of time has never appealed to him either. Quinn returns home from a night out with his friends to missed calls and messages from his mother. When he returns the calls, she tells him that his grandfather has passed away and the company jet is being sent to bring him home. Quinn’s plan is to stay home for a few weeks until the funeral is over and everything has been tied up, and then meet up with his friends again in whatever country they happen to be in, but when his grandfather’s will is read, those plans go out the window.
Porter and Quinn are forced to work together to keep the company running as it always has been, but it’s not an easy start. Both men have formed wrong impressions of each other, which causes a lot of tension and arguments. They soon learn to work together and put their differences aside for the sake of the business, but what they didn’t expect was to actually begin to enjoy each other’s company and for a comfortable and easy friendship to develop. When Quinn finds out that Porter is gay, he suggests that they have a friends with benefits arrangement to blow off some steam and let loose. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to keep feelings out of the physical relationship between them.
This book was such a fabulous little read. It was well written and had a really nice flow and pace to it. The characters I just adored with every fibre of my being. I wanted to grab Porter and hug and squeeze him so hard, he was definitely my favourite. It was a perfect enemies to lovers story with a little bit of an age gap to add to it, I don’t think it would’ve been possible for me to love and enjoy it more than I did.
This was my first book from this author, and it definitely won’t be my last.
***The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
March 21, 2022
2.5 stars
I loved the idea of this book so much and it seemed like it would be absolutely perfect for me but sadly I just couldn’t really get into the book and I couldn’t get behind the main character’s relationship and I just couldn’t see why they fit together, so that impacted my enjoyment of the book.
But this one was super sweet and I enjoyed it, sadly just not as much as I wanted to.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
I loved the idea of this book so much and it seemed like it would be absolutely perfect for me but sadly I just couldn’t really get into the book and I couldn’t get behind the main character’s relationship and I just couldn’t see why they fit together, so that impacted my enjoyment of the book.
But this one was super sweet and I enjoyed it, sadly just not as much as I wanted to.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
March 9, 2022
I requested the arc of Tight Laced because I loved the blurb. A wealthy socialite forced to take on the reigns of a sportswear company along the lines of Nike and Adidas upon his grandfather's demise + a ex-tennis pro turned businessman at said company who is also the COO. A workplace romance with an enemies-to-lovers trope? I was pretty excited. But I was sad to say the book fell short for me.
- The premise had so much potential. I was looking forward to learning the ins & outs of owning and working for a sportswear company—how Quinn, the wealthy socialite who hasn't yet worked a day in his life or attended college, would feel upon landing there and how he would prove his mettle... But we barely scraped the surface. This workplace setting felt like a vehicle to bring Quinn and Porter together. But we don't see much of Quinn's growth or struggles in this area.
- Quinn and Marisol - I loved how this author really fleshed out Quinn. We got to really know him. His building apathy towards his socialite life, his disconnection with home and family, his craving for something more, his insecurities, his relationship with his friends. Quinn returns and realizes he has never had much of a chance to really know his mother, so what better way to finally get to really know her than the present moment, the two of them working together and living in close proximity. This could have been a really great aspect of the story. A mother and son truly getting to know what each other's lives have been like and what they each hope it'll be like in the future. But I feel like this went largely unexplored.
- Porter - He was a piece of work! I didn't like him from the start and I never warmed up to him. Even though I think I was supposed to get the idea that he had softened by the time he and Q got together. He was super judgmental, even before he met Quinn, basing his judgement of him on the 4 times they'd met previously but never talked. This is a 37 year old man who has no viable reason to resent a younger dude in his 20s just because he was a socialite without a "purpose." And if this was because of a specific reason, that should have been highlighted more (and it should have been weightier than what was implied as his reasons for behaving like a dick to Q). Also, as a ex-pro-tennis player, I would have liked to have seen more of what he life used to be like, what it is now, what he misses about it, what he doesn't miss, etc.
- Quinn & Porter together - The transition that occurred in their relationship, hate to like to love, gave me whiplash. I was a bit lost. When did this transition occur? What was the precise moment? Where was the relationship building phase? And what caused Porter to flip judgment that Quinn was a good guy? We zoomed through it all.
I think therein lies the general problem. There were many seeds planted in the book, many opportunities that could have been mined for a more fully fleshed out (great) story and characters, but these were mostly introduced as vehicles to move the story along without exploring any one aspect properly.
Also, neither Quinn nor Porter had one intimate conversation together exploring each of their personal lives or thoughts or feelings. I don't mean what they liked about each other or thought about each other exactly, but those quiet yet romantic moments together that really allow for a relationship to build, giving rise to that special feeling that this person is important to the other and no one else would do. That was missing here. It was all about the "fun," which would have been fine. But we don't really explore these fun moments in-depth either.
I am bummed that this book didn't work for me. But I am grateful for the chance to have been able to read and review this early. The bones for a good story are all there, it just needs more deep diving, imo.
[Thank you to M.J. O'Shea and Gay Romance Review for this arc in exchange for an honest review.]
- The premise had so much potential. I was looking forward to learning the ins & outs of owning and working for a sportswear company—how Quinn, the wealthy socialite who hasn't yet worked a day in his life or attended college, would feel upon landing there and how he would prove his mettle... But we barely scraped the surface. This workplace setting felt like a vehicle to bring Quinn and Porter together. But we don't see much of Quinn's growth or struggles in this area.
- Quinn and Marisol - I loved how this author really fleshed out Quinn. We got to really know him. His building apathy towards his socialite life, his disconnection with home and family, his craving for something more, his insecurities, his relationship with his friends. Quinn returns and realizes he has never had much of a chance to really know his mother, so what better way to finally get to really know her than the present moment, the two of them working together and living in close proximity. This could have been a really great aspect of the story. A mother and son truly getting to know what each other's lives have been like and what they each hope it'll be like in the future. But I feel like this went largely unexplored.
- Porter - He was a piece of work! I didn't like him from the start and I never warmed up to him. Even though I think I was supposed to get the idea that he had softened by the time he and Q got together. He was super judgmental, even before he met Quinn, basing his judgement of him on the 4 times they'd met previously but never talked. This is a 37 year old man who has no viable reason to resent a younger dude in his 20s just because he was a socialite without a "purpose." And if this was because of a specific reason, that should have been highlighted more (and it should have been weightier than what was implied as his reasons for behaving like a dick to Q). Also, as a ex-pro-tennis player, I would have liked to have seen more of what he life used to be like, what it is now, what he misses about it, what he doesn't miss, etc.
- Quinn & Porter together - The transition that occurred in their relationship, hate to like to love, gave me whiplash. I was a bit lost. When did this transition occur? What was the precise moment? Where was the relationship building phase? And what caused Porter to flip judgment that Quinn was a good guy? We zoomed through it all.
I think therein lies the general problem. There were many seeds planted in the book, many opportunities that could have been mined for a more fully fleshed out (great) story and characters, but these were mostly introduced as vehicles to move the story along without exploring any one aspect properly.
Also, neither Quinn nor Porter had one intimate conversation together exploring each of their personal lives or thoughts or feelings. I don't mean what they liked about each other or thought about each other exactly, but those quiet yet romantic moments together that really allow for a relationship to build, giving rise to that special feeling that this person is important to the other and no one else would do. That was missing here. It was all about the "fun," which would have been fine. But we don't really explore these fun moments in-depth either.
I am bummed that this book didn't work for me. But I am grateful for the chance to have been able to read and review this early. The bones for a good story are all there, it just needs more deep diving, imo.
[Thank you to M.J. O'Shea and Gay Romance Review for this arc in exchange for an honest review.]
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2018
3.5* - not as good as the other Dreamspun books by O'Shea
November 5, 2017
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!
Highly recommended :)
Highly recommended :)
March 22, 2022
This book had an amazing blurb but was a little disappointed after reading this book.
Quinn is a spoiled heir to a sports empire. But he has no interest in it until his grandfather dies and leaves him the controlling shares of the company.
Porter is an ex-tennis player who is now the COO of a sports empire. He has a business mind and hates Quinn. When both are thrown together because Quinn now has the controlling shares, their hate for each other turns into lust.
I was really looking forward to reading this book. But somehow it just didn't captivate me as I thought it would. The writing was amazing and also the story is amazing, but I somehow couldn't connect to Quinn and Porter. Quinn is a socialite, who is spoiled beyond everything and hasn't worked at all in his whole life. When he suddenly has to take over the company, I would have assumed that he has trouble doing it, but it was barely acknowledged.
Porter is judgy as hell. And I really don't like that. So I was not able to connect with him.
That is why a book, that I really looked forward to was a little disappointing for me.
But it is still a really good story.
*I received this book as an ARC. I chose to leave an honest review.*
Quinn is a spoiled heir to a sports empire. But he has no interest in it until his grandfather dies and leaves him the controlling shares of the company.
Porter is an ex-tennis player who is now the COO of a sports empire. He has a business mind and hates Quinn. When both are thrown together because Quinn now has the controlling shares, their hate for each other turns into lust.
I was really looking forward to reading this book. But somehow it just didn't captivate me as I thought it would. The writing was amazing and also the story is amazing, but I somehow couldn't connect to Quinn and Porter. Quinn is a socialite, who is spoiled beyond everything and hasn't worked at all in his whole life. When he suddenly has to take over the company, I would have assumed that he has trouble doing it, but it was barely acknowledged.
Porter is judgy as hell. And I really don't like that. So I was not able to connect with him.
That is why a book, that I really looked forward to was a little disappointing for me.
But it is still a really good story.
*I received this book as an ARC. I chose to leave an honest review.*
March 16, 2022
I'm a big fan if this lady, and loved her Rock Bay series, however, this one just fell a bit short for me. The premise was good (which is why I requested the ARC), there was a promising build up, but I found I couldn't really get into the story. It really needed more depth, Quinn showed promise as an MC, but I found Porter very difficult to like. Also, the transition from enemies to lovers was very swift, I was like, what, when??? Overall a promising read, just needed more depth.
October 28, 2017
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
What happens to trust fund club kids when they finally grow up? When Quinn’s grandfather dies suddenly, he flies from Ibiza to Seattle to become the CEO of his family’s sportswear empire. Porter, the company’s hardworking COO, has little time for the spoiled rich kid playing businessman - but he does find the younger man irritatingly attractive.
The chemistry between Porter and Quinn is electric. I loved the initial animosity. I loved their hard won friendship and the bromance that becomes more than just a ‘friends with benefits’ arrangement without them noticing. Both of these men are wonderful. Quinn has more substance than we initially expect and Porter isn’t as cold and uptight as he first appears. I really love the partnership that develops between these two.
This is a classic romance. The sex is skimmed over. They have close relationships with their families and lead a relatively traditional lifestyle. They are both affluent and Quinn’s family is extremely wealthy - but I liked the lack of conspicuous consumption. The Seattle setting is understated and Quinn and Porter don’t really do bling.
Ultimately, this is an satisfying, feel-good read. The characters are easy to like and the story is free from unnecessary angst. It is a simple, fun and entertaining read.
What happens to trust fund club kids when they finally grow up? When Quinn’s grandfather dies suddenly, he flies from Ibiza to Seattle to become the CEO of his family’s sportswear empire. Porter, the company’s hardworking COO, has little time for the spoiled rich kid playing businessman - but he does find the younger man irritatingly attractive.
The chemistry between Porter and Quinn is electric. I loved the initial animosity. I loved their hard won friendship and the bromance that becomes more than just a ‘friends with benefits’ arrangement without them noticing. Both of these men are wonderful. Quinn has more substance than we initially expect and Porter isn’t as cold and uptight as he first appears. I really love the partnership that develops between these two.
This is a classic romance. The sex is skimmed over. They have close relationships with their families and lead a relatively traditional lifestyle. They are both affluent and Quinn’s family is extremely wealthy - but I liked the lack of conspicuous consumption. The Seattle setting is understated and Quinn and Porter don’t really do bling.
Ultimately, this is an satisfying, feel-good read. The characters are easy to like and the story is free from unnecessary angst. It is a simple, fun and entertaining read.
November 10, 2017
I picked up this one based on conflict mentioned in the blurb: Porter and Quinn don't like each other. I don't mean enemies-to-lovers story (though that's delicious) but more down-to-earth conflict. They might agree with each other on global issues (world peace and puppies) but their everyday's life priorities are coming from different specter.
Porter turned out not to be stodgy business man I envisioned: he is a man who lost his dream and reinvented himself. He is understandably heartbroken when his boss and mentor Hector, Quinn's grandfather, dies. So where is the prodigal son?
Quinn is in what other men would have termed a paradise: he is rich, young and carefree.
Except that he is bored and wants more than he has. He doesn't know what that more is until family's company unexpectedly falls into his lap.
I loved, loved Quinn's reaction to changes in his life. It's visceral and emotionally fraught process. I also enjoyed Perry, Porter's sister which was lucky because Porter was acting like the brat he accused Quinn of being. He made assumptions about Quinn and didn't even have decency to give Quinn a chance to either prove or disprove them. He was judgmental stick in the mud.
For almost half of the book they barely interact, just fume in silence. Once they get to know each other Porter manages to unfreeze a little and his cold and haughty veneer turns out to hide an endearing man behind.
The switch to friends was a little bit sudden for my taste, but it was easy to imagine them progressing from friends to friends-with-benefits. Quinn is impulsive. Porter is logical.
I had a little trouble adjusting to change in writing which became series of snapshots from their life after long and drawn out scenes from before. However, the narrative was lively and funny. Both Quinn and Porter are surprised when what they have morphs into something more. Neither of them knows what to do. Both men change as they finally manage to find their way to each other.
If you're in a mood for uncomplicated, fairy-like romance story, this is a solid choice.
I received copy of this book in exchange for review.
The review is also posted on Gay Book Reviews
Porter turned out not to be stodgy business man I envisioned: he is a man who lost his dream and reinvented himself. He is understandably heartbroken when his boss and mentor Hector, Quinn's grandfather, dies. So where is the prodigal son?
Quinn is in what other men would have termed a paradise: he is rich, young and carefree.
Except that he is bored and wants more than he has. He doesn't know what that more is until family's company unexpectedly falls into his lap.
I loved, loved Quinn's reaction to changes in his life. It's visceral and emotionally fraught process. I also enjoyed Perry, Porter's sister which was lucky because Porter was acting like the brat he accused Quinn of being. He made assumptions about Quinn and didn't even have decency to give Quinn a chance to either prove or disprove them. He was judgmental stick in the mud.
For almost half of the book they barely interact, just fume in silence. Once they get to know each other Porter manages to unfreeze a little and his cold and haughty veneer turns out to hide an endearing man behind.
The switch to friends was a little bit sudden for my taste, but it was easy to imagine them progressing from friends to friends-with-benefits. Quinn is impulsive. Porter is logical.
I had a little trouble adjusting to change in writing which became series of snapshots from their life after long and drawn out scenes from before. However, the narrative was lively and funny. Both Quinn and Porter are surprised when what they have morphs into something more. Neither of them knows what to do. Both men change as they finally manage to find their way to each other.
If you're in a mood for uncomplicated, fairy-like romance story, this is a solid choice.
I received copy of this book in exchange for review.
The review is also posted on Gay Book Reviews
November 9, 2017
Review originally posted on Just Love Reviews: https://justlovereviews.com/2017/11/0...
When I first started reading this book, I wasn’t sure how much I was going to like it. I liked the blurb but Porter seemed to REALLY hate Quinn and I really didn’t want to read a book where someone detested someone and then suddenly liked them after sleeping together. Luckily that was not the case with this book. O’Shea brought together this unexpected couple in a way that had me rooting for them 100%.
Both the writing and the plot of this book were really strong. I know that part of the fun of the Dreamspun Desires series is suspending disbelief for the sake of enjoying tropes, but I do like it when the plot is believable. It’s an added bonus even if it’s not required to enjoy these books!
Porter is grumpy but he starts bonding with Quinn once he realizes that Quinn isn’t going to fluff off on the job. Porter is super competent, driven, and used to play sports so he’s my favorite even though he was a bit of an a-hole to Quinn in the beginning. Most of the issue that Porter had with Quinn was driven by Porter’s love/protectiveness of Quinn’s family. They’d become his family and I really liked that Porter cared more about them than a company (even though he’s a crazy workaholic).
Quinn isn’t the ditzy freeloader that Porter thinks he is. Yeah, he starts off as a party boy kind of guy but when we meet him he’s kind of over that life. I liked that he was already ready for a change before so that it didn’t seem like a sudden personality switch. O’Shea did a really great job showing how Quinn and Porter transition from enemies (at least in Porter’s mind) to friends to more. It was a nice smooth progression instead of suddenly going from enemies to being in love. Instead, we got a nice build up with some miscommunication and confusing feelings between the two.
The secondary characters were great even though there was a minimal number of them. We get Porter’s sister and his secretary/friend, as well as Quinn’s mom, sprinkled into the story enough to get to know them without having them become overbearing. They help drive the plot forward and help the two MCs sort their relationship out. There is one caveat I need to add to this: I really don’t understand why Porter’s grown adult sister lives with him. It was weird and it meant she was around all the time. If I was rich I’d pay to have my siblings NOT live with me even if I got along with them.
I have to admit that at the beginning of the story I didn’t think that I was going to like these two together. Porter was super adamant about hating Quinn and ended up being mean, but once they both dropped their preconceived notions about each other the story moved along quite nicely. This ended up being a feel-good, sweet read with some steamy scenes and a happy ending.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
When I first started reading this book, I wasn’t sure how much I was going to like it. I liked the blurb but Porter seemed to REALLY hate Quinn and I really didn’t want to read a book where someone detested someone and then suddenly liked them after sleeping together. Luckily that was not the case with this book. O’Shea brought together this unexpected couple in a way that had me rooting for them 100%.
Both the writing and the plot of this book were really strong. I know that part of the fun of the Dreamspun Desires series is suspending disbelief for the sake of enjoying tropes, but I do like it when the plot is believable. It’s an added bonus even if it’s not required to enjoy these books!
Porter is grumpy but he starts bonding with Quinn once he realizes that Quinn isn’t going to fluff off on the job. Porter is super competent, driven, and used to play sports so he’s my favorite even though he was a bit of an a-hole to Quinn in the beginning. Most of the issue that Porter had with Quinn was driven by Porter’s love/protectiveness of Quinn’s family. They’d become his family and I really liked that Porter cared more about them than a company (even though he’s a crazy workaholic).
Quinn isn’t the ditzy freeloader that Porter thinks he is. Yeah, he starts off as a party boy kind of guy but when we meet him he’s kind of over that life. I liked that he was already ready for a change before so that it didn’t seem like a sudden personality switch. O’Shea did a really great job showing how Quinn and Porter transition from enemies (at least in Porter’s mind) to friends to more. It was a nice smooth progression instead of suddenly going from enemies to being in love. Instead, we got a nice build up with some miscommunication and confusing feelings between the two.
The secondary characters were great even though there was a minimal number of them. We get Porter’s sister and his secretary/friend, as well as Quinn’s mom, sprinkled into the story enough to get to know them without having them become overbearing. They help drive the plot forward and help the two MCs sort their relationship out. There is one caveat I need to add to this: I really don’t understand why Porter’s grown adult sister lives with him. It was weird and it meant she was around all the time. If I was rich I’d pay to have my siblings NOT live with me even if I got along with them.
I have to admit that at the beginning of the story I didn’t think that I was going to like these two together. Porter was super adamant about hating Quinn and ended up being mean, but once they both dropped their preconceived notions about each other the story moved along quite nicely. This ended up being a feel-good, sweet read with some steamy scenes and a happy ending.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 3, 2022
So this was originally written as one of the Dreamspinner Desire books some time ago with a different title. I thought it was one of those books because it had that fluffy, topical romance vibe that was prevalent in that series of books. Glad the author re-issued it under a new name. I'd initially rated this a 4 but found myself re-reading passages and thinking about the MCs so bumped it up. Quinn is an international party boy, flitting from party to party with his two party-boy buddies. His wealthy extravagant life is supported by the family-owned athletic goods company. The family patriarch, his grandfather, Hector, dies and Quinn, who has not seen his mother in years, must go home to support his mom. Porter, who sees Hector almost as a father, runs the company. Like characters in those prime time soap opera dramas of the 70s/80s (Dynasty, Dallas) Porter and Quinn hate each other, even more so after the reading of the will. The hate just jumps off of the page. The author writes the hate so well that I couldn't figure out how they were going to move forward. So this just trips along nicely until that restaurant scene and let me tell you, I sobbed. I was not expecting that blast of emotion so kept reading and re-reading that passage. Wow. Liked both MCs - well drawn guys. Particularly liked Quinn's friend, Dane, to the point I was wondering - do we get a book about him - lol! Really enjoy MJ O'Shea's writing - solid, sexy, with depth and relatable characters.
November 12, 2017
This whole Dreamspun Desires Series is a hit or missed thing and this one definitely hit the target! I loved both MCs. I liked Quinn onset of the story with bits of his backstory being explained on why he became a party boy. Porter at first was a bit annoying but I guess he made up for his awful attitude midway through. I still want to learn more about him though. The few things we learned about him are his fuck-up social climbing parents, him being a previous Tennis player and his sister Perry and nothing else.
It felt a bit rushed and I wished the ending was a bit longer but overall, the story is sweet with hot sexy scenes and likable characters so that’s a win for the author!
‘Will definitely recommend this one!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
It felt a bit rushed and I wished the ending was a bit longer but overall, the story is sweet with hot sexy scenes and likable characters so that’s a win for the author!
‘Will definitely recommend this one!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
June 30, 2018
Porter Davis is devastated by the death of his boss. He's devoted himself to the growth and development of Sparta Athletics, and he is ready to step up and carry on the legacy. Except his boss saw fit to leave the company to his spoiled playboy grandson, Quinn, who has never been anywhere near the company and hasn't even been home in years. But despite Porter's misgivings, Quinn seems set on staying for the long haul, meaning everyone may just need to find a way to work together and get along. And when that happens, Porter discovers there may be an opportunity for a partnership he never thought possible.
April 3, 2022
An emotional, slow-paced, growing attraction type of story. The blurb was what attracted me, a wealthy socialite and an ex-tennis pro, who wouldn’t want to read this?? But, the interactions between the main characters were difficult to connect with. Quinn was rather easy to grow on, while Porter appeared standoffish throughout the entirety of the book.
“𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕗 𝕚𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕒 𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕙𝕠 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕡 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕓𝕝𝕠𝕨 𝕠𝕗𝕗 𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕞? ℕ𝕠𝕥 𝕒 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣.”
Their chemistry was absolutely perfect, saving the rating in my eyes. Though there was only one smut scene, witnessing their connection grow through the stages was difficult. With Quinn being a former party boy socialite and Porter a judgmental prick to start, how they maneuvered their joining was beyond me. I know when their FWB relationship began, but when it developed further was debatable.
This book had so much potential to be something greater, kind of bummed that it fell short. Maybe including intimate conversations between the MC’d would have contributed to an intense, blossoming relationship, or even more smut scenes. Still, the plot was fantastic with enjoyable side characters!
“𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕗 𝕚𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕒 𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕙𝕠 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕡 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕓𝕝𝕠𝕨 𝕠𝕗𝕗 𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕞? ℕ𝕠𝕥 𝕒 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣.”
Their chemistry was absolutely perfect, saving the rating in my eyes. Though there was only one smut scene, witnessing their connection grow through the stages was difficult. With Quinn being a former party boy socialite and Porter a judgmental prick to start, how they maneuvered their joining was beyond me. I know when their FWB relationship began, but when it developed further was debatable.
This book had so much potential to be something greater, kind of bummed that it fell short. Maybe including intimate conversations between the MC’d would have contributed to an intense, blossoming relationship, or even more smut scenes. Still, the plot was fantastic with enjoyable side characters!
November 18, 2017
Classic story of the hard working office assistant being passed over for the heir to the owner. Porter is hard working and singling focused. Quinn has been leading the life of a playboy with no roots. But the shine has already started to come off of Quinn's charmed life. Once Porter gets over his hissy fit he finds a way to actually get Quinn involved in a positive way. And given a chance Quinn rises to the challenge and all kinds of possibilities exist.
January 4, 2018
That was...god that was a little painful to read.
Don't get me wrong, the story was okay for what it was meant to be, but the last four chapters or so where like watching a car crash in reverse quick, harsh, and over with way too quickly.
I don't know, maybe it's just me but I did not enjoy that as much as I should have, I usually love M.J. O'Shea's works, but this was a hit or miss and for me it missed.
Don't get me wrong, the story was okay for what it was meant to be, but the last four chapters or so where like watching a car crash in reverse quick, harsh, and over with way too quickly.
I don't know, maybe it's just me but I did not enjoy that as much as I should have, I usually love M.J. O'Shea's works, but this was a hit or miss and for me it missed.
April 1, 2022
Quinn, grandson to a very rich man, is used to living in the jet set. Partying with his two best friends after years has become boring. It is the same group of rich people, either on a yacht, snow skiing somewhere or being on a beach somewhere exotic. He isn't sure what he wants anymore. Then, his grandfather dies and he flies home to be with his mother, learns he inherited the majority of stocks from his grandfathers company and has to work there to keep it. Porter, doesn't like Quinn. But he hasn't really allowed himself to get to know Quinn. Over time they start a friendship and it soon becomes one with benefits. Everyone can see that they are falling in love, except themselves, until Porter admits he loves Quinn and Quinn, unused to love or relationships, says he just wants things to stay the same, friends with benefits. Porter is devastated. Will Quinn realize he really does have feelings for Porter? Can they have more? This is a sweet HEA and is low angst.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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