Quelque chose mijote chez Joe

by S.J.D. Peterson, Sully Holt (Translator)

La promesse d’un job de rêve attire Murphy à Tampa. Mais il revient brutalement sur terre lorsqu’il découvre que l’offre est provisoirement suspendue. À présent, il n’a plus que deux choix : retourner en douce dans le Michigan, la queue entre les jambes, ou rester dans le coin et chercher du travail.

Les choses s’améliorent quand il se rend dans un coffee shop et apprend que le propriétaire cherche justement quelqu’un pour rénover l’appartement du dessus. Il accepte le job avec joie avant de réaliser qu’il a déjà fait la connaissance de Joe Sterling, le propriétaire du Kaffeinate, lors de sa première soirée dans un club de Tampa.

Murphy et Joe sont tous les deux francs, fiers et passionnés. Ni l’un ni l’autre ne cherche de relation, même s’ils sont bien obligés de reconnaître qu’ils s’accordent aussi bien que le café et les beignets, en dépit de leurs caractères. Jusqu’à ce que Joe réalise que Murphy doit travailler pour une société qui représente une menace pour l’environnement et pour les entreprises de la région – et si Murphy ne change pas très vite d’avis, Joe ne voudra plus rien avoir à faire avec lui, condamnant entre eux toute possibilité d’obtenir leur happy-end tant espéré.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Gay, LGBT

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2017

About the author

It's been an amazing journey since DSP first contracted Lorcan's Desire in January 2011. I've published 2 free reads with the M/M Romance group, my back list is growing, met some great people and have made some amazing friends.
I'm still in shock that I'm listed among the many talented authors at Dreamspinner Press! The little voice in the back of my head is screaming, "You are so out of your league."
Shhhhh I won't tell them if you don't :)


You can call me Jo, everyone does :)

Reviews

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been waiting for Jo Peterson to write something light and fluffy for ages. I so loved


&


Something's Brewing at Joe's is indeed an easy read.

The MCs have an instant sexual connection and spend a lot of time in various states of undress getting each other off. And I do love a steamy story. I really, really do.

But, and it pains me to say this, the sex sort of overwhelmed the relationship here. I never got a sense of these guys as fully realized human beings.

Joe owns a coffee shop and was close to his parents before they died. Murphy (don't call him Eugene!), newly arrived in Florida, doesn't want a relationship because his last boyfriend nagged him to death. He never discusses this with Joe, just continues to run hot and cold, fucking Joe and then pushing him away.

Murphy ends up working for an unethical company that tried to force Joe and other small business owners out of their retail space. Murphy overhears something that makes him realize just how far this company would go for a profit.

While this sounds somewhat exciting, there is little tension in the story, and the issue is resolved fairly easily.

I did like Kallie, Joe's assistant at the shop. She's sassy and instrumental in bringing Joe and Murphy together.

The ending is a strong HFN, although I was seriously bugged that while Joe told Murphy that he loved him, Murphy never said it back.

[* A Reader Obsessed * · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Hearts

I don’t quite know what to say about this story. I think it has some really great things to it, but on the rare occasion that an audio can make or break a read for me, it really affected my thoughts on how these characters and the story were interpreted.

Basically, Murphy and Joe meet up in a club, and they hit if off immediately. They both want a no strings attached hookup and really believe their one off is just that - a fabulous night of hot fucking never to see each other again. However, of course circumstance will not allow such, and they find themselves employee and employer in an unconventional setting. What proceeds is the inevitable feelings and wanting more despite both of them protesting too much.

Per the blurb, these two are “proud, passionate, and outspoken”, and boy does narrator Chase Johnson take that description to heart making both Murphy and Joe aggressive, brash, and arrogant. I admit I do not have much experience reading Peterson, but this just seemed a tad bit OTT, a tad bit too much in how these guys acted and thought and spoke, running hot and cold and back to hot, as they grapple with their feelings and the volatile conflict arising from Murphy’s other job. Now granted, that could be solely from the audio, which just did not work for me. Murphy and Joe are live hot wires, and Johnson uses those cues to the max, so much so it was jarring every time they growled or snapped or barked at each other. Unfortunately, he did this constantly with both characters, making them nearly indistinguishable. Even their thoughts were loud and indignant and it seemed like they were in a constant battle to see who could be the most tough and manly.

So yes, this time around the audio definitely influenced my rating. Usually, I can keep things separate but this was so dramatic and in your face, I was exhausted every time I listened to this. Points towards Murphy and Joe being horny with a capital H. They’re young, single, and looking to have a good time, and boy do they find it with each other over and over again despite all their squabbles. If you’re a fan of Peterson I’d say sample this audio hard, but I recommend sticking with the written word instead.

Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for a honest review

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's more than just coffee brewing at Joe's, that's for sure...

Murphy and Joe first meet when they hook up at a club shortly after Murphy has arrived in Tampa. Neither man is looking for more than a little no strings attached stress relief.

Joe's frustrated with his 'forced' vacation and he's decided that a night out for a few drinks, some dancing and with any luck a little something more with a hot body is just what the doctor ordered.

When Murphy moves to Tampa on the promise of his dream job being told that said job is on hold is not what he's expecting to hear. He doesn't want to go back to Michigan only to hear a chorus of 'I told you so's' from his family and friends and decides that he's going to find something to keep him afloat until things get sorted out, but being a little frustrated and stressed out over the news pushes him to decide he needs a night out to relax, unwind and just forget about everything for a few hours.

Needless to say there wasn't a lot of personal information exchanged during their one night stand so it's no wonder that Joe's more than a little surprised when he returns to his coffee shop and finds out that his assistant Kallie has hired someone to renovate the upstairs apartment that Joe's been talking about fixing up for as long as Kallie can remember and that someone turns out to be none other than Joe's one night stand Murphy.

Both men decide this isn't going to be a problem...after all they're mature adults right? And just because Joe wants a repeat of what he and Murphy shared and Murphy's determined that things need to stay strictly business...*spoiler alert* willpower...Murphy has none...seriously NONE!!! his determination didn't last a day...wait, I'm not even sure it lasted an hour forget a day. As soon as these two laid eyes on each other again it was game on.

Now I realize this kinda' leads to the thought of 'what the hell?' these two can't keep their hands off of each other and there's roughly 200 pages here, but there's more to this story than just a case of boy-meets-boy, boy-jumps-boy and they all lived happily ever after because let's face it that's sweet but pretty dull when you've got 200 pages to fill, so luckily there's that job...you know the one that Murphy moved to Tampa for...yeah, it's a bit complicated and makes things a little tense between Murphy and Joe.

I really enjoyed this part of the story...or at least the idea of it and to a degree the execution of it worked. More often than not when a story has this type of plot line to it I like a bit of tension and conflict...more so than what was here and while this was ok, for me it would have worked better if things had been not quite so easily resolved.

So along with that, here's the reason this one only got 3 stars from me...it was the sex...seriously 'you know you have too much sex in a story when one of the MCs is complaining that the other MC 'broke his wanker'? and then cuts him off for a couple of days because 'said wanker' is sore...ok, he tried but it was Murphy and as I've already said "Willpower...he has none." I can honestly say I'm not sure that I've encountered a lot...if any stories where an MC is complaining about too much sex and trust me there was...even the bunnies of the world were cringing...forget jealous I'm pretty sure they were with me wondering 'How the hell does anyone have this much sex and accomplish a damned thing?' Thankfully some of it...just some mind you, was not actually on page for which I am grateful because I can honestly see how poor Murphy's wanker got broken...just sayin'

I loved 'Plan B' and 'Override' book 1 of 'The Underground Club' and I have several books by this author from her backlist that I am dying to read but this one just really didn't go so well for me, it was a case of sometimes less is more and in this case a little less sex could have made for a little more story and that would have been just fine with me.

*********************
An ARC of 'Something's Brewing at Joe's' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 because still no 1/2 stars here on GR.

I probably should have quit while I was ahead...

I first read this book back in early July of this year and I guess I went into this thinking that this story might work better for me on audio...it happens. What doesn't happen very often is that things go from well...bad to worse.

My original feelings about this story haven't changed. So here's my original review if you want a refresher...

There's more than just coffee brewing at Joe's, that's for sure...
Murphy and Joe first meet when they hook up at a club shortly after Murphy has arrived in Tampa. Neither man is looking for more than a little no strings attached stress relief.

Joe's frustrated with his 'forced' vacation and he's decided that a night out for a few drinks, some dancing and with any luck a little something more with a hot body is just what the doctor ordered.

When Murphy moves to Tampa on the promise of his dream job being told that said job is on hold is not what he's expecting to hear. He doesn't want to go back to Michigan only to hear a chorus of 'I told you so's' from his family and friends and decides that he's going to find something to keep him afloat until things get sorted out, but being a little frustrated and stressed out over the news pushes him to decide he needs a night out to relax, unwind and just forget about everything for a few hours.

Needless to say there wasn't a lot of personal information exchanged during their one night stand so it's no wonder that Joe's more than a little surprised when he returns to his coffee shop and finds out that his assistant Kallie has hired someone to renovate the upstairs apartment that Joe's been talking about fixing up for as long as Kallie can remember and that someone turns out to be none other than Joe's one night stand Murphy.

Both men decide this isn't going to be a problem...after all they're mature adults right? And just because Joe wants a repeat of what he and Murphy shared and Murphy's determined that things need to stay strictly business...*spoiler alert* willpower...Murphy has none...seriously NONE!!! his determination didn't last a day...wait, I'm not even sure it lasted an hour forget a day. As soon as these two laid eyes on each other again it was game on.

Now I realize this kinda' leads to the thought of 'what the hell?' these two can't keep their hands off of each other and there's roughly 200 pages here, but there's more to this story than just a case of boy-meets-boy, boy-jumps-boy and they all lived happily ever after because let's face it that's sweet but pretty dull when you've got 200 pages to fill, so luckily there's that job...you know the one that Murphy moved to Tampa for...yeah, it's a bit complicated and makes things a little tense between Murphy and Joe.

I really enjoyed this part of the story...or at least the idea of it and to a degree the execution of it worked. More often than not when a story has this type of plot line to it I like a bit of tension and conflict...more so than what was here and while this was ok, for me it would have worked better if things had been not quite so easily resolved.

So along with that, here's the reason this one only got 3 stars from me...it was the sex...seriously 'you know you have too much sex in a story when one of the MCs is complaining that the other MC 'broke his wanker'? and then cuts him off for a couple of days because 'said wanker' is sore...ok, he tried but it was Murphy and as I've already said "Willpower...he has none." I can honestly say I'm not sure that I've encountered a lot...if any stories where an MC is complaining about too much sex and trust me there was...even the bunnies of the world were cringing...forget jealous I'm pretty sure they were with me wondering 'How the hell does anyone have this much sex and accomplish a damned thing?' Thankfully some of it...just some mind you, was not actually on page for which I am grateful because I can honestly see how poor Murphy's wanker got broken...just sayin'

I honestly figured at the very least this was going to remain a 3 star read for me...what I wasn't counting on and please believe me when I say this is a really, really subjective opinion here, but bizarrely enough this one got knocked down a notch because try as I might I just couldn't get past the narrator's voice. Now it's not that it's bad or that I couldn't understand him or any of that and honestly I can see where other people will probably be thinking that maybe Karen's a little cray, cray, but the thing is for me there were times when I'm sure that Joe and/or Murphy were meant to sound all sexy and passionately growly and to me it was more like an angry, ragey growl. In other words for some reason the emotion that was being conveyed wasn't the emotion that I was picking up on...hopefully this makes sense.

So anyways, not to belabor the point I'm just going to summarize by saying Chase Johnson was the narrator for this one and for whatever reason this narrator's voice doesn't work for me and if I'm listening to what's suppose to be an intense, intimate scene between two people it just yanks me out of the story when I feel like one of those people is really angry rather than really passionate...it's me and I'm totally owning this one folks...like I said very, very subjective opinion here.

I highly recommend checking out the audio sample if this one is of interest to you. After all, you never know...you may find you really like this narrator's voice and really that's all that matters at the end of the day is what works for any of us as individuals.

*************************
A audio book of 'Something's Brewing At Joe's' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chemistry. It’s an important factor in romance stories, and yet it’s not always prevalent. Murphy and Joe have it in spades. The first night they cross paths, their chemistry explodes and nearly takes out all the nearby innocent bystanders. It’s almost as if a warning sticker ‘highly combustible‘ should be smacked onto the cover of this story. Their passion is highly charged. I loved it!

Murphy is from Michigan *hip bump to my fellow Michigander* and looking for a fresh start. He’s not looking for a boyfriend or relationship, just blue skies, some sunshine, and a chance to kick off his career. When the job he trekked south for is put on hold, he realizes the holes in his plan. Whoops! He has no money and no backup plan, just a burning desire to not fail and fall flat on his face. Putting his shaky future aside, he goes out for a night of clubbing and runs into the most amazing man. It’s funny what complete and utter stratification can do to black clouds that were looming overhead. Lucky gift number one. While sipping a steamy cup at a local coffee shop the next morning his second good fortune is bestowed upon him. He quickly accepts a small remodel job for the coffee shop and throws himself into the demo. The job should take a couple of weeks which should cover him until his real job starts. Things are looking up again. That is until he meets the mystery owner of the shop. But Joe’s not a stranger after all. Murphy can’t work for a man he’s sleeping with. However, he can’t seem to control his physical reactions to Joe either. If only keeping his hands (and mouth) to himself was his only problem. Something is about to go down and Murphy might be able to stop it, but it’s gonna cost him. One way or another he’s going to lose and he doesn’t know which hit he should take. *shiver* It’s so exciting!

What's to like: I really enjoyed the writing and smooth paced story. It doesn’t take long and the mysterious thread is revealed. It’s fairly straightforward and simple; it’s about choices. Should Murphy allow a brand new face in his life the power to impact his future? Why does Joe think he can influence the decisions Murphy makes? But what if this ‘thing’ with Joe could be…it? They are so good together, could this be his chance at happily ever after? When do you put it all on the line and just go for it? And what happens if you’re too late? Oh me, oh my, so many questions. I liked the fact that things weren’t given easily and they had to work for it. Sprinkle in some snark and sass and I was one happy reader.

What's to love: The speed Joe and Murphy fall is near lightning, but I was on board the entire time. I never questioned how quickly things progressed, that was Murphy’s job. He was thrown off kilter because he wasn’t looking for this indisputable electricity he has with Joe. It irritates him because he didn’t want it but then he got it…and now he needs it. Joe accepts that what they have is special mainly because the ladies in his life tell him so. And even if he doesn’t always trust himself, he has complete confidence in them. Joe and Murphy burn red-hot from the very beginning and it only scorched brighter as things progressed. I loved watching them helplessly fall. I adored Joe from the get-go, as well as his coffee shop and crew. Murphy is equally blessed with a great family and co-workers. Besides the slimy bad guy, all of the characters are pretty lovable. All in all, there’s a lot to love here.

Beware of: An abundance of smexy. These two are H.O.T. for each other. It’s quite possible Kaffeinate spikes their brew with Viagra because they just can’t stop attacking each other. Didn’t bother me in the slightest but if gropey hands and lots of…bones aren’t your thing, you may want to move along. Both guys also have short tempers and walk the line of anger control issues, I think they need to switch to decaf every once in a while!

This book is for: If you are looking for a sweet, sexy and easy read, you should add this to your list. Just remember it’s….hot stuff!

*4 stars*
Book UNfunk

[Sara]

4.5 Hearts

I firmly believe in there’s a right book for you at the right moment and this was the perfect book for me. I was in a bit of a slump with nothing quite pulling me in like I wanted it and then I met Murphy and Joe and they quite literally fucked the slump away.

Enjoy the moment. There’s time later to talk.

Murphy has left the cool temps of Michigan to follow his career to Tampa and use the skills he’s gone to trade school for but a snafu leaves him jobless and unwilling to run back home with his tail between his legs. With the need to get his frustrations out, Murphy finds a local gay friendly bar and attempts to find something or someone to pound his frustrations out with.

Joe is out for the night during his employee imposed vacation dancing the night away at Flamingo’s when he sees a man who is just his type at the bar, aka Murphy. A bit of small talk and a bit of talk about anatomy not being small, has Joe and Murphy headed to Joe’s to find some mutual release through horizontal dancing of their own.

But both men see this as a one night stand even though both men have a hard time getting the other out of their head. I guess it’s a good thing Murphy is in need of a job and the coffee shop he walks into just happens to need a handyman to renovate the upstairs apartment. Oh and that coffee shop is owned by Joe, yup… Murphy has kinda turned into the one night stand that never left.

The sexual tension between these two is insatiable and I loved it. There isn’t much talking to be had when your mouth is full of cock/ass and these men love the taste of one another. It would seem tedious how much they are together physically if they weren’t perfect and so sexy together. Good lord. Joe and Murphy have amazing chemistry from the first look at one another that blends into passion that burns your fingertips as you read this. Passion like these two have makes for some serious bedroom sessions that leave the men and this reader panting because seriously, they are hotter than hot.

“Jesus, Joe.”
“Too slutty?”
“Not unless you do that for everyone.”
“Just you.”
“Then the only term I’d use to describe it is ‘really hot.’”

It’s not all smooth sailing and sex for the couple though. Passion, as telenovelas have taught us, leads for hot sex and hot tempers, and Murphy and Joe are guilty of both. The men fight and fuck their way to resolutions and honestly, admit that they fuck and fight their way through it all. The both know they should talk about issues that come up but end in bed and talk later. I loved that about them, how they call themselves out on being hornier than a ten peckered owl but get the sex out and then get down to talking. Communication isn’t only verbal between these two and their best communicating is when they are connected, intimately.

There is a story with all this sex and while it caused tension and a bit of angst between the men, it wasn’t that big of a distraction from the romance and that made me happy. Sure, both Murphy and Joe make some quick/wrong decisions when it comes to how they treat the other but both men have come from bad relationships and carry a bit of that baggage around. The good thing though, they fall so damn hard for one another so damn fast they barely recognize when it slaps them in the face and not with the other’s penis.

Seriously though.

This book was fun, sweet, sexy and romantic. I don’t need to give you a long rambling review to tell you that I enjoyed the hell out of meeting Murphy as he was melting from the Tampa heat and humidity after getting a blow to his career dreams to meeting the man of his dreams on a hot and humid dance floor. I just need to tell you this book made my Monday, took me out of a book slump, made me squirm in my seat and made me smile more times than I can count.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murphy and Joe
Both very emotional passionate men. Their heart on their sleeves and their sex life is very dynamic.

Murphy goes to Tampa to make a new start and having his dream job......not....
Disillusioned he tries to make the best of it.

Joe oh goshhh Joe horny basterd but so sweet and dedicated.....Joe has a bar 'Kaffeinate'

They meet in a (another) bar and bam when they see each other they are very open about the fact they want the other....now!
Almost running to Joe's place and they have passionate sex....

When Joe hears Murphy has no job he offers him a job to rebuild the apartment above the bar. He can sleep there also...

The are cranky with each other. They argue and fight but ohhh they always make up and how!!
When Joe finds out where Murphy will soon work he is furious....and the reason......find out yourself..

A hot steamy story. Two horny men....witty...steady and sweet...lots of arguments and fights.
The pace was very fast, an entertaining way of writing and sometimes I couldn't see my screen because of the steam.
Very enjoyable if you don't mind kissing , licking, nipping, biting on every part of the body :)

An ARC received through Divine Magazine from Dreamspinner Press

[justanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something's Brewing at Joe's landed in my lap at the right time. The real world has been stressful these past couple months ( what else is new) and I have been dying for something light and fun to read to escape from the everyday pressures for awhile. I read the blurb, noticed that SJD Peterson ( one of my favorite all time authors) wrote this and immediately requested a copy to read.

Something's Brewing at Joe's, was not quite what I expected. There were elements I loved in this story but a couple elements dampened the story a bit. First off I must say that Peterson has written some of my favorite unforgettable book characters. Peterson, delivers everytime I pick up her books. I buy her paperbacks whenever I stumble upon them. I adore (off the top of my head), Connor and Lorcan, characters from her Conner's CourageWhispering Pines Ranch series; Danny from and Matty from her sweet short to name a few. Jo's characters have a way of pulling at that rebellious courageous part of ourselves that tend to emerge when we have to make decisions that permanently change our lives. The minute I read the blurb I instinctively knew that Murphy and Joe were going to be such characters and I could not wait to read Peterson's latest adventure.

The blurb pretty much sums up the story so I won't re-hash those details. What I will say is that this is a fun, lively story chock full of characters that I wanted to know more about. Murphy and Joe are very likable characters. I love their banter and how they interact as a couple. I just wish that more time was spent developing their romance outside the bedroom. Now, don't get me wrong, I love a great sex scene ( and the ones in this story are scorching hot), however; I also like balance. I felt like I knew Murphy and Joe better than they knew each other outside the bedroom. Outside of sexual compatibility and loveable personalities, what's the glue holding these two together? Don't get it twisted. The sex and plot may have overwhelmed the story but this was still a great fun read and I would love it if these guys were to have a follow- up story of some sort because there's still so much left for us to learn about them. Until then, enjoy the banter, the colorful supporting characters and of course the sex ;) Happy reading!

*ARC provided for review at my discretion*

[The Reading's Love Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

LA RECENSIONE COMPLETA QUI: https://thereadingslove.blogspot.it/2...


È la prima volta che leggo qualcosa di SJD Peterson. La lettura è molto scorrevole e la storia è narrata in terza persona da entrambi i protagonisti. L'unico punto negativo della storia è che mi sarebbe piaciuta una descrizione più amplia per quanto riguarda la vita di Murphy e Joe, dove invece ci sono solo degli accenni. Murphy e Joe sono ben descritti caratterialmente e molto realistici come personaggi. Alle spalle hanno una vita dura di alti e bassi e non credono molto nell'amore. Anche se poi l'attrazione che provano uno verso l'altro è troppo forte per assopirla. Non mancano alcuni personaggi secondari importanti per la storia. Se siete amanti del genere lgbt e volete una storia dove regnano due teste calde che non credono molto nell'amore, che amano però dare tutto per la persona che amano, che non hanno avuto un passato facile e dove l'amicizia è importante, allora questa storia fa per voi. Riusciranno Murphy e Joe a risolvere i loro disguidi e ad avere il lieto fino che desiderano veramente? Sta a voi scoprirlo. Io posso solo dirvi che è una storia da non perdere.

CONTINUA SUL NOSTRO BLOG. VENITE A TROVARCI
https://thereadingslove.blogspot.it/

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Forgettable *shrugs*. Too many of bland and tedious sex scenes; not enough 'bone' of the main story to keep me interested. Plus the two main characters feel immature. I only liked Kallie, the female employee. That's about it.

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Noioso, piatto.
Di quest'autrice ho amato "Piano B", mentre questo libro non mi ha soddisfatto per nulla.
Mi dispiace, ma i personaggi non mi hanno lasciato niente, non mi hanno suscitato alcuna simpatia, e ho trovato la trama in sé piuttosto debole.
Non è che una lunga sequenza di sesso/litigio/sesso riappacificatore/ nuova incomprensione e litigio/sesso, ecc. A un certo punto le scene di sesso sono così simili, che fai fatica a proseguire, perché ti sembra di averlo letto nel capitolo precedente.
Il racconto dei giorni lavorativi che si susseguono al Kaffeinate è davvero poco intrigante: oltre a Murphy e a Joe ci sono altre figure, che però non riescono a riempire l’opacità della coppia principale.
E poi lo stile è troppo raccontato, con questo narratore onnisciente che ci racconta ogni minimo dettaglio e spiega ogni minima emozione, senza lasciare al lettore la possibilita'di immaginarselo con i propri occhi.

Poi, quando stai per crollare, arriva un repentino cambio di registro che ti spiazza del tutto: si passa dal sesso sfrenato tra due uomini liberi all’Amore imbarazzato di due adolescenti. L’autrice stessa lo dice: “Era un momento orribile per professare il suo amore”. E infatti: ma perché professarlo? Due minuti prima tenevano il broncio e due minuti dopo saltano al “vissero felici e contenti”.
Anche l’ ultima parte è all’insegna della noia, con dialoghi davvero banali e un trionfo di “piccolo” e passerotto”, che si conclude in uno smieloso epilogo. Per carità, in altri contesti sarebbe potuto passare, ma non in un libro incentrato per tre quarti sul sesso.

Tirando le somme, la cover mozzafiato è l'unica cosa che ti fa provare qualcosa.

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was interested to the cover and blurb. I read this author's book before and liked it.
Started really good and I enjoyed fifty percent mark of this book, until there was too much sex, and sex, and sex. I'm finally exhausted. Maybe I'm too old for this kind of story, you can blame me then.
Started with a fling, and the fling become a cling and they're finally cannot be separated in seconds.
Both having short temper and non stop sex drive, Joe and Murphy were made for each other.
This was actually can be more enjoyable if only they didn't have sex every time they met. Less talk, more sex.
That's the only reason they're arguing, a miscommunication can be the cause of couple problem.
added the short temper, boom!
Good thing is, you know, the sex is epic, so I don't think they can be away from each other for long. Like, one day :)
Overall, if you like a light read, a very low angst, loads of sex, this your book.
Read it on weekend getaway with your partner, this one is a good booster. Just saying.

*ARC provided by Dreamspinner Press for an honest and unbiased review.*

[Federica Lemme · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Murphy abbandona tutto per ricominciare in Florida, a Tampa, nuovo lavoro, nuova vita, salvo poi ritrovarsi senza niente in mano. Il lavoro è sospeso e deve scegliere tra trovare una soluzione alternativa o ammettere il fallimento e tornare a casa con la coda fra le gambe. Ma Murphy non è uno che si lascia abbattere e di tornare a casa non se ne parla proprio, basta cercare un altro lavoro qualsiasi in attesa di iniziare quello per il quale ha fatto tanta strada.

Nel frattempo, la sera precedente a questo evento, ha un incontro bollente con Joe. Nulla di impegnativo, solo sesso scacciapensieri, perché a una storia seria non è per niente interessato e Joe sembra pensarla come lui.

Ma il destino ci mette lo zampino e, trovato un lavoro temporaneo per ristrutturare un appartamento, guarda il caso il suo nuovo capo è proprio Joe. La chimica fra i due è fortissima, il sesso è da fuochi d’artificio e farne a meno sembra quasi impossibile per entrambi. I battibecchi e le continue frecciatine ironiche fra Murphy e Joe sono divertenti e li ho trovato entrambi molto spiritosi, due simpatici testoni.

La storia nel complesso è piacevole, forse i nostri due ragazzi sono un po’ troppo sesso dipendenti, e non stupisce che non riescano mai a risolvere qualcosa visto che non possono parlare senza saltarsi addosso. Un pizzico di intrigo entra nella storia quando Murphy scopre che la società per la quale vuole lavorare non è proprio pulita e decide a quel punto di smascherarla.

Questo contribuisce a rendere la storia un po’ più movimentata, meno “Murphy/Joe centrica”, ma secondo me non abbastanza, poteva essere sviluppata un po’ di più.

Appare chiaro che sia Murphy che Joe sono rimasti scottati da storie precedenti e per questo combattono l’attrazione, ma mentre di Murphy qualcosa, anche se poco, sappiamo, Joe rimane un enigma.

Ho letto molti libri di questa autrice, sia in italiano che in inglese, e forse questo non è tra i miei preferiti, ma è stata comunque una lettura piacevole. Libro consigliato alle amanti delle storie con tanto sesso e un pizzico di ironia.

https://trelibrisoprailcielo.com/2018...

[Michela biasca · Rating 3 out of 5]

tre e mezzo

[Elyxyz Elyxyz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voto: 3.5 stelline.
La storia è carina e si legge facilmente per qualche ora di intrattenimento. Murphy e Joe sono due testoni: forti, cocciuti, determinati, ma con l’animo buono e onesto. Le loro personalità spiccatamente dominanti fanno scintille, così come l’attrazione praticamente istantanea fra loro che perciò non tarda a divampare e poi continua, continua, continua. Sebbene entrambi non cerchino una relazione stabile, la loro affinità è innegabile. Punto bonus per Kallie, dipendente ‘grillo parlante’ che è un personaggio delizioso.
Ho dato un punteggio medio perché, anche se ho amato le scene esplicite e sensuali, devo però dire che, per mio gusto personale, sono un po’ troppe e un po’ ripetitive, a discapito di una trama che si smuove davvero solo parecchio dopo la metà del libro. Non dico che tutto quel sesso non mi sia piaciuto (perché era ben descritto e ben tradotto), ma avrei sfoltito, ecco.
In conclusione: storia piacevole, senza troppo impegno e senza slanci; adatta a chi cerca una serata di relax con tanto rotolamento fra le lenzuola piuttosto che trame d’azione o drammi.

[Lila Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.75 stars

Review to follow at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.

ARC provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.

[Jodi Ciorciari-marinich · Rating 5 out of 5]

gave 4.5 stars but rounded up to 5 for this review

SJD's story will pull you in from the first chapter.
We meet Murphy. He left his hometown of Michigan and traveled to Florida for a job. Murphy packed up his belongings and left his boyfriend to pursue his dream job. Once he gets to Florida he learns his dream job is on hold for now and now he needs to find a place to stay. He decides to find a temporary job and a hotel. Murphy refuses to run back home and wants to make this new endeavor work for him. He studied and worked hard to get this opportunity and wont give it up easily. He decides to go out to a bar ad picks up a guy. Joe and Murphy hit it off right away and decide to hook up. the chemistry is hot from the start but neither man wants to start something official so they agree to a one night stand. the problem is after the night is over Joe or Murphy cant seem to forget about the other. The spark was there for both but they didn't get numbers so assume they wont see each other again.
The next morning Murphy enter a coffee shop and he gets another opportunity for a temporary job and grabs it. The owner has an apartment upstairs and wants it renovated. Murphy learns he doesn't have time to finish the project and gets hired to finish it for the owner. I have to say that Joe's employee who hired Murphy was a great character. Kallie was sweet and sassy and had Joe's back.
Now we met Joe again, he is the owner of the coffee shop but Murphy didn't know that when he took the job. They see each other and Murphy doesn't know what to do. Joe is happy to see Murphy again and they hook up right away. It was great to read how they couldn't keep their hands to themselves when they were near other. He wants to get to know Murphy but Murphy still keeps his distance. On is end Murphy is trying hard to deny there’s something real between them. He doesn't want to get attached and have to worry about someone else's feelings. As they get closer and spend more time together Murphy gets a call from his employer and they tell him they have a temporary job for him. Murphy jumps at the chance but once he tells Joe who he is working for Je blows up and they have a fight. Now I really enjoyed the way SJD wrote the fight. Joe and Murphy are having strong feelings for each other so they are but hurt at what happened. Joe goes to find him and apologizes and they talk it out. You can tell that both Joe and Murphy want more but are afraid to voice it to each other. This book was a great read for me it had all the elements I love. IT shows us that feelings, emotions and relationships are messy but if you talk it out with each other , you can overcome and win.
*ARC provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Jodi from Alpha Book Club

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy to read and review for Wicked Reads

Murphy can't believe his luck when he moves to Florida and his dream job has been put on hold. With little money to his name he has to find something and fast because he doesn't want to go back home. Joe owns a coffee shop and is a workaholic. When these two meet and hook up the chemistry if off the charts! There is loads of sex in this book, which I happen to like. There is a little drama with Murphy and his job, which was wrapped up all nice with a little bow, which was a little unbelievable but it is a book. I did like both Murphy and Joe and even the secondary characters were good. If you are looking for a fast read, heavy on sex and just a bit a drama this book is for you.

[Love Is All Around · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Pixie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reviewed for JustLove: https://justlovereviews.com/2017/06/2...

[Laura ~Passion flower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something's Brewing at Joe's (ARC) was graciously provided to me by Gay Book Reviews for an honest review.

"I'll Take A Large Coffee With a Side of Sweetness, please!"

SQUEEEEEEEEEEE! I absolutely loved this new book, Something's Brewing at Joe's, by SJD Peterson. It had gripped and held onto me with its hot and sizzling chemistry, its humorous and sexy bantering, and, its kept-me-on-the-edge-of-my-seat suspense. I love, love, loved it!

Ever since I came across the books, Plan B, and, Masters & Boyd, I've always found myself giddy with excitement from wanting to read additional books from this author. This book certainly was no exception. SJD Peterson is quickly turning into one of my immediate one-click and go-to authors for great reads. So, I was definitely not disappointed when I read, Something's Brewing at Joe's, either. This book, is one of those that, for me, contained so many of my favorite aspects of a good book.

It's main characters, Murphy....*bleep*.. not going to say anything else there because it was one of those surprise moments that had me quietly screaming, and, I would like other readers to be able to experience that moment as well. Moving on.. Murphy is a man's man. A young, muscular, good looking, hard-working man. Having recently moved from unbelievably cold Michigan to incredibly warm Florida, in order to fulfill his dream, he goes from having a goal, but without a sense of true direction, to almost having more than what he could actually handle very quickly. Joe Sterling, is a good-looking, passionate, hard-working man, owner of a local coffee shop, who is trying to fulfill his own dream of owning a small business, where locals may continue to enjoy a good cup of aromatic coffee while chatting with its friendly owner.

I loved the well-paced plot and writing of this book. It was an actually very realistic plot, that, unfortunately, many small business find themselves dealing with on a regular basis now-a-days. As this plot contains a lot of sizzling, electric and amazing chemistry, between the two mc's, it made the whole political-in-nature plot to be more bearable to read. Because let's face it, politics for some is yawn-city. But this kind..pfft..I'll take the politics of big business trying to dominate small family-run businesses any day if it contained lots of hot and sexy chemistry! And..just as I began to feel all nice and warm and my cheeks began to ache from grinning, then..BAM! That suspenseful edge to the plot was added, and, it had unknowingly crept up like a slowly building arc of a well-built mystery. Those out-of-the-blue suspenseful moments, those that had me on the edge-of-my-seat and fighting not to read on ahead before I was actually ready, were just..*phew.*

Can we now talk about that HOT, HOT, HOT chemistry between Murphy and Joe?? Yeah. You're going to need a couple of cold showers as you read this book, or a fan set on Hi, or both.. It was that incredible. Realistic would not even be completely accurate when describing the chemistry. Nope. So-much-more....

But...and, that is such a small, small but..I had hoped for more. More of the story, and, more of an explanation for why things were as they were. However, that still doesn't mean that the plot had suffered because, to me, it hadn't. I just felt that, I needed more. More of a description, also, for both of the mc's. And, while I didn't really have any problems, with the secondary characters, at all, I just would have liked a bit more of an involvement from those who had already existed, and/or, have additional characters in general. But, again, as a whole, it really didn't bother me greatly because it had all worked. It all came together coherently in the end.

I loved this book! Something's Brewing at Joe's was such a great read. It's a story filled with hotter than hot chemistry, selfless dedication, surprising and suspenseful moments, and tender eye-opening magic. I look forward to having a re-read of this book, perhaps at an out-of-the-way mom and pop coffee shop, because maybe I'll run into Murphy and Joe?? Well..maybe..;)

[Rachael Orman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. (Audiobook Version)

I love pretty much anything S.J.D. Peterson writes and this was no exception. I love that her characters don't always make the right choices and they don't always do things perfectly. They are human and make mistakes and it makes the story so captivating.

I listened to the audiobook version of this and the loss of the star comes from that more so than the actual story. At the beginning of the book, I really just had a hard time with the narrator and distinguishing between the main characters. There was also background noise that was quite distracting at times.

Other than that, I love that we got a sweet romance even if it was a bit fast paced for me. It kind of seemed like the relationship went from just two men sleeping together because they can't keep their hands to themselves to someone issuing the L word and I didn't feel like their relationship had really gotten to that point since it seemed like more than 90% of their time together was between the sheets and we didn't see much evolving in the relationship they had.

The plotline was definitely interesting and not expected from how the story started.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a total sucker for a Jo Peterson read and I wasn't too far along when I realized that this was the perfect book for me to be reading right now. Two strong, charismatic men, a lot of unbridled passion and sweaty sex, mixed with a little drama, and a family bound by love, not blood. Oh yes. Murphy and Joe were a pleasure to read.

Joe owns Kaffeinate, a coffee shop that he loves. He loves everything about it, from his staff, to his customers, to the work. Kallie is the minidictator who pretty much tells Joe what to do, and he lets her because he'd be lost without her at the counter. He might also be a little afraid of her, but he isn't owning up to it. I fell in love with the coffee shop and the banter between Joe, Kallie, and some of the regulars. I might go back to drinking coffee in that environment.

Murphy and Joe have some amazing chemistry right from the start. There are more than a few “I might need a cold shower” moments between them, but the way they get along, and how their personalities mesh, is insanely sexy, too. Until Joe finds out that the construction company Murphy came down to work for is contracted with FF&C, a very shady company who only manage to stay out of court because they have money to bribe officials and pay for expensive lawyers. Murphy isn't happy to hear about Joe’s own difficulties with FF&C, but as far as he's concerned he isn't working for them, he's working for a company contracted with them. Until his company subcontracts him to FF&C, and then Murphy is full of conflicting feelings.

The problem with two strong, stubborn men, who both have baggage from prior relationships, is that anger is usually the first response, along with words they end up regretting. That much passion and heat is great in the bedroom, but not easy to deal with outside of it, unless both people are committed to good communication. And, well, these are two hotheaded men with strong convictions who often speak before they think it through. It made for some rough weather between Joe and Murphy… and a highly entertaining read for me.

It has been a long time since I read an easy, light, contemporary, erotic romance with a little drama and seriously sweaty sex. I really fell for both characters and their romance was such fun to witness. Thanks, Jo, just what the doctor ordered!

NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

Mmm - a cozy local coffee shop, a home renovation and a little bit of suspense make for a fun romance. I’ve got a thing for romances that start with an anonymous hookup and the one night stand that starts this book is definitely memorable.

Murphy and Joe are well matched. The relaxed coffee shop owner is an unlikely partner for the driven, detail oriented contractor but they compliment each other well. This is a steamy read and there is possibly more sex than character or relationship development and a good deal of character and relationship development through sex. But these two are hot together and parts of this book push towards erotica territory.

Beyond the heat, this story is actually a little bit slow. I enjoyed the characters in the coffee shop and I was glad for the suspense storyline that picks up at the end. Murphy and Joe are pretty believable as men who fancy each other but part of that believability comes with a lack of a relationship trajectory or any sense of urgency. I enjoyed Murphy’s renovation work and I liked the more complicated storyline around his work situation.

This is sweet, fun and very steamy. It doesn’t have the most clearly developed plot but I did enjoy the story and I really liked both Murphy and Joe.

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Purtroppo, poteva far finta di essere sicuro di sé, ma i suoi pensieri e il suo corpo continuavano a fargli venire in mente Joe. Tre giorni di lavoro massacrante, durante i quali aveva spaccato piastrelle e buttato giù il cartongesso, non lo avevano distratto dal suo capo, ma se anche fosse riuscito a non pensare più a lui, non sarebbe bastato: il bastardo continuava a invadere i suoi sogni, e nemmeno una volta l’aveva fatto con addosso i vestiti."

Doveva essere l’incontro di una notte subito dimenticato, ma il destino fa in modo che, senza volerlo, Murphy si trovi ha lavorare proprio per l’uomo che gli ha fatto passare la nottata di sesso più bella della sua vita. Entrambi sono reduci da relazioni fallimentari e tutti e due hanno deciso che nella loro vita non hanno bisogno di altro che sesso e nulla più. Eppure, Joe e Murphy, non appena entrano insieme in una stanza, non possono fare a meno di togliersi i vestiti e saltarsi addosso. Murphy ha accettato di ristrutturare l’appartamento che si trova sopra il bar di proprietà di Joe, dopo che il lavoro che gli era stato promesso è stato fermato per dei cavilli legali. Pur non riuscendo a stare lontani e frequentandosi tutti i giorni e passando le notti nello stesso letto, i due giovani si raccontano poco o niente di sé, ognuno fermo nella sua convinzione che nessun sentimento debba entrare in quella relazione. Ma una volta che la ditta richiama Murphy al lavoro, le cose fra loro precipitano e cominciano liti furibonde. Joe avverte Murphy che la società per cui lavora è marcia, ha costretto molti dei residenti a vendere le loro proprietà e lo stesso Joe ha salvato il suo bar solo perché si trova in un edificio storico. Ma Murphy non intende rinunciare al suo lavoro, è appena uscito da una relazione in cui il compagno tentava di governare la sua vita, e non ripeterà l’esperienza, nessuno gli dirà più ciò che può o non può fare. Ma quando vedrà confermata la verità di Joe, farà di tutto per aiutarlo a salvare il suo quartiere.

Due personalità fin troppo simili quelle di Joe e Murphy, entrambi sono forti, risoluti e decisi a non amare mai più. Si incontrano una sera in bar e la loro è un’attrazione subitanea e irresistibile; forse troppo simile a un’ossessione. Buona parte delle pagine del libro, infatti, è infarcita dai loro appassionanti incontri di sesso e questo, sicuramente, penalizza sia la trama che gli stessi personaggi. Ben poco si raccontano di se stessi, nonostante appaia subito chiaro che c’è ben più di solo sesso fra di loro, e solo Joe ha attimi di cedimento in cui ammette con se stesso che sta cominciando a provare il desiderio di avere di più. Murphy, fino all’ultimo, tenta in ogni modo di non ammettere nessun coinvolgimento, e questo sinceramente me lo ha fatto amare di meno. Se il sesso è fin troppo presente, anche se ben scritto, l’autore si è lasciato sfuggire l’occasione per rendere il libro più interessante, non sfruttando la bieca società pronta a tutto per mettere le mani sugli edifici che gli sono sfuggiti. Quello che avrebbe potuto dare pepe ha, in definitiva, una storia senza grandi avvenimenti, il tema è stato trattato con grande superficialità e in poche pagine, arrivando alla risoluzione in modo banale e poco avvincente e senza un attimo di pathos. Peccato, perché quest’autore sa scrivere ben di meglio, i personaggi erano simpatici e, se si fossero raccontati di più, sarebbero stati più interessanti. In definitiva, questa lettura, per quanto sia scorrevole e si legga piacevolmente, non è uno di quei libri che ricorderò nel tempo. Simpatico e gradevole ma niente più.

[The Novel Approach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narration Rating: 2.5 Stars

Murphy has moved to Florida for a job that turns out to not exactly be available for him when he arrives. He has to make a decision about either trying to find something else local, until the permit situation is rectified and he can start, or he has to go back to Michigan—which he REALLY doesn’t want to do.

While he’s making up his mind, he decides to get out and take his mind off things by hooking up on his first night in town. After getting situated in a motel, he heads out to find some fun. But, at the end of the day, it’s just a distraction, and the next day he goes about trying to locate some temporary work. At a cute coffee shop he discovers the next day, he lucks into the possibility of a place to stay in exchange for fixing the place up, and he decides to take a chance on the gig. Only to discover the owner is the hookup form the night before.

Joe’s surprised to see Murphy as much as Murphy is surprised to see Joe. But things seem to be going pretty well. That is until Joe finds out who, exactly, Murphy has moved to Florida to work for. Then he hits the roof. Both Murphy and Joe seem to have pretty short fuses, and Murphy doesn’t like being told what he can and can’t do any more than Joe likes the fact that Murphy seems to want to work for this company after Joe tells him what they are all about.

Without being spoilery, there is a LOT going on that neither Murphy nor Joe knows. Plot twist! There is definitely much more than meets the eye with Murphy’s new job and with his new company. Murphy really likes his job and his coworkers, and he doesn’t want to have to look for another job since he’s learning so much, but he’ll have to decide if it’s worth potentially losing Joe and his other newfound friends.

I mostly liked this story, although some elements of the work part of it were a bit over the top for me. The chemistry between Joe and Murphy is hot, hot, hot. This story is told in alternating points of view, which was well done. I also really liked Kallie and Jeremy from Kaffeinate, and Murphy’s coworkers.

Chase Johnson is a new to me narrator. I am on the fence about how I feel about his narration. While I liked his characterizations of Joe and Murphy, there is just something a little overwrought at various times in the story that, for me, detracted from the story.

Reviewed by Sadonna for The Novel Approach

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.5 stars

I am a big fan of SJD Peterson’s writing so I was really looking forward to this story, but I have to say it didn’t fully work for me. I think the biggest issue I had is that I didn’t really connect with these guys, either together or as a couple, and as a result I couldn’t feel as invested in them as I needed to. I think if you felt differently about Joe and Murphy from how I did, your experience with this book would be much better.

The set up here is a common one in romance land (I call it the “Meredith Gray set up” after Gray’s Anatomy). We have the hot hook up followed by the realization that the seemingly anonymous partner is actually a boss/employee/coworker/etc. Joe and Murphy don’t let that bother them too much, for while they both feel like continuing to hook up is a bad idea, they pretty much can’t keep their hands off one another and fall off the wagon immediately. I’ll say honestly that this is my first issue with the book and that is the nonstop sex. If you read my reviews regularly, you know I love my sexy stories, so this is an unusual complaint for me. But there is so much sex in this book, and so little development of the actual relationship, that it kind of overwhelms the story. The men are well along the way to having serious feelings for one another, almost at the point where we get a love declaration, and they are still asking basic questions about each other’s lives, noting how little they know about one another. I think if I had found the chemistry to be strong between these guys I would have been fine with it, as this isn’t typically something to bother me. But I just didn’t connect with them and never felt the intensity of their attraction. So when time after time they say they need to talk, or make responsible decisions, and then end up immediately in bed together instead I felt more exasperated with them than appreciating it.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*

Murphy accepts a job in Florida and is happy to leave his life in Michigan behind. But, when he gets to FL there's a delay with his job and now he has to decide if he should risk staying or tuck his tail between his legs and go back home. I related to Murphy in his happiness to get to a warm climate, but I didn't like him. He was a jerk throughout the story, always with an excuse for needing coffee or being tired, but he treated others like crap quite often. He'd apologize, typically fairly quickly after his reaction to them, but I felt if he was truly sorry for treating people like crap, he'd quit doing it. Murphy meets Joe at a bar and goes home with him for a hookup and both of their needs are met (and it was hot!!). Joe can't stop thinking about the man he met, and is surprised to find out that Murphy was hired to renovate an apartment over the coffee shop that Joe owns. I liked Joe! He had a great relationship with his employees and his customers and seem to enjoy life. But, both of these men had tempers that caused them to overreact and not talk to each other.

Many people are going to think I'm crazy, and I don't think I've ever said this before, but there was too much sex in this story. I never felt the chemistry or connection between these two men. By the amount of time they spent naked, they obviously lusted after each other, but I wish more time had been spent on developing their connection and less time getting them naked. I can't even believe I typed that! Really, had they spent some time talking, they wouldn't have had the issues from their lack of communication!

There was a little drama when Murphy finds himself working for an unethical company and he overhears their plot to get Joe's business, but even that was anticlimactic. The situation was resolved quickly, and off page, and that was the end of it.

I think many people will enjoy this book, and will immediately buy it just on the basis of the "too much sex comment"! This will be an easy read, and if you're looking for a book without a lot of angst, this one is for you!

Rating: 3 stars

[Morningstar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book & Author: Something Brewing at Joe’s by SJD Peterson
Rating: 3.5 stars

I struggled a lot in this book to like Murphy, to connect with him in a way that would get me to care enough that he got his happy ending. He was snappy and short with people. Yes always apologizing but what’s the point of saying “I'm Sorry” just to repeat the same behavior again.

I’m the type of reader that struggles to finish a story if I truly cannot stand a character which I do have to say rarely ever happens. Often I don’t connect with them but out and out not like them hardly ever happens. It happened here which made reading this books frustrating.

The other part that was particularly annoying was the sex. There was a lot of it, too much to call this a story with plot and characterization. I love sex in my books. Prefer it, really. But it has to have meaning and help further the plot. Here it does tell you what their relationship is, a hook up basically. But the author didn’t give the words or time in the story to fall in love with the characters falling in love. Which also turns into that moment when you can’t feel their
connection, their love for each other.

And a big pet peeve...no communication. I get it in some rare cases, but here it made me think if they kept their toy in their pants they could've talked more. Lack of communication seems like a cop out for characters. The struggle should feel more believable, and it’s the author's job to sell it. I wasn’t sold.

The writing was good as it is in all SJD’s books and if you want a hot and heavy, light read this one could be for you.

*I received a copy of this book through http://diversereader.blogspot.com/*

[Antisocial Recluse · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars is the best I can offer. There was nothing wrong, as far as characters or setting, and certainly had well constructed writing. The plot though, was just too dull. Murphy gets involved with Joe and from there, the biggest part of the book was the two of them having sex or sometimes butting heads over Joe’s intense dislike of the company Murphy is subcontracted to. It was kind of ridiculous, mostly in the way Joe acted towards Murphy but Murphy ran hot and cold too. I was ambivalent over the sex scenes which were okay, but not stimulating, since I like to see emotions revealed, rather than just the physical description.

There just wasn’t much going on in the narrative although it did follow up on their time spent together in Joe’s coffee shop and their conversations and a couple of minor characters. There was just a bit of suspense later in the book but no repercussions for the couple. I miss some of the slightly edgier style SJD put into earlier books. This was a nice romance, quite readable and paced well. It just didn’t have enough substance for me.