Corporate Bondage

by Gianni Holmes

KEITH

I don't do romance. I possess. I own. I use. And when I get bored, I discard. I'm not your typical hero so don't go thinking it. I've never been anybody's hero. Don't believe me? When my ex left me, I made every effort to win him back. Not because I'm in love with him but because nobody just leaves without my order. I have every intention of manipulating and scheming, including sabotaging every job he applies for to win Bryan back.

That's when I find HIM.
More specifically, he finds me. He's desperate to break up my ex, Bryan and his best friend, Tate. He thinks the enemy of my ex, that's me, would become his friend. HE could not be any more wrong. He comes for one reason but keeps returning for another. He excites me. First I'll toy with him, then I'll break him. But this time it's different. I've found a man whose will won't bend even when his body is broken. Maybe...Just maybe that's what I need...To feel again.

GIO
I've secretly loved my best friend for a long time. I've waited for him to mourn his wife and daughter. For two years I waited, and now he's back. With another man. More devastated than I care to admit, I know I'll need help breaking them up. That's when I think of HIM, the only other person I know, who wants them to split as badly as I do. I'll do anything for him to help me, but when I keep returning for more of his punishment, I can't fool myself anymore that I'm doing this just to be with Tate. He fulfills desires I didn't know I have. The more he gives, the more I want. I don't fool myself about what this is; it's not love. He doesn't do love. So why do I want more? Can I keep my true feelings hidden so I don't become his next discarded plaything?

Corporate Bondage is not your typical romance. The story follows two unlikely protagonists from Book 2 in the Corporate Pride series. These men are not perfect. They will lie, manipulate, and hurt to have their way but together they complete each other.

Books In the Corporate Pride Series
Falling for Mr. Corporate Book 1
My Dear Mr. Corporate Book 2
Corporate Bondage Book 3
Mr. Corporate Takes A Groom Book 4

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM, Erotica, Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers, LGBT, Romance

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 24, 2018

About the author

Gianni Holmes is a USA TODAY Bestselling author who's embracing her love for literature by wielding the pen and creating stories of her own. She's the author of the popular series The Grimm Tales of Smoky Vale and The Taking Care series. Gianni is a former teacher of Spanish Language and Hispanic Literature.

These days she can be found writing books, hanging out with her readers, and raising her daughter as a single mother. You can keep in touch with her in the following places:

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/authorgiannih...

Newsletter: https://www.gianniholmesauthor.com/ne...

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/giannigems

Reviews

[Fay MMBookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

💕💕This is book 3 of the series and Keith's story, I recommend reading them in order but this can be read as a standalone. I didn't like him in the other two books but by the ending I couldn't help but feel for him.
A dramatic start from Keith's past..and the story progresses but my opinion of Keith doesn't change..growling at him. They both play a dangerous game of Alpha between them one I recon it'll backfire.. There was a phrase in the book really that powerful I had to put the book down to absorb it. "I wasn't ready to submit" was WOW moment for me meanings in the wider aspect of life. And another in chapter 14 which I LOVED regarding the blacks whites an grey. But by the end of this book I'm loving both Keith and Gio.
Includes: Life and death struggle, wheeling and dealing with deals, bondage (with no safewords but written beautifully), hot and sexy scenes and big drama with so much more. Read on KU, but so good I went and bought this.

Gio 32 yrs had been secretly in love with Tate but he'd missed his chance now with Bryan in his life.
Keith 38 was out looking for a replacement for Bryan he can't forget.

[Chellabration · Rating 2 out of 5]

Time of death: 68%
2 very generous stars that I'm not sure it even deserves

I'm not sure if this is really a stand alone but I wasn't interested in the previous 2 books.

Sadly this one turned out to be a major disappointment.

There were noticable errors in the book as well as the header naming the MC POV being wrong at times (ie saying Gio pov when it was really Keith)

The book started off promising enough I think but quickly went to shit. For two effed up people everything was just too... Easy?

Nothing about our MCs relationship felt believable... I did not connect to them

Gio basically accepted Keith right away. With all his supposed reservation about bottoming even for the love of his life, he had zero objections or complaints doing it for Keith

I couldn't get through this book after Keith's confession or releasing his demons to Gio. I don't buy that Keith is this though badass... He seems more like a spoiled kid who just wants to eat his cake too...

Maybe that's just my 🤷🏾
Can't think of any redeeming qualities yet other than it had so much potential. This book could have been everything...

The two "bad guys" getting together to scheme and plot which was dropped like less than halfway through the book because they basically fell in love at first sight with some BDSM involved... It sounded sooo promising ugh

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing redemption story! Loved it so so much!!

This book starts out really intense and dark from the very first chapter, grabbing the reader's attention from the get-go.
Both MC's are unapologetic, spiteful assholes in the beginning (middle, end...), which is very refreshing and original! Have no fear... they grow on you!

I loved the passive aggressive side that Gio showed Bryan (awful, but something we all can relate too I'm sure) and the bitchy & snarky conversations and internal dialogue from Keith and Gio both. This made for really entertaining reading, but then, I love me a good anti-hero...and here you get two for the price of one!
A good redemption story has such potential to really touch a reader, and this was an outstanding one!

I'm so impressed with how the author let all that anger and hurt turn into hesitant caring and then love. This is an amazing love story, because the MC's fight it, and each other, so much, and they are far more vulnerable beneath all their armor than your average MC, especially Keith.
I honestly couldn't put this book down!!

At a certain point, Keith's past catches up with him, just when he's finally starting to believe that love and happiness might be possible for him after all. Such a cruel move, Ms Holmes!
It made the story even more intense though, so well done! But oh...poor Keith and Gio.

The epilogue is cute and very sweet, all the while staying true to the MC's grouchy natures, that not even a HEA can take away completely.

Absolutely recommend!

[Modwena Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts out very dark, the two main characters are more anti-heroes than heroes. As the book progresses the two continue to spit and hiss at each other. Gradually, however, they start to knock the hard edges off each other. The two soon realise that they are made for each other but then a dark episode from Keith's past threatens to derail their relationship for good.

[Ruth Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! I really enjoyed the first two books in this series but this one really captured my heart. This is the first time I've read this author but it definitely won't be the last! The characters are so well written that it's easy to get lost in them and their story. The whole book is hard to put down once you start reading it.
Keith what can you say about him? It's was easy to dislike him from the start of this series. He knows he treats people badly but he wants to change. He meets the man he can trust his past with and that helps him see that only he can make the change. Once you hear his past its hard not to fall in love with him.
Gio has been in love with his best friend for ten years or has he? He goes to get help from Keith to break up a couple but almost forgets that from the start once he meets the man he can't keep out of own thoughts. Gio sees the real Keith the many sides of him and he wants to know more!
These to men meet Keith's past and each have to fight it!
This book is full of emotion from the start to the finish and it's very hard to put down once you start. I can't recommend this book strongly enough. If you are going to read this book then I would suggest you read the first two books in this series because you will get a better understanding of the characters and what has happened before.

[Heather Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been following this author from her first book and I have to say this is the best book yet. It is also one of the better ones I've read since the start of the year. At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to read Keith and Gio's story. Let's face it. They were horrible to Bryan in books 1 and 2. But, I am glad I did. This goes to show there is a lot more to people than meets the eye. Keith and Gio are my best MM pair this year. The book is different for this author and I think she's found her niche in this anti-hero romance. Both men are horribly realistic and kick the old idea out of the door of perfect, knight in shining armor heroes. It's like having two individuals who are horrible apart but when together you see just how deeply they love. I can't give any of the surprises away but dammmmn! I thought I loved Tate and Bryan but Keith and Gio, are so freaking hot together! It's explosive between them; sometimes things get physical for reasons you will discover but freaking imperfectly perfect. Kudos on this book. I got an ARC of this book but will definitely be buying on Amazon to add to my collection. I hope there's a paperback coming out because this one I need to own.

[Esther Alayeto · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible read! I did not expect to like this book as much as I did because I did not like these 2 characters in the previous books from the series. Putting Gio and Keith together is a brilliant pairing. Their chemistry and connection are incredible and sizzle right off the pages. I really love these 2 together and I love that they know they're bad and don't make excuses for it. It was incredible watching their relationship grow from an "agreement" to break up Tate and Bryan to such a loving and caring relationship. Gio and Keith truly understand one another and are perfect together! I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Ms. Fear · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book needs 2 ratings.

The free preview I would honestly give a 2 star rating... oddly enough not because of Keith, but Gio. I spent most of it mentally yelling “Dude! Get over it!”.

The rest of the book was a 4 star. I wish Keith sadism had been treated a bit better, I do not believe all sadism is necessarily unhealthy or wrong, I think the story could have benefited from them finding a healthy way to BDSM, though I do appreciate that therapy and not just love helped him through his traumas. Also I’m sorry but Gio accepted the whole dad thing WAY too easily! I get that he found out during a crisis which would have helped but there should have been more hesitation there...

[Mary Dunlap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go thru hell for a happy ending. And that exactly what happens in this book

Twisted love pain and anguish. Four people who know nothing about real love find it in the strangest way..Gio and Tate are good friends .. Keith and Brian are just people that are together ....Keith has issues and use the pain he inflicts on Brian to deal...Gio loved Tate. And Tate is dealing with the death of his wife and child.....So thru pain deceit and love..They all find what they were looking for Love

[Shweta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. It was insane. It was crazy at times. But damn! The chemistry between Keith and Gio is out of the world and the author has done such a beautiful job making us fall in love with their characters. The way they are so perfect for each other (even if its crazy and outrageous) is something that most of us yearn for. I do have to agree with the trigger warnings, but this is such a perfect read for anyone into Dark romance. It's so so good.

|"Not everything is black and white okay? Sometimes you meet somebody special who lives mostly in the gray. When it gets black, it's ugly but when it gets white it's the most beautiful thing you've experienced. You stay for the white."|

[J.J. Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Left me speechless

I'm still not sure what to say about this book. I loved it, was slightly disturbed by it, and was totally caught up in it. Gio and Keith were perfection in such an imperfect way. But one thing was sure to me at the end. We all deserve a love as strong as theirs became.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several instances of sudden about-faces (sometimes jarringly so), and there were phrasing/wording issues that lead me to think English may not be the author's first language (nothing horrible, just noticeable) along with chapter headings saying we were in one MC's POV while it was actually the opposite, but an overall enjoyable read. MCs definitely passionate.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4

I liked the darkness of the characters and their honesty about it. A strangely rare relationship to see in any book, which made it interesting. You have to be willing to suspend belief in the instalove though.

[Colleen Cremen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

Gio and Keith are the men left behind. They get together to try and split up Keith's ex and Gio best friend. Except the attraction they have to each other is to strong to worry about anyone else. I just fell into this book and didn't come out until it was over.

[Rayana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been on a Gianni Holmes reading binge for the past couple of days! I've read "Taking Care" "Secrets & Scandal" "Till There Was You" and now the full "Corporate Pride" series. I was sure i wouldn't like this book as much because Keith and Gio? After book 2? Um.. no thanks.

Boy, was i wrong! This might have been my favorite one yet! All the darkness and intensity just made it so much better! And the redemption at the end.. perfection!

I loved it so much at the end when Keith was fully redeemed but he still kept his ass-holy attitude! hahahah. That's the Keith we've learned to love through this journey! Grumpy Mr. Grumpster pants!

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book.Keith and Gio are a couple who should not have been together but they sure do work.

[Danna Iuliana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Freakazoid · Rating 2 out of 5]

EDIT: Reread it recently, originally had 5 stars but I reading it again... It's pretty corny and the quick to love aspect is a huge pet peeve of mine so I had to rate it 2 stars. It seems like this author loves to put their characters in kidnapping situations..

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LOVED IT

In this one book I connected with the characters so much. Their emotions. Their craziness and their obsession with each other was all written so perfectly. I loved that they both had a lot of baggage and that their relationship was strained because of it. It was the perfect development.

I do have to mention that there was quite a few grammar and wording errors buuut the book was good enough that I overlooked it and read it in less than a day 😍