The Anticipation Series has all the comfort you need and all the heat you crave.
Oliver hates cold weather, sports, and socializing, but he loves his grandmother, so when she organizes a family reunion at a ski lodge in Wyoming, he reluctantly agrees to go. He promises her he’ll take one ski lesson, though he plans to spend as much time as possible in his room. After a registration mix-up places Oliver in a children’s lesson, a hot stranger comes to his rescue and offers to teach him. Oliver indulges in all kinds of fantasies about the tall, outdoorsy man, even ones including Oliver’s biggest secret, the satin and lace he likes to wear under his jeans. The mention of a past girlfriend makes Oliver assume his fantasy man is straight until the man starts making innuendos and looking at Oliver with heat in his eyes.
David has never been one for casual hookups. For the last few years, he’s focused all his energy on starting his own business, but now he’s ready to make a real connection with someone. As he gets to know Oliver, he realizes there’s the potential for something special between them. Most people see Oliver as a nerdy guy who talks too much when he’s nervous and knows far too many trivial facts. David sees the real Oliver, a man bursting with creativity and intelligence who needs someone to show him how special he is. Just because David hasn’t been with a man before doesn’t mean he hasn’t wanted to. Can he start a relationship when Oliver’s only staying in Wyoming for a week? David plans on spending every moment he has convincing Oliver that David can keep him warm, no matter what the weather—or the world—sends their way.
Silvia Violet writes fun, sexy stories that will leave you smiling and satisfied. She has a thing for characters who are in need of comfort and enjoys helping them surrender to love even when they doubt it exists. Silvia's stories include sizzling contemporaries, paranormals, and historicals. When she needs a break from listening to the voices in her head, she spends time baking, taking long walks, and curling up with her favorite books. Keep up with her latest ventures by signing up for her newsletter.
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Mediocre. 🤷♀️ Don’t get me wrong, I love Silvia Violet to death but lately, her books have been so generic and formulated. This really was such a cliche story. Nothing new and excited. 😶 Even manties couldn’t save this story. 😅 I should have anticipated disaster for real. 🙄
There were lots of things in this book that didn't work for me.
What I'll probably remember most about the story was the awkwardness I felt that Oliver's mind always went straight to his Nana in the oddest of situations; during the first sex, during the first romantic restaurant date, during the first visit to the home town of his lover. The Nana + Romance formula is not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I wasn’t anticipating disaster, but it happened anyway.
What can I say? .) two dimensional, superficial characters .) very factual sex scenes where the guys have a casual conversation over it .) a plot that left my eyebrows shooting so high I was afraid I’d lost them forever .) this is total 'switch off your brain', 'suspend your belief stuff' (I almost clicked my 'alternative universe shelf' for this...)
Ooooh, this is definitely one of my top favorite stories from Silvia (and seriously, like, I love everything she writes!). This was an excellent contemporary opposites-attract romance, with some SERIOUS steam between our two MCs! Satin and lace, yes!
Oliver is an anti-social nerd, who has had to deal with a lifetime of bullying from family members and emotionally manipulative ex-boyfriends, and because of this, has really had to learn to rely on himself. He reluctantly travels to a ski-resort in the snowy mountains for a family reunion at the request of his grandmother, who he does have a great relationship with. He's awkward, nerdy, and completely adorable - he just needs to find a guy who sees that!
Enter David. David is bisexual, although not open and out about that, since the town has only ever see him date women. He's instantly taken with Oliver, although Oliver finds it hard to believe that a Lumbersexual, outdoorsy, sports-loving man would ever want him. Oliver is looking for something more than just hookups, and can really see what a wonderful person Oliver is.
I LOVED these two together! Their romance was fast-paced, but it still felt so genuine and sweet, sexy and real. David was a perfect match for Oliver, I loved how patient and caring he was with him. And I absolutely loved how much David loved the bits of satin and lace that Oliver enjoyed wearing. Seriously, these two were fire together. I loved every bit of their romance together.
Can't wait for more from Anticipation! David's friend at the bakery needs a story!
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I’m so glad I waited to dive into Silvia Violet’s new series Anticipation till it came out on audio! A sweet and sexy opposites-attract romance, the first book, Anticipating Disaster, is fantastic. Including a cast of amusing supporting characters, there’s plenty of fun and humor in this low-angst love story.
Anticipating Disaster has all my favorite aspects of a Silvia Violet novel: wonderful characters, a creative story, and a romance with tons of steam and a strong hit of kink. And when I say kink, I’m talking lacey panties and some of the best dirty talk I’ve heard in a long, long time. This one’s a winner.
Not one for hook-ups, while David has always known he is bisexual, he’s never found the right man to experiment with. When he meets Oliver he can’t resist the powerful connection he feels, and the two agree to try a “casual relationship”.
The chemistry between David and Oliver is off the charts. Between the sensual lingerie and David’s initiation into the world of gay sex, Anticipating Disaster is smoking hot.
What’s really special is what happens to Oliver over the course of this story. Feeling treasured and valued by David ups his self-esteem and gives him the courage to face up to some meanies in his family. Plus, the courage he finds in the acceptance of the residents of Anticipation inspires him to make some important changes in his life.
Michael Pauley’s performance is absolutely wonderful! There’s a fantastic array of characters in this one and Pauley’s range really shines. (I swear, he does little ole’ grannies better than anyone else.) And I don’t have to tell his fans how beautifully he performs Silvia Violet’s sensual and erotic love scenes. I can’t wait to hear what he does with the rest of this series.
an audio copy of Anticipating Disaster was provided to me for the purpose of my review
Anticipating Disaster is the first book in Silvia Violet’s new Anticipation series and it’s off to a great start. This story has so many of my catnip tropes — first time with a man, lingerie kink, geeky hero, and opposite attract — and I just loved it. The story is fun and romantic and super sexy. There are some nice small town moments when David takes Oliver to visit Anticipation, as well as some nice vacation fling elements as the guys explore the ski resort as well. Violet gives a nice balance to showcase how these guys are quite different, but also make it clear how compatible they are and make their relationship feel believable.
Things happen pretty fast here for David and Oliver and within a few days they are having pretty strong feelings. It is a bit of instalove, but it worked for me here as I could really see how these guys were falling for each other. They each are just so sweet and caring and look out for each other in nice ways. David is basically a dream man, perfect in nearly every way, but somehow he doesn’t come across as too over-the-top or unrealistic. I liked the way these very different men balance each other out and fit together.
Arc provided courtesy of LesCourt All reviews are voluntary and my honest opinion.
Oliver's this cute little geeky dude who gets some guff from his family for being a little more introspective than they are, with the exception of his nana and his favorite cousin. Oliver agrees to go on the annual family vacation at his grandmother's request, but he gets cold easily, so he intends to spend most of the week inside. His grandmother insists that he take at least one class to learn how to ski while he's there, but her intentions backfire when they realize that he's accidentally been signed up for the children's skiing class.
Luckily Oliver ran into a nice guy named David who happened to work at the resort a few years prior, but was there for a brief stint to cheer up his friend who had just been jilted by his fiance. When David hears Oliver talking to his nana about the children's class, he volunteers to teach Oliver how to ski instead. Oliver finds David attractive, but David's never admitted that he's bisexual to anyone before other than his best friend, so Oliver is pretty sure the guy is straight.
A romantic skiing weekend, two cute guys, and a little snow covered village. This is a sweet story about two men finding love on vacation, despite their differences. But is Oliver willing to brave the cold, or will the relationship dissolve once the week is up?
I really liked Oliver, with his sweet geek t-shirts, and his insecurities, he really is like a lot of the people probably reading this book. Or maybe that's just me? It was nice that David was standing up for him when his family tried to ostracize him. I enjoy holiday romances and meet cutes, so this was sort of perfect. There's also a bit of light kink, and a few steamy romance scenes. The story ends in a happy for now, but it's sort of implied that it's a happily ever after. If you like fluff and Shmoop this is probably right up your alley.
I really enjoyed this. Oliver is just the type of guy I love to see in MM. And I loved the lingerie kink and the 'first time with a guy' part of the story. I'm just not sure how realistic it is that Oliver and David would be together. They were too different. It was a bit of a stretch. As an extremely introverted and awkward person I can attest that its not that easy to change. Looking forward to Noah's story!
Basically porn without plot! Zero character development and whatever "plot" was here, was either incredibly boring or over the top!! Added to that, this author is supremely shitty at writing any kind of HEA; she legit ends her books - almost - mid thought!! It's like everyone is moseying along and BAM, it's over!! LIKE, WHAT THE FUCK?!!? I don't think this author even knows HOW to properly end a story and write an HEA!! This marks the end of my reading any of this author's books!! I'm completely done with this author and this is where we FINALLY, indefinitely part ways!!!
Not a recommended read ... it was boring, exhausting, and there was absolutely ZERO return on the investment!! NEXT!!!
This is a brilliantly, sweet romance between Oliver a gay, socially awkward, sweetheart of a nerd and confident, outdoorsman David who is bisexual but not out at the beginning of the book. A family reunion is not Oliver’s idea of a good time, especially at a ski resort!That all changes when a mixup with his skiing lesson causes David to offer help and boy do the sparks fly.
I love most of Silvia Violet’s work and this is no exception, I love how she makes her nerdy characters have that sexy something that just the right character sees and falls for. How her jock type characters have big hearts and can be vulnerable. Her style of writing makes it a instant one click buy for me. I can’t wait for more from Anticipation as the men there definitely need their HEAs.
Dull but fairly entertaining on the whole. I didn’t feel much of anything for the MCs and the characters and plot were pretty formulaic. The secondary characters were so flat they were cardboard (and the spiteful sister/cousin who pushed one MC over in the snow because...who knows?...she was just a meanie particularly irritated me in her lack of motivation or characterisation) and stereotypes of mean girls and feisty older ladies abounded.
Great story of opposites attract. Oliver a nerdy writer who hates cold weather & socializing and David a sporty cold weather lover who loves socializing but who's also a closeted bi-sexual man. They first meet when Oliver, who's agreed to the family annual gathering at a ski resort for his Nana' s sake, can't get the door keycard to his room to work and David helps him. They both feel some sort of connection so when Oliver's Nana accidentally books him a child's ski lesson, David offers to teach him. The more time they spend together the closer they get and soon sparks are flying. Add in hot sexy talk and OMG sexy silky lace Manties 😍😍 this book certainly heats up enough to melt the snow! Looking forward to book 2.
Oliver and David didn't fit the mold on the outside. Oliver a self expressed Nerd, a non outdoorsy writer from Miami. David is an outdoorsman who owns his own business in Wyoming. They meet when Oliver is at a ski resort, for a family reunion. This is a story about how one act of kindness can change your life. I loved this story. I hope there are more Anticipation books to come. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!!
Bookish, nerdy, socially awkward Oliver travels to Wyoming for a family reunion. He meets handsome outdoorsy David. The hit it off as friends but wary of making it more because Oliver lives in warm sunny Miami, far away from cold, snowy Wyoming. These men are opposites in every way. I liked how supportive David was to Oliver. Great story about love and family finding the strength to be yourself.
This book was sweet and engaging with well written characters who were fun and adorable. Which is why the contrast to their dirty talk was so damn hot. And the lace was really really damn hot. Cant recommend enough and desperate for the rest of the series
Nerdy Oliver never thought he would find someone who really understood him, or see him as a person. He was bullied by his sister, so he kept to himself. David a businessman never knew he was Bi but never acted on it until Oliver. The story was good, but I have read similar.
I am a bit of a sucker for the awkward geeky nerd who gets the good looking cool nice guy. I would have liked to see Oliver's nasty relatives (not all are nasty) get more of a comeuppance (I'm vindictive that way) but on the whole I liked that David liked Oliver just the way he was, even if Oliver needed a kick in the pants to get his head on straight. I also related greatly to Oliver's dislike of snow/cold. I'm with ya, dude, I'm with ya.
“You’re just you, Oliver, and that’s fine.” (an audio review)
I might have swooned over that line. Oliver is not quite in step with his family. He’s a little geeky, he’s averse to the cold, he likes writing, and he enjoys the solitude of living on the cottage of his grandmother’s estate. He ‘peoples’ when he has to, but it’s never with joy and verve. Truthfully, he’s a little awkward, a little clumsy, and absolutely adorable. Characters like Oliver always run the chance of falling into the caricature realm but Oliver never does. He’s reminds me of several people I know. Hell, he reminds me of myself. I’m just as happy sitting watching the world go by then trying to participate. I often feel awkward in social situations and even though I think snow is beautiful, you’ll never find me on the ski hill.
Oliver doesn’t have a choice. His grandmother has signed him up for ski lessons. In the beginner class. Where the average age of the participant is about ten. She doesn’t see anything wrong with this while Oliver sees total humiliation. Then salvation appears in the form of a handsome man who’s already rescued him once on this disastrous trip. David offers to give Oliver skiing lessons and after initial hesitation, Oliver decides better to be humiliated in front of the gorgeous guy then stuck on the bunny hill with a group of rowdy prepubescents.
David really does seem perfect. Handsome, competent, and outdoorsman – he’s the complete opposite of Oliver. Or so Oliver perceives. There is a connection between the two men but Oliver believes David’s straight and so he doesn’t want to get close. Until the kiss.
That kiss.
The kiss that leads to David admitting he finds Oliver attractive. In fact he’s found men attractive before, but he’s never met anyone who makes him quite so hot and horny. And makes him feel something deeper. He’s protective of Oliver, there to defend him when his sister ridicules him. I have siblings and let me say, I wish I had a David around sometimes. Our siblings always know how to aim the knife so it sinks deep. But with David by his side, Oliver is able to fight back. Is finally willing to stand up for himself.
There’s the little problem of geography, though. Miami and Wyoming are thousands of miles apart on a map and more than a little different in attitudes. Oliver is convinced he will never be happy in a place like David’s town of Anticipation (great name, by the way). His perception is challenged, though.
“It was so much easier there.”
“Where?” Candace asked. Obviously not following his internal dialogue.
“In Anticipation. It was so much easier to talk to people. I don’t know why. Everything just felt different. Maybe it was being with David or maybe it was because I knew I wasn’t going to see those people again, but I could relax. I could actually finish sentences. But if I’d stayed there, I’m sure that would have changed.”
Oliver’s impromptu visit to David’s town leaves him with more questions than answers. It was supposed to be a vacation fling. It wasn’t supposed to mean anything. Yeah, but when hearts are involved, all bets are off. And when you meet the person who makes you happy, makes you believe in yourself, how can you not find a way to make it work?
To say the least, I enjoyed this book. It’s the first Silvia Violet book I’ve read and I definitely plan to listen to more. Fortunately the next two books in the series are already on audio. I loved the secondary characters and she’s nicely set up the next few men who are going to get their happy endings.
This is not the first book I’ve heard by Michael Pauley, but it is another great one. He provides fabulous differentiation between the two main characters, makes little old ladies sound perfect, and does an overall fabulous job. Can’t wait for the next book. Oh, and don’t forget the purple panties. Must have the purple panties.
i read this book as part of an arc program. This is the story of Oliver and David. Oliver is a quiet nerd who hates being cold and doesn't really fit into his family. Oliver lives with his grandmother in Miami and agrees to go to a family reunion in Wyoming for a ski vacation to please her. Oliver wants to hide in his room writing and painting, but his grandmother makes him promise to at least try some activities. David used to work at the resort as a ski instructor until he left to open his own tour company. David is staying at the resort with an old friend who recently had a break up and when David sees Oliver, he is instantly attracted to the shy man. David helps Oliver with the key card to his room and flirts a little with him. The next day, Oliver is signed up with the kids for a ski lesson, and he doesn't want to do it, until David steps in and offers him a private lesson. They have a great time and when David offers to pretend to be David's date for a family event, Oliver can't help but wish it was real, but he thinks David is straight. David is bi and attracted to Oliver, but he is not a casual type of guy and Oliver is going back to Miami. They develop a friendship and continue to pretend to date, but David starts to want it to be real also. I really loved this book. Opposites attract and Oliver and David are opposites. I loved how David wanted to stand up for Oliver and how he thought he was adorable. I love that David wanted Oliver to stay and tried to convince him. Oliver was so comfortable with David and could be himself. I think most of his family were horrible to him and that was the reason he hated being around people. I think David was great for Oliver and helped him realize not everyone was so mean. Great one.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are fairly well developed and the storyline flows smoothly. This is definitely an Insta-attraction/Insta-love romance, because the main story happens in less than a week.
Okay, our "lead" MC, Oliver, is an introverted nerd with no social skills who literally HATES the cold...but, he's a bit of a kinky little devil, too. He lives in a cottage on his Nana's property and works from home, only going out when needed and doing his Nana's bidding. However, when it comes to this year's family reunion, he tries everything to get Nana to let him stay home. They're going to a SKI RESORT!
David seems to try to enjoy life and what he does with it. IMHO, David is just a little too Mr. Perfect for me, but to each their own. David now owns his own touring business, but before that, he worked as an instructor at the ski lodge. So, when things go astray, David is there to help Oliver out.
The MCs get to know each other quickly, and have some hot sexy times. Passions build, confidence and insecurities wage war, and then it's time for the reunion to end.
Of course, we can't be left out in the cold like that. Some time passes, a few too many coincidences align, and a compromise is reached at one side of the country...and then it's presented after a long flight and a terrifying drive to the other side of the country. We definitely get a HFN ending, but in the author's notes, it says there will be more from Anticipation. So, I'm looking forward to seeing how things work out for Oliver and his David.
My one complaint: what happened to the sampler box of baked goodies from Noah?
Anticipating Disaster is the perfect title for this book! Oliver: He has spent his life being different from the members of his family. With so many of them (not all grandma and a few cousins rock!!) constantly telling him he is “less” than them it would be hard for anyone to have faith in themselves. He spends so much of his time in his home because the thought of opening himself up to ridicule and failure is nothing short of “anticipating disaster”!
David: He loves the life he has the business that he enjoys and is proud of. After a chance meeting with Oliver he is completely charmed and he realizes maybe his life has been missing something or more specifically someone to share it with.
David sees all the amazing things about Oliver and he just needs to help Oliver see them too. This book is about so much more than a romance. It is about having someone that can truly allow you to be yourself and see how great you are! Will Oliver and David overcome the ultimate difficulty which seems like the distance in their lives but really belief in themselves.
Loved this story! I am all for the nerd and the jock, add in a huge crazy family and that is just going to be pure entertainment. Oliver and David had my attention right from the start with interesting individual stories, and family(!), and then when they meet and start on an interesting path together beginning with a ski lesson. Oliver is adorable in his set ways and dislike of the cold and physical activity. His family are hilarious, providing a lot of entertainment in both happy and sad times and David is like his knight in shining armour, rescuing him from awkward moments and accompanying him on family obligations. They clearly have a quick connection and immediate attraction that just builds as we go through the story. I love the two of them together and the people that we get to meet in Anticipation, David's home town. There's even a little bit of manties kink added in as a sweet little bonus. Definitely a great new contemporary romance from Silvia Violet and I'm excited to start book 2! Definitely a recommended read.
Wow! Holy hotness! There was a lot of factors that led me to grab this in audio after I had already put this on the top of my TBR list. The author for one, manties and first times to top it off! I love the first time gay trope, and I’m a big fan of men in lingerie which made this a must listen for me. Michael Pauley is one of my favorite narrators, and he did an amazing job narrating David and Oliver's story. I loved the quiet nature of Oliver and the more outgoing, sporty outdoors-man of David. What doesn’t look like it should work on paper totally does. They were the definition of opposites attract. I loved how fast David fell for Oliver, as well as Oliver’s reluctance to admit to his own feelings because of the quickness of their time together. The narration of their chemistry together was off the charts hot, and left me blushing a couple of times while listening on my commute. With the added factor of Oliver’s lingerie, it was super steamy. I can’t wait to see what book is next in this new series!
Oliver, a self-proclaimed cold-hating, sports-challenged nerd, reluctantly attends a reunion at a mountain resort. His misery of freezing temperatures and forced socializing is interrupted by David, a hot ski instructor who saves him from a terrible lesson and offers to teach him personally. Oliver finds himself drawn to David and wishes for lessons of a different kind, despite his shyness and the rumor that David is straight. He's captivated by David's glances but doubts an outdoorsy guy like him would be interested in a nerd. With only a week at the resort, Oliver wonders if he should take a chance and explore the undeniable chemistry between them, thinking he has nothing to lose since they likely won't meet again. He contemplates whether he could, for once, have everything he desires.
I enjoyed this story with the two men who were drawn together even though they appeared to be so different. I hated most of Oliver's family who were just hateful but the good ones were great. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.
Oliver feels like the odd one out in his large family, shunned by snobby cousins and parents who don't understand him. He works as a freelance writer and for the most part avoids any more human interaction than is absolutely necessary. His nana convinces him to travel to snowy Wyoming for a family reunion, every bit of which he dreads, but where he stumbles into David, a local tour guide and ski instructor. The unsuspecting romance on an unwanted trip aligns with one of my favorite themes, and this story did not disappoint. I'm still irritated at several of Oliver's family members - including his parents, whom we never really see, only hear of in passing - but the relatives that aren't awful actually seem quite wonderful, loving, and accepting. Several other Anticipation locals are introduced (David's friend Rob; bakery owner Noah; Marty; David's photography/teacher friend Ezra) whom I hope to see more of as the series continues!
A sweet read with an endearing introvert and someone who sees the real him!
I loved Anticipation! This whole book is full of sweetness, humor, & heart. It has a wonderful collection of characters, meddling family and a unique, sweet and secretly sexy introvert who longs for someone to see him. I loved Oliver. He's the perfect mix of smart, quirky and strong and I loved his meet-cute with David and I could feel their connection straight away.
I loved the small town of Anticipation and loved many of the secondary characters and look forward to their stories. I felt this was an easy and enjoyable bit of escapism and loved the growth these two characters made and how Oliver came to terms with his new self, life, and future! Very sweet and enjoyable!! I look forward to visiting Anticipation again!!!!
Wow! Holy hotness! There was a lot of factors that led me to put this on my TBR list and bump it to the top. The author for one, and manties and FTG to top it off! I love the FTG trope, and I’m a big fan of men in lingerie which made this a must read for me. I loved the quiet nature of Oliver and the more outgoing, sporty outdoorsman of David. What doesn’t look like it should work on paper totally does. They were the definition of opposites attract. I loved how fast David fell for Oliver, as well as Oliver’s reluctance to admit to his own feelings because of the quickness of their time together. Their chemistry together was off the charts hot. With the added factor of Oliver’s lingerie, it was super steamy. I can’t wait to see what book is next in this new series!