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Undue Arrogance #2
His Cocky Cellist
One night. One contract. One kiss, and Victor Newcomb will never be the same.
By age 24, Vic has accomplished more than most men achieve in a lifetime. Since childhood he's tried to be the perfect son, the perfect executive, the perfect heir—and as next in line for the throne of his father's multibillion dollar textile empire, he's made his life entirely about discipline and control.
But he doesn't know what discipline truly means—until he meets Amani Idrissi.
University student. Part-time masseuse. Cello virtuoso. The serene, reserved Moroccan American femme fascinates Vic with his cool allure, changing everything Vic thought he knew about power, about control, about his own sexuality. Yet when cello lessons turn into a business deal of an entirely different nature, Vic quickly realizes he'll pay anything for the chance to see Amani again. To submit to his touch.
To discover the complete and utter freedom in giving up control.
But the deeper Vic falls headlong into love, the more he realizes he doesn't know Amani at all. Secretive, withdrawn, Amani seems determined to keep their relationship strictly business. Even if Vic can see the quiet hurts, the old wounds hiding behind those dark, enticing eyes...
How far will he have to go, to win the love of his cocky cellist?
By age 24, Vic has accomplished more than most men achieve in a lifetime. Since childhood he's tried to be the perfect son, the perfect executive, the perfect heir—and as next in line for the throne of his father's multibillion dollar textile empire, he's made his life entirely about discipline and control.
But he doesn't know what discipline truly means—until he meets Amani Idrissi.
University student. Part-time masseuse. Cello virtuoso. The serene, reserved Moroccan American femme fascinates Vic with his cool allure, changing everything Vic thought he knew about power, about control, about his own sexuality. Yet when cello lessons turn into a business deal of an entirely different nature, Vic quickly realizes he'll pay anything for the chance to see Amani again. To submit to his touch.
To discover the complete and utter freedom in giving up control.
But the deeper Vic falls headlong into love, the more he realizes he doesn't know Amani at all. Secretive, withdrawn, Amani seems determined to keep their relationship strictly business. Even if Vic can see the quiet hurts, the old wounds hiding behind those dark, enticing eyes...
How far will he have to go, to win the love of his cocky cellist?
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 19, 2018
185 people are currently reading
771 people want to read
About the author
Cole McCade
65 books1,534 followersSlender. Angry. (Part) Asian.
Yeah, that about sums me up.
Hi. I’m Cole. Xen. Whatever you want to call me; both are true, and both are lies. My pen names are multitudes, my nicknames legion. Tall, bi/queer, introverted author of a brown-ish persuasion made up of various flavors of Black, Asian, and Native American. I’m cuter than Hello Kitty, more bitter than the blackest coffee, and able to trip over cats in a single half-asleep lurch; I’m what happens when a Broody Antihero and a Manic Pixie Dream Boy fight to the death, and someone builds a person from the scraps left behind. Beardless, I look like the uke in every yaoi manga in existence; bearded or not, I sound like Barry White. About half my time is spent as a corporate writer, and the other half riding a train of WTFery that sometimes results in a finished book. Romance, erotica, sci-fi, horror, paranormal; LGBTQIA and cishet; diverse settings and diverse characters from a diverse author.
Sometimes I shout about things on the internet. Usually intersectional feminism and marginalized voices, and whomever’s punching down in those directions today. Sometimes human sociology, the psychology of sex and gender, and my own gender non-conforming arse (he/him, by the way). Sometimes I get really mad at Stephen Hawking and nerd out all over the place about hairy black holes, and believe it or not, that’s not a terrible pun or even worse innuendo.
That’s it. I’m a huge dork. My humor’s so dry it could empty oceans. I’m a native Southerner from the New Orleans area with zero Southern accent; I’m a mess of multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual influences; I have two cats. I wake up at daft hours of the morning to go running. I crochet terrible, lumpy things that never really turn into anything. I’m older than you think I look. I’m much more shy than my fury makes me sound (signifying gods only know what, but probably nothing). Recently I decided, at 36, that I needed to restart my life and move cross-country, so I tossed 75% of my possessions in the trash and randomly trucked it to Seattle. I’m in love with books and music and technology, and they war with each other for dominance and sometimes come together in a beautiful confluence. Most of the physical books I own are strange, obscure, out of print, overseas imports, or any combination of the four. Most of the physical books I used to own were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and have been replaced with the infinite library on my Nook. My wallet has a dangerous attraction to anything with pages; it flirts and teases and gives its all, until there’s nothing left but emptiness and ruin.
There will always be things you don’t know, and I won’t tell.
But ask me late at night over live music in a seedy bar, and you might just get an honest answer.
...or you can poke me via:
* Email: blackmagic@blackmagicblues.com
* Twitter: @thisblackmagic
* Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/xen.cole
* Website & Blog: http://www.blackmagicblues.com
* Tumblr: http://thisblackmagic.tumblr.com/
And there's my Xen Sanders SFF / Horror profile:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Yeah, that about sums me up.
Hi. I’m Cole. Xen. Whatever you want to call me; both are true, and both are lies. My pen names are multitudes, my nicknames legion. Tall, bi/queer, introverted author of a brown-ish persuasion made up of various flavors of Black, Asian, and Native American. I’m cuter than Hello Kitty, more bitter than the blackest coffee, and able to trip over cats in a single half-asleep lurch; I’m what happens when a Broody Antihero and a Manic Pixie Dream Boy fight to the death, and someone builds a person from the scraps left behind. Beardless, I look like the uke in every yaoi manga in existence; bearded or not, I sound like Barry White. About half my time is spent as a corporate writer, and the other half riding a train of WTFery that sometimes results in a finished book. Romance, erotica, sci-fi, horror, paranormal; LGBTQIA and cishet; diverse settings and diverse characters from a diverse author.
Sometimes I shout about things on the internet. Usually intersectional feminism and marginalized voices, and whomever’s punching down in those directions today. Sometimes human sociology, the psychology of sex and gender, and my own gender non-conforming arse (he/him, by the way). Sometimes I get really mad at Stephen Hawking and nerd out all over the place about hairy black holes, and believe it or not, that’s not a terrible pun or even worse innuendo.
That’s it. I’m a huge dork. My humor’s so dry it could empty oceans. I’m a native Southerner from the New Orleans area with zero Southern accent; I’m a mess of multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual influences; I have two cats. I wake up at daft hours of the morning to go running. I crochet terrible, lumpy things that never really turn into anything. I’m older than you think I look. I’m much more shy than my fury makes me sound (signifying gods only know what, but probably nothing). Recently I decided, at 36, that I needed to restart my life and move cross-country, so I tossed 75% of my possessions in the trash and randomly trucked it to Seattle. I’m in love with books and music and technology, and they war with each other for dominance and sometimes come together in a beautiful confluence. Most of the physical books I own are strange, obscure, out of print, overseas imports, or any combination of the four. Most of the physical books I used to own were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and have been replaced with the infinite library on my Nook. My wallet has a dangerous attraction to anything with pages; it flirts and teases and gives its all, until there’s nothing left but emptiness and ruin.
There will always be things you don’t know, and I won’t tell.
But ask me late at night over live music in a seedy bar, and you might just get an honest answer.
...or you can poke me via:
* Email: blackmagic@blackmagicblues.com
* Twitter: @thisblackmagic
* Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/xen.cole
* Website & Blog: http://www.blackmagicblues.com
* Tumblr: http://thisblackmagic.tumblr.com/
And there's my Xen Sanders SFF / Horror profile:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
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November 19, 2018Hey. I try to avoid posting on GR on my own books unless there's been some kind of issue that requires a PSA, like when Amazon banned THE FOUND on release day last year. -_- Well, there was an issue with this book, and if you haven't already seen it in my NL here's the skinny:
So Amazon and I have been beefing for the past week; there's a glitch in Amazon KDP (the interface publishers and indie authors use to upload and manage books) where sometimes it doesn't save new manuscript uploads properly when there's an existing draft, and some authors have had their draft files sent out to readers instead of their final files.
Looks like I'm the latest one to get hit.
I uploaded the final edited draft of HIS COCKY CELLIST last week, but the book got stuck in limbo and Amazon support was zero help, and then the preorder grace period ended and I was locked out of changing the book until after release. So today, instead of my nice polished edited manuscript...
My rough draft went out to the hundreds of people who preordered, and I had to wait until the book even released to see what would happen.
Fuckery, that's what happened. Fuckery.
Needless to say, I'm not happy about this. HIS COCKY VALET may have gotten a pass for loose editing because I wrote it in a week, but I love HIS COCKY CELLIST and put a lot of work into it, and it distresses me immensely that this was taken out of my hands and I didn't even have the option to just up and cancel the book unless I wanted to be penalized with loss of preorder privileges for a year.
The book unlocked to let me edit after release this morning, so I've uploaded the correct version and the changes have propagated. If you preordered HIS COCKY CELLIST and have updates turned on on your Kindle, Amazon should automatically update the book - but when it will do that can be a bit unpredictable.
So.
If you preordered and think you got the bad draft, please email me at blackmagic@blackmagicblues.com. I'll send you the good .mobi file so you don't have to wait for the Amazon update. You don't need to send me a purchase receipt or anything. I'll trust you.
Their glitch should not be your poor reading experience.
(The easiest way to tell if you have the bad draft is to look at the content warning page in the very first paragraph. Where it says "Content Warnings for His Cocky Cellist include:," if His Cocky Cellist isn't italicized, then you have the bad one. If it looks more like this: "Content Warnings for His Cocky Cellist include:" you have the good one.)
So Amazon and I have been beefing for the past week; there's a glitch in Amazon KDP (the interface publishers and indie authors use to upload and manage books) where sometimes it doesn't save new manuscript uploads properly when there's an existing draft, and some authors have had their draft files sent out to readers instead of their final files.
Looks like I'm the latest one to get hit.
I uploaded the final edited draft of HIS COCKY CELLIST last week, but the book got stuck in limbo and Amazon support was zero help, and then the preorder grace period ended and I was locked out of changing the book until after release. So today, instead of my nice polished edited manuscript...
My rough draft went out to the hundreds of people who preordered, and I had to wait until the book even released to see what would happen.
Fuckery, that's what happened. Fuckery.
Needless to say, I'm not happy about this. HIS COCKY VALET may have gotten a pass for loose editing because I wrote it in a week, but I love HIS COCKY CELLIST and put a lot of work into it, and it distresses me immensely that this was taken out of my hands and I didn't even have the option to just up and cancel the book unless I wanted to be penalized with loss of preorder privileges for a year.
The book unlocked to let me edit after release this morning, so I've uploaded the correct version and the changes have propagated. If you preordered HIS COCKY CELLIST and have updates turned on on your Kindle, Amazon should automatically update the book - but when it will do that can be a bit unpredictable.
So.
If you preordered and think you got the bad draft, please email me at blackmagic@blackmagicblues.com. I'll send you the good .mobi file so you don't have to wait for the Amazon update. You don't need to send me a purchase receipt or anything. I'll trust you.
Their glitch should not be your poor reading experience.
(The easiest way to tell if you have the bad draft is to look at the content warning page in the very first paragraph. Where it says "Content Warnings for His Cocky Cellist include:," if His Cocky Cellist isn't italicized, then you have the bad one. If it looks more like this: "Content Warnings for His Cocky Cellist include:" you have the good one.)
September 9, 2021
This was a reread. I originally rated it four stars but clearly I was wildin out because this was a serve! Amani Idrissi and Victor Newcomb = best couple.
Also the audio book narrator 🥵 🌶🌶 a positively inspired performance if I do say so myself
If you like romance with a side of bdsm give this a try.
Ps. This is a little insta-lovey but I ate it up.
Also the audio book narrator 🥵 🌶🌶 a positively inspired performance if I do say so myself
If you like romance with a side of bdsm give this a try.
Ps. This is a little insta-lovey but I ate it up.
December 9, 2021
Audiobook by Joe Leslie - 5 🌟
Story- 3.5 🌟
This is my first ever book by Cole Mccade(shocking I know)😂. And, it was dumped in my audiobook library for ages. But see, it's very easy to make me bounce on a book immediately…
1. Femme MC- Added to TBR
2. BDSM kink- let me make it a priority book.
3. Younger dom- Shut up….!!!!
Femme younger MC as DOM- starts within lesser than an hour😂😂
And, luckily I have an 🧚♀️ named @Rebecca to nudge me towards the right book.
I normally don't like books where the couple starts their relationship as fuck buddies/one-night stand or sex without feelings involved (Exception Heated Rivalry). But, Vic and Amani's bdms journey felt intimate from the very start. So, even though it was a business exchange, the relationship development was beautiful.
I have just one issue, Armani saying 10 thousand/night is cheap. Dude, I understand your pain but really!!! 10 thousand/night is never cheap. And, how dare you blame Vic for not wanting your love just trying to buy it, when you are the one who made these rules. Did you forget, he is not a mind reader and needed to be told that the terms have changed??? So, yeah this impulsive, stupid misunderstanding is the reason for my 3.5 🌟 and 4 🌟. And, I hated that everyone was always ready to blame Vic for being super-rich. People should ask if they want others to understand them. 😏 😏
Story- 3.5 🌟
This is my first ever book by Cole Mccade(shocking I know)😂. And, it was dumped in my audiobook library for ages. But see, it's very easy to make me bounce on a book immediately…
1. Femme MC- Added to TBR
2. BDSM kink- let me make it a priority book.
3. Younger dom- Shut up….!!!!
Femme younger MC as DOM- starts within lesser than an hour😂😂
And, luckily I have an 🧚♀️ named @Rebecca to nudge me towards the right book.
I normally don't like books where the couple starts their relationship as fuck buddies/one-night stand or sex without feelings involved (Exception Heated Rivalry). But, Vic and Amani's bdms journey felt intimate from the very start. So, even though it was a business exchange, the relationship development was beautiful.
I have just one issue, Armani saying 10 thousand/night is cheap. Dude, I understand your pain but really!!! 10 thousand/night is never cheap. And, how dare you blame Vic for not wanting your love just trying to buy it, when you are the one who made these rules. Did you forget, he is not a mind reader and needed to be told that the terms have changed??? So, yeah this impulsive, stupid misunderstanding is the reason for my 3.5 🌟 and 4 🌟. And, I hated that everyone was always ready to blame Vic for being super-rich. People should ask if they want others to understand them. 😏 😏
November 28, 2018
The latest in the Undue Arrogance series shines the spotlight on Vic Newcomb and Amani Idrissi, and true to Cole McCade’s style he delivers a story brimming with heart, feeling and a good splash of kink with notes of Pretty Woman running through it.
Whether we have a cello lesson or another kind of lesson is up to you.”
It doesn’t matter how many books I read by the author, each time he manages to create characters who, as you begin to delve deeper, you soon discover are not entirely as expected. And this was the case with Amani and Vic as they enter a deal that will change both their lives, a deal which involves dominance and relinquishing control.
...sometimes it feels like every person is a puzzle, but instead of being a box full of all the pieces we need, we spend our whole lives looking for the scattered bits of ourselves and fitting them into place.”
The path these men travel is one of raw passion and sensuality, growing closer with each page creating beautiful Cinderella-esque moments but also facing the real, and sometimes more difficult issues life brings, which as always McCade has treated with care and sensitivity. Whether you’re a fan of this series and the author or have yet to experience his writing, His Cocky Cellist won’t disappoint and you’ll fall in love with Amani and Vic.
For a minute I felt like I was in freefall, and I couldn’t catch myself. Then I realized I didn’t have to, because you had me…and suddenly I wasn’t afraid anymore.”
Whether we have a cello lesson or another kind of lesson is up to you.”
It doesn’t matter how many books I read by the author, each time he manages to create characters who, as you begin to delve deeper, you soon discover are not entirely as expected. And this was the case with Amani and Vic as they enter a deal that will change both their lives, a deal which involves dominance and relinquishing control.
...sometimes it feels like every person is a puzzle, but instead of being a box full of all the pieces we need, we spend our whole lives looking for the scattered bits of ourselves and fitting them into place.”
The path these men travel is one of raw passion and sensuality, growing closer with each page creating beautiful Cinderella-esque moments but also facing the real, and sometimes more difficult issues life brings, which as always McCade has treated with care and sensitivity. Whether you’re a fan of this series and the author or have yet to experience his writing, His Cocky Cellist won’t disappoint and you’ll fall in love with Amani and Vic.
For a minute I felt like I was in freefall, and I couldn’t catch myself. Then I realized I didn’t have to, because you had me…and suddenly I wasn’t afraid anymore.”
November 21, 2018
When I read anything by Cole McCade I know it's going to be good. This was no exception. He has a tendency to challenge stereotypes and create a certain alluring and passionate atmosphere with just a few words, to make you think and ponder. This story calls questions of class privileges, inequality and xenophobia. The MCs are expertly created and are so different from each other yet fitting so well within their mutual desires and wants. This is enemies to lovers story - well, the closest I could find the name for it.
Victor Newcomb should be at the top of the world. He is powerful, young and handsome. But underneath his polished facade is a man who hides from the world and does not even know it. His chance meeting with Amani Idrissi shakes him up in a way that he does not understand but really wants to see where it might lead to.
Amani has deceptive appearance. Under his silk caftans and flowing beautiful hair is a man of great character and strong will, he commands with his seductive voice and brings joy with his music. But both men have hurdles to overcome before they are in a place that makes them both happy.
Even though there is mention of BDSM as a point of reference their entire relationship is very intimate and eye-opening for both men despite how it initially started. They slowly fall in love but don't understand it and are a little bit scared of it. I loved both characters, their unconventional ways and their acceptance of each others needs. I loved Mr McCade's turn of phrase that he used to bring this story to light and how feelings just flowed from the pages, how deep and intense the emotions were between Amani and Vic. I would call this book erotic in a sense but with an excellent characters development and a steady plot. It's a good fit within the series and I highly recommend it!
** Copy kindly provided by the author for honest review **
Victor Newcomb should be at the top of the world. He is powerful, young and handsome. But underneath his polished facade is a man who hides from the world and does not even know it. His chance meeting with Amani Idrissi shakes him up in a way that he does not understand but really wants to see where it might lead to.
Amani has deceptive appearance. Under his silk caftans and flowing beautiful hair is a man of great character and strong will, he commands with his seductive voice and brings joy with his music. But both men have hurdles to overcome before they are in a place that makes them both happy.
Even though there is mention of BDSM as a point of reference their entire relationship is very intimate and eye-opening for both men despite how it initially started. They slowly fall in love but don't understand it and are a little bit scared of it. I loved both characters, their unconventional ways and their acceptance of each others needs. I loved Mr McCade's turn of phrase that he used to bring this story to light and how feelings just flowed from the pages, how deep and intense the emotions were between Amani and Vic. I would call this book erotic in a sense but with an excellent characters development and a steady plot. It's a good fit within the series and I highly recommend it!
** Copy kindly provided by the author for honest review **
November 15, 2025
3.75⭐️ 3🌶️
📝 REVIEW & THOUGHTS:
His Cocky Cellist is an interesting book. I found it a little too slow paced with a slightly poetic flair in its writing style for my personal taste. But it’s still a beautiful book with beautiful characters and a beautiful message and meaning.
I recommend it if you want to read something a bit different, with a femboy Dom that likes to dominate his muscular and eager submissive sweet boy. Amani could sometimes get on my nerves, but I think his reactions still made sense considering everything.
🏷️ TROPES & TAGS (possible spoilers):
Genre/subgenre: contemporary romance
Pairing: MM
POV: 3rd person, dual
Angst: lowish
Burn: slowish
Vibe/mood: sweet, a bit introspective
Pet names: sweet boy, pet / Master
Characters’ ages: 20/24
HEA: yes
Book type: novel
Series structure: interconnected standalones
BDSM themes
Fem Dom
Stakhanovist MC
POC MC (Moroccan)
British MC
Class difference
Bi-awakening
First times
🌶️ SPICE & K!NKS (possible spoilers):
Strict top/bottom or versatile: top/bottom (but one vers scene at the end)
Heat: 5 scenes, medium heat
D/s dynamic
Dom bottom
Mild sadism
Edging
Pain play
Anāl
Phone sēx
Cuffs/mild bondage
Kneeling
Bareback
⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS (possible spoilers):
Dubcon: no
Noncon: no
OM/OW: no
Breakup: yes, brief
Mention of MC’s dad dying in the First Sahrawi Intifada conflict
Mention of surgery and chronic pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome
Transactional sēx and D/s dynamic (in the beginning)
Sense of being trapped in a life/work that was pre-decided
Chronic illness due to high stress (hypertension), including hypertension episode on page
Mention of MC’s brother SAd a 17 yo girl and got her pregnant (past)
Mention of parental neglect and sibling bullying
Discussions of racism and classism
💬 QUOTES (possible spoilers):
* Fyi about 🌶️ levels: I rate spice on a combination of quantity, quality, length, intensity and explicitness of the scenes. K!nks are listed separately and generally do not directly affect the steam level to keep it fair for non k!nky books.
📝 REVIEW & THOUGHTS:
His Cocky Cellist is an interesting book. I found it a little too slow paced with a slightly poetic flair in its writing style for my personal taste. But it’s still a beautiful book with beautiful characters and a beautiful message and meaning.
I recommend it if you want to read something a bit different, with a femboy Dom that likes to dominate his muscular and eager submissive sweet boy. Amani could sometimes get on my nerves, but I think his reactions still made sense considering everything.
🏷️ TROPES & TAGS (possible spoilers):
Genre/subgenre: contemporary romance
Pairing: MM
POV: 3rd person, dual
Angst: lowish
Burn: slowish
Vibe/mood: sweet, a bit introspective
Pet names: sweet boy, pet / Master
Characters’ ages: 20/24
HEA: yes
Book type: novel
Series structure: interconnected standalones
BDSM themes
Fem Dom
Stakhanovist MC
POC MC (Moroccan)
British MC
Class difference
Bi-awakening
First times
🌶️ SPICE & K!NKS (possible spoilers):
Strict top/bottom or versatile: top/bottom (but one vers scene at the end)
Heat: 5 scenes, medium heat
D/s dynamic
Dom bottom
Mild sadism
Edging
Pain play
Anāl
Phone sēx
Cuffs/mild bondage
Kneeling
Bareback
⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS (possible spoilers):
Dubcon: no
Noncon: no
OM/OW: no
Breakup: yes, brief
Mention of MC’s dad dying in the First Sahrawi Intifada conflict
Mention of surgery and chronic pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome
Transactional sēx and D/s dynamic (in the beginning)
Sense of being trapped in a life/work that was pre-decided
Chronic illness due to high stress (hypertension), including hypertension episode on page
Mention of MC’s brother SAd a 17 yo girl and got her pregnant (past)
Mention of parental neglect and sibling bullying
Discussions of racism and classism
💬 QUOTES (possible spoilers):
“You don’t have to be old to know what you want,” Amani countered. “And you don’t have to be young to be unsure. There is no age limit on when and how we find ourselves.”
“Because no one is perfect. You can love someone with all your heart and still say terrible things because you had a bad day, or out of ignorance, or because of a misunderstanding. And sometimes love? It hurts as much as it heals.”
“The reason someone you love can hurt you so much is because loving them opens all those places inside you where you’re fragile. A tap won’t dent steel… but it can shatter glass.”
“When two imperfect people love each other, you’re going to fight, you’re going to hurt each other, and at the end of the day you have to decide if you want to forgive or walk away, because there’s no such thing as a perfect relationship. There’s only a right one. If it’s a right one, you stay. If it’s a wrong one, you go.”
That when you found the right one, they wouldn’t hesitate to forgive. When you found the right one, they could both cause your pain and kiss it away, tear you down and build you up. When you found the right one… You loved them enough to want to forgive, because it hurt your heart as much as theirs to hate them.
* Fyi about 🌶️ levels: I rate spice on a combination of quantity, quality, length, intensity and explicitness of the scenes. K!nks are listed separately and generally do not directly affect the steam level to keep it fair for non k!nky books.
January 20, 2021
Nothing better than start reading with trust, without fear of a disappointment, knowing it will exceed expectations.
Amani... a dream... petit, femme, graceful, elegant, a lithe body, long silken hair and brown tawny eyes... masseuse, student and cellist...
Victor, tall, sharp looking, broad and chiseled, billionaire, CEO, heir, lonely....
Through a financial contract they start an exclusive exchange of dominance, control and submission. Amani wants to hold a distance and Vic only wants to get closer.
The beauty of Amani is stunning. His grace, his looks coming from Moroccan influence , the way he dresses and moves is extraordinary. The way he talks, whisper, commands, made me tremble.
Victor the way he sees the world and specially Armani, is beauty of a totally other grade.
Two men, connected by a financial agreement.. opposites.. with a gap of differences..
The well this all is coming from... unbelievable. A wonderful story, strong developed, the most wonderful environments. This all build with BEAUTIFUL delicate sentences.
The atmosphere was highly sensitive, the beauty dripped from the pages.
The mild bdsm connected them and made it super romantic with a finesse that made me stop breathing.
Highly recommended
Amani... a dream... petit, femme, graceful, elegant, a lithe body, long silken hair and brown tawny eyes... masseuse, student and cellist...
Victor, tall, sharp looking, broad and chiseled, billionaire, CEO, heir, lonely....
Through a financial contract they start an exclusive exchange of dominance, control and submission. Amani wants to hold a distance and Vic only wants to get closer.
The beauty of Amani is stunning. His grace, his looks coming from Moroccan influence , the way he dresses and moves is extraordinary. The way he talks, whisper, commands, made me tremble.
Victor the way he sees the world and specially Armani, is beauty of a totally other grade.
Two men, connected by a financial agreement.. opposites.. with a gap of differences..
The well this all is coming from... unbelievable. A wonderful story, strong developed, the most wonderful environments. This all build with BEAUTIFUL delicate sentences.
The atmosphere was highly sensitive, the beauty dripped from the pages.
The mild bdsm connected them and made it super romantic with a finesse that made me stop breathing.
Highly recommended
August 31, 2023
Vic carga la responsabilidad de ser el CEO de la mayor empresa textil de USA. Pero su vida como CEO le esta trayendo problemas fisicos, a sus 26 años sufre de hipertension arterial y tiene una gran probabilidad de infarto. Asi que, gracias a su amigo Ash, va a una sesion de masaje donde conoce al hombre mas especial que ha visto en su vida. Pero lo que le incomoda, no es el hombre per se, es la reaccion que tiene a su dominio, como un hombre tan pequeño y con un aspecto tan femenino puede despertar esas sensaciones en el? Sera posible explorar la posibilidad de algo con él, aun cuando Vic se considera heterosexual?
Este libro comenzo muy bien con un cambio de estereotipos bastante definido, pero con el pasar de la lectura, vi que poco a poco esos roles se difuminaban hasta no quedar nada de la relacion BDSM del comienzo. No senti que la pareja tuviera una gran quimica, como tampoco senti que las escenas eroticas fueran algo mas que dos personajes teniendo sexo casi normal. Pero lo que mas me saco de la historia fue el drama con la mujer y la niña, asi como el pasado del hermano mayor de Vic.
Despues de haber leido el primero, esperaba mas de este, mas enganche emocional, escenas eroticas igual de hot, pero me encontre con un libro sencillo, romantico hasta casi llegar a rosa, donde el drama es casi inexistente y la quimica entre los protas muy basica.
Pero bueno, igual voy a darle un chance al proximo de la serie porque es el ultimo de la serie y tengo curiosidad sobre como va a terminar todo.
Este libro comenzo muy bien con un cambio de estereotipos bastante definido, pero con el pasar de la lectura, vi que poco a poco esos roles se difuminaban hasta no quedar nada de la relacion BDSM del comienzo. No senti que la pareja tuviera una gran quimica, como tampoco senti que las escenas eroticas fueran algo mas que dos personajes teniendo sexo casi normal. Pero lo que mas me saco de la historia fue el drama con la mujer y la niña, asi como el pasado del hermano mayor de Vic.
Despues de haber leido el primero, esperaba mas de este, mas enganche emocional, escenas eroticas igual de hot, pero me encontre con un libro sencillo, romantico hasta casi llegar a rosa, donde el drama es casi inexistente y la quimica entre los protas muy basica.
Pero bueno, igual voy a darle un chance al proximo de la serie porque es el ultimo de la serie y tengo curiosidad sobre como va a terminar todo.
February 29, 2020
The more I read, the less I liked...
Thank goodness for Joel Leslie because without him this would have felt more wooden than it was. OFY, virgin sex, billionaire-student pairing, no age gap, D/s.
The characters were flat. Their situations and reasons for being the way they were hard to buy. Some scenes were hot, but not enough to make up for the fact that I really didn’t care too much for either MC.
One thing I did like: the gender-bending dom of a cellist who hailed from Morocco was a refreshing novelty but he was too idealistic for my taste.
My rec? Feel free to skip it. Definitely not a reread.
Thank goodness for Joel Leslie because without him this would have felt more wooden than it was. OFY, virgin sex, billionaire-student pairing, no age gap, D/s.
The characters were flat. Their situations and reasons for being the way they were hard to buy. Some scenes were hot, but not enough to make up for the fact that I really didn’t care too much for either MC.
One thing I did like: the gender-bending dom of a cellist who hailed from Morocco was a refreshing novelty but he was too idealistic for my taste.
My rec? Feel free to skip it. Definitely not a reread.
December 27, 2018
*4,5 stars*
Absolutely fascinating, and brilliantly written.
On the surface this may sound like a version of 'Pretty Woman', but believe you me, we are talking different planets here! There may be some similar components but that's where it all ends.
So what do we get?
a. Vic: tall, broad-shouldered, intent to live up to his family's expectations and heading towards killing himself in the process by overworking himself.
His issues: his family, his loneliness, his inability to switch off, his complete oblivion towards what and who he wants, his wealth.
b. Amani: diminutive and slight. A femme guy with dark skin and long wavy hair who wears kaftans and golden thread in his locks. Masseur and cellist. A dom, wise beyond his age in many ways.
His issues: his poverty, his painful past, taking money from the rich 'straight boy' for his services,
letting his heart go and trust.
c. a really deep and detailed relationship development.
Feelings develop slowly, big revelations don't just happen from page one to two. There is tons of character development, particularly on Vic's part who figures out quite a few new things about himself, while Amani needs to overcome old fears and open up.
d. their sexual relationship
I loved the psychological aspect which is brilliantly written. Although there is a clear dom/sub dynamic, this is not BDSM in the usual way. Maybe that's where these guys will end up (I still need to read the follow up novella), the main focus here is on power exchange (and very little bondage and pain). We see how this works for both guys and what it does for them, and it was breath-taking and intense.
So, I was sucked into this in a big way and would happily recommend it to anyone who likes a psychological slant to their romance and captivating, intriguing characters.
Absolutely fascinating, and brilliantly written.
On the surface this may sound like a version of 'Pretty Woman', but believe you me, we are talking different planets here! There may be some similar components but that's where it all ends.
So what do we get?
a. Vic: tall, broad-shouldered, intent to live up to his family's expectations and heading towards killing himself in the process by overworking himself.
His issues: his family, his loneliness, his inability to switch off, his complete oblivion towards what and who he wants, his wealth.
b. Amani: diminutive and slight. A femme guy with dark skin and long wavy hair who wears kaftans and golden thread in his locks. Masseur and cellist. A dom, wise beyond his age in many ways.
His issues: his poverty, his painful past, taking money from the rich 'straight boy' for his services,
letting his heart go and trust.
c. a really deep and detailed relationship development.
Feelings develop slowly, big revelations don't just happen from page one to two. There is tons of character development, particularly on Vic's part who figures out quite a few new things about himself, while Amani needs to overcome old fears and open up.
d. their sexual relationship
I loved the psychological aspect which is brilliantly written. Although there is a clear dom/sub dynamic, this is not BDSM in the usual way. Maybe that's where these guys will end up (I still need to read the follow up novella), the main focus here is on power exchange (and very little bondage and pain). We see how this works for both guys and what it does for them, and it was breath-taking and intense.
So, I was sucked into this in a big way and would happily recommend it to anyone who likes a psychological slant to their romance and captivating, intriguing characters.
November 21, 2018
Nothing better than start reading with trust, without fear of a disappointment, knowing it will exceed expectations.
Amani... a dream... petit, femme, graceful, elegant, a lithe body, long silken hair and brown tawny eyes... masseuse, student and cellist...
Victor, tall, sharp looking, broad and chiseled, billionaire, CEO, heir, lonely....
Through a financial contract they start an exclusive exchange of dominance, control and submission. Amani wants to hold a distance and Vic only wants to get closer.
The beauty of Amani is stunning. His grace, his looks coming from Moroccan influence , the way he dresses and moves is extraordinary. The way he talks, whisper, commands, made me tremble.
Victor the way he sees the world and specially Armani, is beauty of a totally other grade.
Two men, connected by a financial agreement.. opposites.. with a gap of differences..
The well this all is coming from... unbelievable. A wonderful story, strong developed, the most wonderful environments. This all build with BEAUTIFUL delicate sentences.
The atmosphere was highly sensitive, the beauty dripped from the pages.
The mild bdsm connected them and made it super romantic with a finesse that made me stop breathing.
Highly recommended
Kindly received an arc from the author (and bought it myself :)
Amani... a dream... petit, femme, graceful, elegant, a lithe body, long silken hair and brown tawny eyes... masseuse, student and cellist...
Victor, tall, sharp looking, broad and chiseled, billionaire, CEO, heir, lonely....
Through a financial contract they start an exclusive exchange of dominance, control and submission. Amani wants to hold a distance and Vic only wants to get closer.
The beauty of Amani is stunning. His grace, his looks coming from Moroccan influence , the way he dresses and moves is extraordinary. The way he talks, whisper, commands, made me tremble.
Victor the way he sees the world and specially Armani, is beauty of a totally other grade.
Two men, connected by a financial agreement.. opposites.. with a gap of differences..
The well this all is coming from... unbelievable. A wonderful story, strong developed, the most wonderful environments. This all build with BEAUTIFUL delicate sentences.
The atmosphere was highly sensitive, the beauty dripped from the pages.
The mild bdsm connected them and made it super romantic with a finesse that made me stop breathing.
Highly recommended
Kindly received an arc from the author (and bought it myself :)
September 21, 2021
There’s nothing cocky
About this slow slide into
Submission and love.
About this slow slide into
Submission and love.
May 4, 2020
1/5
Good writing can't save a dreadful plot and characters. And sadly that's what happened here.
My biggest issue with book is Amani's hypocrisy. Especially regarding the money aspect of the relationship.
I've read my fair share of pretty-woman type plot, and while it's never been my thing this particular book just rubbed me extra hard the wrong way.
And then there is the bdsm which was the selling point for this book, and it just felt tack on. Something to attract people, but doesn't really have meat to it.
And me, well I like myself a toppy dom, even more when he's small/younger than the sub, so imagine my dissapointment 40% into the book and realized I got click baited. LOL
With a character/ plot that irk me, and the only selling point of the book lost to me.... the rest of the book was just a chore to get through.
Good writing can't save a dreadful plot and characters. And sadly that's what happened here.
My biggest issue with book is Amani's hypocrisy. Especially regarding the money aspect of the relationship.
I've read my fair share of pretty-woman type plot, and while it's never been my thing this particular book just rubbed me extra hard the wrong way.
And then there is the bdsm which was the selling point for this book, and it just felt tack on. Something to attract people, but doesn't really have meat to it.
And me, well I like myself a toppy dom, even more when he's small/younger than the sub, so imagine my dissapointment 40% into the book and realized I got click baited. LOL
With a character/ plot that irk me, and the only selling point of the book lost to me.... the rest of the book was just a chore to get through.
October 4, 2025
very much instalust and the relationship went from that to love in like 3 weeks so it's definitely not what I usually like to read but I was here for the smut and that part was really good. plus the audiobook narrator was amazing with his interpretation!
July 9, 2021
Hmm... not sure why this one is rated so much higher than book 1. It didn't have a Hero that I typically like. i.e., no man's man, gruff, thick, muscular Daddy. :P
Well, not Daddy precisely, but ALPHA. And I don't mean alph-holes. Real alphas like Aja James writes...
Not a single one in this book tho. OK, taking down another star.
Well, not Daddy precisely, but ALPHA. And I don't mean alph-holes. Real alphas like Aja James writes...
Not a single one in this book tho. OK, taking down another star.
Read
February 5, 2022Dnf @ 20%
This is sooo boring... OMG. Even with narration I keep getting distracted by anything that isn't the story... going so far as to pause the story to actually clean out my kitchen drawers. NOT A GOOD SIGN. I don't like Amani's character and I don't understand Vic's attraction. That whole thing about Amani making Vic really see who he is... 🙄.
Book 1 was amazing but this one just isn't for me. I'm still interested in reading the Criminal Intentions series, though.
This is sooo boring... OMG. Even with narration I keep getting distracted by anything that isn't the story... going so far as to pause the story to actually clean out my kitchen drawers. NOT A GOOD SIGN. I don't like Amani's character and I don't understand Vic's attraction. That whole thing about Amani making Vic really see who he is... 🙄.
Book 1 was amazing but this one just isn't for me. I'm still interested in reading the Criminal Intentions series, though.
March 9, 2020
Aaaaah this was amazing!!! I'm totally in love!
Content warnings include: A comprehensive list can be found in the book itself, available in the preview on amazon.
I truly enjoyed reading this. I was totally enamoured by Amani from the very beginning, which made me relate to Vic a lot. Though Vic was also a great character in his own right.
The setup of the novel made me wary at first, but it worked out so well, especially with the two characters who were amazing: Amani, who is Moroccan-American, black, Dom, femme, student, masseuse, cellist, and Vic, who is British-American, white, billionaire, CEO, masc, convinced he's straight and totally unawares of what else he likes in bed.
Not just their sexual dynamic was great, I also loved the conversations they had about class, as in the detachment of rich people from the life of the actual 99%. More conversations or at least side remarks about religion, racism, toxic masculinity and of course kink were also present, and I thought handled very well.
The writing was truly beautiful as well, almost poetic at times without being overbearing, but raw and emotional. I especially enjoyed the describtions of clothing, which were presented so naturally and engaging that I didn't just skim over them.
What I found curious was the age of the characters. Amani is 20 and Vic is 24, and I found it fascinating to see their life and their personal experiences at an age I can immediately relate to and compare, yet which were so fundamentally different from my own. For some reason, I was more aware of this in this book than any others I've read recently.
The one thing I would have wished for was more glimpses into the characters' lives around their relationship and how those two things impact each other. Maybe this would have distracted from the actual plot, but I liked reading about Amani and Vic so much that I just wanted to know more about their day to day life.
Content warnings include: A comprehensive list can be found in the book itself, available in the preview on amazon.
I truly enjoyed reading this. I was totally enamoured by Amani from the very beginning, which made me relate to Vic a lot. Though Vic was also a great character in his own right.
The setup of the novel made me wary at first, but it worked out so well, especially with the two characters who were amazing: Amani, who is Moroccan-American, black, Dom, femme, student, masseuse, cellist, and Vic, who is British-American, white, billionaire, CEO, masc, convinced he's straight and totally unawares of what else he likes in bed.
Not just their sexual dynamic was great, I also loved the conversations they had about class, as in the detachment of rich people from the life of the actual 99%. More conversations or at least side remarks about religion, racism, toxic masculinity and of course kink were also present, and I thought handled very well.
The writing was truly beautiful as well, almost poetic at times without being overbearing, but raw and emotional. I especially enjoyed the describtions of clothing, which were presented so naturally and engaging that I didn't just skim over them.
What I found curious was the age of the characters. Amani is 20 and Vic is 24, and I found it fascinating to see their life and their personal experiences at an age I can immediately relate to and compare, yet which were so fundamentally different from my own. For some reason, I was more aware of this in this book than any others I've read recently.
The one thing I would have wished for was more glimpses into the characters' lives around their relationship and how those two things impact each other. Maybe this would have distracted from the actual plot, but I liked reading about Amani and Vic so much that I just wanted to know more about their day to day life.
June 15, 2021
Didn't love this set up as much as the first, but it was still delicious in the kink aspects.
May 22, 2022
After listening to the audio version of His Cocky Cellist I have one thing to say... ditch the audio version, and read it.
I've had issues with this narrator before, and I feel like his performance changes so much about these characters. In my opinion, it's lost too much in this form.
Cole McCade has written a beautiful love story, and I've completely missed the power of the connection between Vic and Amani - I'm going to have to read this book myself.
I've had issues with this narrator before, and I feel like his performance changes so much about these characters. In my opinion, it's lost too much in this form.
Cole McCade has written a beautiful love story, and I've completely missed the power of the connection between Vic and Amani - I'm going to have to read this book myself.
January 31, 2022
I love Cole's descriptions of people. I kept visualizing Amani and his gorgeous clothing. The one scene that made me cringe was when he came in to Vic's apartment wearing sandals and trailing some gauzy fabric on the ground. Please tell me he held up the fabric off the ground while traveling the streets of New York.
July 11, 2022
This is an audio review…
Ok so what I missed in His Cocky Valet was here… and yes, I’ve said that I listen different than I read. But I think I’d read this the same as I listened.
This book hit everything for me. It was so freaking hot. It was super emotional. It was just beautiful to listen to. This is probably one of my favorite audios ever. I’m a fan of Joel, and while I know I’m not sure about his accent for Amani (Moroccan/American), it was so lovely and sexy. I laughed and I cried. The story was thorough and the only thing I wished was more time with Amani’s mom and Vic’s family… but in the end I don’t care. I just loved this listen.
Ok so what I missed in His Cocky Valet was here… and yes, I’ve said that I listen different than I read. But I think I’d read this the same as I listened.
This book hit everything for me. It was so freaking hot. It was super emotional. It was just beautiful to listen to. This is probably one of my favorite audios ever. I’m a fan of Joel, and while I know I’m not sure about his accent for Amani (Moroccan/American), it was so lovely and sexy. I laughed and I cried. The story was thorough and the only thing I wished was more time with Amani’s mom and Vic’s family… but in the end I don’t care. I just loved this listen.
dnf
January 4, 2025DNF 28%
I can't stand Amani. Vic has been told by doctors that he has too much stress in his life and he's on track to have a heart attack, so Vic thinks it will be relaxing and calming if he picks up the cello again. When he finds out that Amani is an expert cellist, and that he is struggling with his college tuition, Vic asks Amani to give him lessons and in exchange, Vic will pay Amani's tuition. Well, Amani thought that was the worst thing ever. How dare Vic look down on him and offer him that kind of money. When Amani reluctantly agreed to give the lessons, all he did was berate and put down Vic. How was that good for Vic's health? I'm done.
I can't stand Amani. Vic has been told by doctors that he has too much stress in his life and he's on track to have a heart attack, so Vic thinks it will be relaxing and calming if he picks up the cello again. When he finds out that Amani is an expert cellist, and that he is struggling with his college tuition, Vic asks Amani to give him lessons and in exchange, Vic will pay Amani's tuition. Well, Amani thought that was the worst thing ever. How dare Vic look down on him and offer him that kind of money. When Amani reluctantly agreed to give the lessons, all he did was berate and put down Vic. How was that good for Vic's health? I'm done.
April 23, 2022
I enjoyed this couple a bit more than the first book. Their dynamic was 🔥 and I adored Amani.
July 10, 2024
Cute.
February 20, 2023
Vic’s character was the best thing about this book. He hit just the right sweet spot of curious, needy and innocent. His kink awakening where he wanted to explore and had feelings that something was missing was nicely done. The powerful business man by day and needy sub by night is always welcome in Dom/sub stories, and Vic delivers.
Amani on the other hand compromises his beliefs for money, like lickity split. He is so superior in his speeches, but when tested, he very quickly becomes what he hates: an economically limited person being used by a rich guy. His struggle with the decisions to sellout was minimal and didn’t fit with the character being built.
Overall, I just didn’t click with this story. I liked some elements of it, but it didn’t come together for me. I do have to say that some of Vic’s descriptions of Amani’s allure are beautifully poetic with refracting light and starlight…just wasn’t enough to get me excited about this book.
Amani on the other hand compromises his beliefs for money, like lickity split. He is so superior in his speeches, but when tested, he very quickly becomes what he hates: an economically limited person being used by a rich guy. His struggle with the decisions to sellout was minimal and didn’t fit with the character being built.
Overall, I just didn’t click with this story. I liked some elements of it, but it didn’t come together for me. I do have to say that some of Vic’s descriptions of Amani’s allure are beautifully poetic with refracting light and starlight…just wasn’t enough to get me excited about this book.
August 22, 2021
It is no secret that I love and devour Cole McCade’s writing whenever I get the chance. I just love the way he weaves his stories together, how his characters are real human beings with flaws and weaknesses and incredible strength and empathy.
I was slightly apprehensive about HCC, simply because my track record with billionaire romance has been going sour for a while. You know, I’m more at the point where I want to eat the rich, not root for their HEA. I shouldn’t have worried though. Yes, Vic is rich and not ashamed of it. But damn, gets he called to the carpet and in a way that made me go “YES” several times, from the deepest corner of my heart. Amani does it in a way that made me melt to the floor. He is honest and to-the-point without being cruel, empathetic and direct, graceful and gentle and vulnerable all at the same time. He is himself, nothing more and nothing less, and Vic either takes it or leaves it. Of course not all of it is that easy and Amani isn’t untouchable and can’t get hurt by things Vic does and says. It just takes time to unravel all of the layers beneath the surface.
I adored this part of the story because I don’t think I could have enjoyed it were it any other way. It worked perfectly for me the way it was. (And I think it was especially well done because we don't have anyone jumping in to defend the poor white man from a direct confrontation with his privilege in an attempt to “redeem” him in the eyes of Amani. There’s nothing to redeem, but a lot to reflect and sit with and I so appreciated how it was done here.)
The romance was the icing on top of the delicious cake. I *loved* their journey together, the slow earning of trust and mutual respect, the deep connection they form, and the intimacies they share in and outside of the bedroom. I absolutely adored and loved it, I could not put it down until I finished with an aching heart and a smile on my face. So much love. So, so much.
I was slightly apprehensive about HCC, simply because my track record with billionaire romance has been going sour for a while. You know, I’m more at the point where I want to eat the rich, not root for their HEA. I shouldn’t have worried though. Yes, Vic is rich and not ashamed of it. But damn, gets he called to the carpet and in a way that made me go “YES” several times, from the deepest corner of my heart. Amani does it in a way that made me melt to the floor. He is honest and to-the-point without being cruel, empathetic and direct, graceful and gentle and vulnerable all at the same time. He is himself, nothing more and nothing less, and Vic either takes it or leaves it. Of course not all of it is that easy and Amani isn’t untouchable and can’t get hurt by things Vic does and says. It just takes time to unravel all of the layers beneath the surface.
I adored this part of the story because I don’t think I could have enjoyed it were it any other way. It worked perfectly for me the way it was. (And I think it was especially well done because we don't have anyone jumping in to defend the poor white man from a direct confrontation with his privilege in an attempt to “redeem” him in the eyes of Amani. There’s nothing to redeem, but a lot to reflect and sit with and I so appreciated how it was done here.)
The romance was the icing on top of the delicious cake. I *loved* their journey together, the slow earning of trust and mutual respect, the deep connection they form, and the intimacies they share in and outside of the bedroom. I absolutely adored and loved it, I could not put it down until I finished with an aching heart and a smile on my face. So much love. So, so much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
His Cocky Cellist is the second book in Cole McCade’s Undue Arrogance series. It follows His Cocky Valet, which I didn’t read, and I had absolutely no problem jumping in here. The books connect in that Vic is best friends with one of the MCs from that first story, but other than a cameo at the start, this book totally stands alone so you can easily begin here.
I loved watching the relationship develop between Vic and Amani. They are quite different in just about every way. On top of that, Vic represents pretty much everything that Amani hates. Not to mention that Vic has no awareness of his own bisexuality, nor his interest in submission, so he is coming into this relationship completely naive in many ways. But somehow these guys just work together. For all of Amani’s wariness, Vic is totally accepting of not only his own sexual awakening, but everything about Amani as well. Amani is very in touch with his feminine side, with long hair and a more femme style, and Vic just simply adores him and everything about him. We can see from the start that Vic wants more, but it takes time for him to really be able to see Amani the way he needs to be seen, and for Amani to recognize that Vic is far more than he initially seems.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
His Cocky Cellist is the second book in Cole McCade’s Undue Arrogance series. It follows His Cocky Valet, which I didn’t read, and I had absolutely no problem jumping in here. The books connect in that Vic is best friends with one of the MCs from that first story, but other than a cameo at the start, this book totally stands alone so you can easily begin here.
I loved watching the relationship develop between Vic and Amani. They are quite different in just about every way. On top of that, Vic represents pretty much everything that Amani hates. Not to mention that Vic has no awareness of his own bisexuality, nor his interest in submission, so he is coming into this relationship completely naive in many ways. But somehow these guys just work together. For all of Amani’s wariness, Vic is totally accepting of not only his own sexual awakening, but everything about Amani as well. Amani is very in touch with his feminine side, with long hair and a more femme style, and Vic just simply adores him and everything about him. We can see from the start that Vic wants more, but it takes time for him to really be able to see Amani the way he needs to be seen, and for Amani to recognize that Vic is far more than he initially seems.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
June 12, 2022
I'm sure you have read a book that was beyond good, so much so that it was actually beautiful? This is that book. Hell this series is that book. I love the writing style and the deep understanding of submission and dominance, that it can be comforting and safe.
“You don’t like having people here, but you keep begging me to come back?”
“It’s different, with you.” Vic flashed him a lazy smile as he padded to the kitchen island. “I just...need somewhere to be tired without people judging me or looking for my weaknesses.” His voice drifted back as he opened the fridge and standing pantry, peering inside. “You actually invite me to be weak. You make it safe—which makes it safe for you to be here.”
November 23, 2018
I don't know about this book. I'm thinking about it a lot and I'm pretty unsure about how I want to rate it, although I guess I'll stick one in for now. First and foremost, one of the things that McCade does well is provide all kinds of content warnings upfront. If you have an issue that you know will be a problem, you're probably going to be able to check out the content warnings for it.
Some of the things that I didn't think would be issues for me did in fact end up being issues for me, though. I'm not sure what exactly went into that.
First and foremost, the fact that Vic was a wealthy white man and Amani was a poor black man was a big tension in the book, and I thought that was appropriate and even necessary. However, some of the interactions around it gave me pause. For example, early in their interactions there's this time where Amani and Vic are having a conversation that waffles between Amani educating Vic about race/class and Amani telling Vic that it isn't Amani's job to educate Vic, and that Vic should have educated himself by now and that Vic has the resources and ability to educate himself. I have 100% had conversations like this with people of privilege about my areas of marginalization before, and I 100% will have these conversations again. The thing is that there is a highly sexual undercurrent to the whole thing, and when I'm having these conversations, that never, ever happens. I'm not feeling sexual, and if I was aware that whoever I was talking to was feeling sexual towards me, I would be really unhappy. So the whole thing was really weird and awkward to me. Maybe other people feel differently, but I didn't like it. When I'm trying to get someone to deal with my marginalization, sexy times aren't also in the mix.
This one's going behind a spoiler tag:
Lastly, I don't really understand Amani's view of what a skilled professional is. This is going behind a spoiler tag again
I guess I'm not sure that I felt that the power differentials were really worked out in a way that I was comfortable with. Amani was given denied power by society in many ways (socioeconomically, racially), and Vic sometimes had less power in other ways (sexually), but I never felt like they found a balance, more like there was a weird tug of war.
I did very much enjoy that both Amani and Vic had strong, distinct presences. Many times in books the MCs are very, very similar either to each other or to general tropes that you pick up across books. Both Amani and Vic had their own unique personalities that I at least couldn't predict from a general outline. I wasn't able to say, "Oh, Amani or Vic fits this outline, therefore he will be like X," and be correct. I find this a lot in McCade's work: you can't just go in and think you're going to get what is usual or expected.
I also very much enjoyed that Amani wasn't just aesthetically a person of color. Many times when you see a person of color in a book, that person of color's physical description will be described, but there will be no other mention of how being a person of color impacts that person. There will be no discussion of how or if the person's culture differs from "mainstream white culture," or how racism impacts them. I've seen books do something like, "He's Asian," and then that's the sum total of the discussion. This emphatically isn't the case with Amani. We get a glimpse into Amani's familial past, we know about Amani's language, we know about how he's working to deal with what kind of culture he wants to adopt, and so on. I very much appreciated that.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Some of the things that I didn't think would be issues for me did in fact end up being issues for me, though. I'm not sure what exactly went into that.
First and foremost, the fact that Vic was a wealthy white man and Amani was a poor black man was a big tension in the book, and I thought that was appropriate and even necessary. However, some of the interactions around it gave me pause. For example, early in their interactions there's this time where Amani and Vic are having a conversation that waffles between Amani educating Vic about race/class and Amani telling Vic that it isn't Amani's job to educate Vic, and that Vic should have educated himself by now and that Vic has the resources and ability to educate himself. I have 100% had conversations like this with people of privilege about my areas of marginalization before, and I 100% will have these conversations again. The thing is that there is a highly sexual undercurrent to the whole thing, and when I'm having these conversations, that never, ever happens. I'm not feeling sexual, and if I was aware that whoever I was talking to was feeling sexual towards me, I would be really unhappy. So the whole thing was really weird and awkward to me. Maybe other people feel differently, but I didn't like it. When I'm trying to get someone to deal with my marginalization, sexy times aren't also in the mix.
This one's going behind a spoiler tag:
Lastly, I don't really understand Amani's view of what a skilled professional is. This is going behind a spoiler tag again
I guess I'm not sure that I felt that the power differentials were really worked out in a way that I was comfortable with. Amani was given denied power by society in many ways (socioeconomically, racially), and Vic sometimes had less power in other ways (sexually), but I never felt like they found a balance, more like there was a weird tug of war.
I did very much enjoy that both Amani and Vic had strong, distinct presences. Many times in books the MCs are very, very similar either to each other or to general tropes that you pick up across books. Both Amani and Vic had their own unique personalities that I at least couldn't predict from a general outline. I wasn't able to say, "Oh, Amani or Vic fits this outline, therefore he will be like X," and be correct. I find this a lot in McCade's work: you can't just go in and think you're going to get what is usual or expected.
I also very much enjoyed that Amani wasn't just aesthetically a person of color. Many times when you see a person of color in a book, that person of color's physical description will be described, but there will be no other mention of how being a person of color impacts that person. There will be no discussion of how or if the person's culture differs from "mainstream white culture," or how racism impacts them. I've seen books do something like, "He's Asian," and then that's the sum total of the discussion. This emphatically isn't the case with Amani. We get a glimpse into Amani's familial past, we know about Amani's language, we know about how he's working to deal with what kind of culture he wants to adopt, and so on. I very much appreciated that.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 10, 2018
I cannot express how beautiful I find Cole McCade's writing. It's so poetic and lyrical. Amani is probably one of my favorite characters in his books because the character is so unapologetic about being a black, femme, and male. Both he and Vic just needed each other's love but it definitely took time and hurt feelings to get there.
I know it's cliche but I would read the phone book if Cole McCade wrote it!
I know it's cliche but I would read the phone book if Cole McCade wrote it!
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