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High Rise #2
André
Jayce Ellis's sexy, contemporary High Rise series features the bustle of DC and the hustle of love.
After a week filled with nonstop work, André Ellison heads to the club to blow off some steam. One night off is the perfect distraction from the project that’s about to make his career—or tank it completely. A few drinks in and he leaves with a smoking-hot stranger for some scorching, burn-the-sheets-up sex.
Marcus Thompson is going places, so he can’t think of a bigger waste of time than being put on loan to a two-bit firm to prepare some small-time report. The last thing he wants—or needs—is his impeccably dressed, hot-as-hell one-night stand as his boss.
As they work side by side, their attraction grows to a fever pitch, but there will be no kissing, no touching and absolutely no sex until the project is over—if they can wait that long.
And don’t miss Jeremiah, available now from Carina Press!
After a week filled with nonstop work, André Ellison heads to the club to blow off some steam. One night off is the perfect distraction from the project that’s about to make his career—or tank it completely. A few drinks in and he leaves with a smoking-hot stranger for some scorching, burn-the-sheets-up sex.
Marcus Thompson is going places, so he can’t think of a bigger waste of time than being put on loan to a two-bit firm to prepare some small-time report. The last thing he wants—or needs—is his impeccably dressed, hot-as-hell one-night stand as his boss.
As they work side by side, their attraction grows to a fever pitch, but there will be no kissing, no touching and absolutely no sex until the project is over—if they can wait that long.
And don’t miss Jeremiah, available now from Carina Press!
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 13, 2020
14 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
June 12, 2020
This book made me happy! I loved it and loved it hard! Why? Simple. It was very relatable to me as a POC.
It also brought to the surface my long-held belief of the need for more POC representation in the M/M romance genre. This book made a strong case for why books like these should be more of the norm and not outliers like they currently are.
Marcus and André have made it unto my "favourite couple" list and I couldn't have been more glad. I enjoyed the heat of their initial encounter and the subsequent roller coaster ride that was the development of their relationship.
Let me tell you, the journey those two went from a "simple" hook-up, to pseudo-boss/employee, to "friends" then finally lovers made me root so hard for them.There was no unecessary drama and even when they had issues, after their initial emotional blowups, they faced them head-on and worked through it. They were a joy to read about and when they got their HEA / a very very strong HFN, I virtually swooned. *happy sigh*
If you check my updates HERE you can tell just how much this book WORKED for me. I loved the way the writing flowed, the way the characters remained true to themselves all throughout, the realness of the emotions the story evoked from me and ultimately how well everything was put together structurally.
I hadn't heard of this author before I saw this ARC on Netgalley , but I will be keenly following her releases from now on. She has found a fan in me.
eARC Graciously Provided by Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an Honest, Unbiased Review
It also brought to the surface my long-held belief of the need for more POC representation in the M/M romance genre. This book made a strong case for why books like these should be more of the norm and not outliers like they currently are.
Marcus and André have made it unto my "favourite couple" list and I couldn't have been more glad. I enjoyed the heat of their initial encounter and the subsequent roller coaster ride that was the development of their relationship.
Let me tell you, the journey those two went from a "simple" hook-up, to pseudo-boss/employee, to "friends" then finally lovers made me root so hard for them.There was no unecessary drama and even when they had issues, after their initial emotional blowups, they faced them head-on and worked through it. They were a joy to read about and when they got their HEA / a very very strong HFN, I virtually swooned. *happy sigh*
If you check my updates HERE you can tell just how much this book WORKED for me. I loved the way the writing flowed, the way the characters remained true to themselves all throughout, the realness of the emotions the story evoked from me and ultimately how well everything was put together structurally.
I hadn't heard of this author before I saw this ARC on Netgalley , but I will be keenly following her releases from now on. She has found a fan in me.
eARC Graciously Provided by Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an Honest, Unbiased Review
August 11, 2020
I liked so much about this and would highly recommend it for anyone looking for great POC rep in a romance that's all about the romance.
This is a POC author writing two POC MCs, and it's the hundreds of little details that really distinguishes it as ownvoices rep. Even better, there's no hand-holding for readers like me -- who had to google what siddity meant 😂 I picked it up after seeing another review praising the rep, and I'm so glad I did.
I wish the non-romance themes had been developed a little further/examined a little deeper, though, because that could have elevated this into something notable for more than just the outstanding rep.
Marcus's journey, especially, has some really interesting dynamics at play that I have never seen anywhere else, and not getting the in-depth conversation with Andre about those choices was a shocking disappointment. I do not understand the decision to pass up that amazing opportunity and jump to an unremarkable epilogue instead. It feels like a giant mistake to me... but at the same time, I have no doubt a more easygoing romance reader will gloss over that with no problems, so...
The characters felt real -- to the extent that Andre's issues with work-life balance seriously stressed me out at times!! -- and I always love getting a fresh voice who is not worried about conforming to the norm. Ellis really forges her own path away from the stale, cookie-cutter formulas of the average romance. I just wish the ending had been stronger to capitalize on all the interesting little details that were setup along the way.
(I also hope this went through another round of copy editing after the ARCs were sent out because it was a little rough, especially in the back half. Simple typos are pretty easy for me to forgive, but this was a step beyond that... to the extent that I started wondering if whoever was copy editing somehow couldn't tell the difference between the informal speech patterns that carried over into the internal dialog and obvious cut-and-paste errors...)
**This book was provided for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley**
This is a POC author writing two POC MCs, and it's the hundreds of little details that really distinguishes it as ownvoices rep. Even better, there's no hand-holding for readers like me -- who had to google what siddity meant 😂 I picked it up after seeing another review praising the rep, and I'm so glad I did.
I wish the non-romance themes had been developed a little further/examined a little deeper, though, because that could have elevated this into something notable for more than just the outstanding rep.
Marcus's journey, especially, has some really interesting dynamics at play that I have never seen anywhere else, and not getting the in-depth conversation with Andre about those choices was a shocking disappointment. I do not understand the decision to pass up that amazing opportunity and jump to an unremarkable epilogue instead. It feels like a giant mistake to me... but at the same time, I have no doubt a more easygoing romance reader will gloss over that with no problems, so...
The characters felt real -- to the extent that Andre's issues with work-life balance seriously stressed me out at times!! -- and I always love getting a fresh voice who is not worried about conforming to the norm. Ellis really forges her own path away from the stale, cookie-cutter formulas of the average romance. I just wish the ending had been stronger to capitalize on all the interesting little details that were setup along the way.
(I also hope this went through another round of copy editing after the ARCs were sent out because it was a little rough, especially in the back half. Simple typos are pretty easy for me to forgive, but this was a step beyond that... to the extent that I started wondering if whoever was copy editing somehow couldn't tell the difference between the informal speech patterns that carried over into the internal dialog and obvious cut-and-paste errors...)
**This book was provided for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley**
July 16, 2020
I am neither a gay man or a person of colour but that didn't prevent me from thoroughly enjoying this book and I am so glad to see more diverse representation within the MM world.
Book one in this series really surprised me, but this one was even better, very low angst, some internal conflict over what it means to be a gay black man and a bit of outside interference is all that was needed to create tension.
This felt completely real, both André and Marcus were fully fleshed out characters, their personalities distinct and their experiences different. There's a small age gap between them and it worked completely for the narrative.
A hook-up turned into a work relationship, into friendship and then into a true partnership, with all the hurdles to overcome on the way. With a fabulous cast of secondary characters, a teeny guest appearance from Collin and Jeremiah from book one which make me squeal just a bit 😁 and a dreamy Epilogue, this is a fantastic second edition to this series from Jayce Ellis.
As the series is only loosely connected, I have no clue who will be the subject of book three but I can't wait to find out! Add in another fabulous cover and this new series is shaping up to be a favourite.
#ARC kindly received from the publisher Carina Press via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review
Book one in this series really surprised me, but this one was even better, very low angst, some internal conflict over what it means to be a gay black man and a bit of outside interference is all that was needed to create tension.
This felt completely real, both André and Marcus were fully fleshed out characters, their personalities distinct and their experiences different. There's a small age gap between them and it worked completely for the narrative.
A hook-up turned into a work relationship, into friendship and then into a true partnership, with all the hurdles to overcome on the way. With a fabulous cast of secondary characters, a teeny guest appearance from Collin and Jeremiah from book one which make me squeal just a bit 😁 and a dreamy Epilogue, this is a fantastic second edition to this series from Jayce Ellis.
As the series is only loosely connected, I have no clue who will be the subject of book three but I can't wait to find out! Add in another fabulous cover and this new series is shaping up to be a favourite.
#ARC kindly received from the publisher Carina Press via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review
October 4, 2021
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 3.5 Stars
Story - 3.5 Stars
August 18, 2020
I loved this so much! I have no complaints at all about anything.
We absolutely LOVE to see a Gay Romance book focused on two Black Men! When I saw this on Netgalley I just knew it was going to be great.
This cute little romance focuses on two men, Andre and Marcus. Marcus and Andre meet one night at a bar and things get hot and heavy between them, and not thinking they'd see each other again they go separate ways. Marcus is starting an intern with a different Law Firm for three works though, and the last person he expected to be the CEO of the Ellis Firm, is Andre. Both Andre and Marcus are now stuck seeing each other on the daily for work life, but there is definitely something more between them.
This was super cute and fun and I loved everything about it. It felt nice to just be able to relax and read a book that took my mind off my life. Andre and Marcus together are *chefs kiss* and the ending honestly surprised me a lot.
*!Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!*
We absolutely LOVE to see a Gay Romance book focused on two Black Men! When I saw this on Netgalley I just knew it was going to be great.
This cute little romance focuses on two men, Andre and Marcus. Marcus and Andre meet one night at a bar and things get hot and heavy between them, and not thinking they'd see each other again they go separate ways. Marcus is starting an intern with a different Law Firm for three works though, and the last person he expected to be the CEO of the Ellis Firm, is Andre. Both Andre and Marcus are now stuck seeing each other on the daily for work life, but there is definitely something more between them.
This was super cute and fun and I loved everything about it. It felt nice to just be able to relax and read a book that took my mind off my life. Andre and Marcus together are *chefs kiss* and the ending honestly surprised me a lot.
*!Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!*
July 14, 2020
*´¨✫)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨)✯¸.•*¨)
✮ (¸.•´✶I enjoyed Jeremiah and the first High Rise book, and enjoyed a few facts. Crestline is the place where both Jeremiah and André lived. Mr Johnson had a regular appearance and Fiona and Brad were featured. But this was not their story.
This book was about the spark that flared when Marcus met André and turned his life around. How their one-night-stand opened up something neither man had been prepared for. I loved the writing style. I loved the flow, the plot being enhanced by the thoughts of words spoken. And what I lived for most was this book featured not one, but TWO African-American men who moved through the world of finance and whose beginning goals were to find a way to work together once they realised André was in fact Marcus's interim boss.
With a moderate amount of decision making, these two had to find their own path to happy ever after. I highly recommend this book and its predecessor, Jeremiah.
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author through Netgalley.
¸.•´¸.•*´¨)✯¸.•*¨)
✮ (¸.•´✶I enjoyed Jeremiah and the first High Rise book, and enjoyed a few facts. Crestline is the place where both Jeremiah and André lived. Mr Johnson had a regular appearance and Fiona and Brad were featured. But this was not their story.
This book was about the spark that flared when Marcus met André and turned his life around. How their one-night-stand opened up something neither man had been prepared for. I loved the writing style. I loved the flow, the plot being enhanced by the thoughts of words spoken. And what I lived for most was this book featured not one, but TWO African-American men who moved through the world of finance and whose beginning goals were to find a way to work together once they realised André was in fact Marcus's interim boss.
With a moderate amount of decision making, these two had to find their own path to happy ever after. I highly recommend this book and its predecessor, Jeremiah.
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author through Netgalley.
September 7, 2020
After a week filled with nonstop work, André Ellison heads to the club to blow off some steam. One night off is the perfect distraction from the project that’s about to make his career—or tank it completely. A few drinks in and he leaves with a smoking-hot stranger for some scorching, burn-the-sheets-up sex.
Marcus Thompson is going places, so he can’t think of a bigger waste of time than being put on loan to a two-bit firm to prepare some small-time report. The last thing he wants—or needs—is his impeccably dressed, hot-as-hell one-night stand as his boss.
As they work side by side, their attraction grows to a fever pitch, but there will be no kissing, no touching and absolutely no sex until the project is over—if they can wait that long.
Review.
I preordered this book after I read the first book by this writer - "Jeremiah". I am really at loss as to how to grade it. I loved it and I hated the trope the story used. "Unprofessional professional" is so not a favorite of mine, but I enjoyed the first book ( this book is a stand alone ) and I hoped that new to me writer will produce a work which I will like again so I decided to try while keeping my fingers crossed that the men would somehow manage to stay professionals. Alas.
But let me tell you what I liked first. I loved, loved that the narrator of this book speaks in a completely different voice than Jeremiah did. Let me be clear , I had absolutely no problem with Jeremiah's voice, I quite liked it. But he is a paramedic and Andre, main character in this book is a financial advisor, so to me it makes perfect sense that their voices would be different. However too often I will read several books by the same writer written in a same voice no matter who the narrator is ( profession, education level, etc ). I am trying to pay this writer a compliment basically :).
I enjoyed Marcus and Jeremiah together and separately. I liked that the source of their tension, what I call " the reason for mandatory break up" was very realistic and once again, made perfect sense. I mean, it was partially based on the guys not discussing the issue before it came up, but it is not exactly a miscommunication, it is more like something that newly formed couple did not get to discussing if that makes sense. I don't want to reveal the issue, but I really liked how it was handled and that the topic was even brought up in the first place.
And what I disliked was that basically Boss not being able to keep his hands off his intern for just several weeks till they offing finish a project. No, you cannot give your intern completely objective evaluation if you are having sex with him, sorry. NO, almost managed to not have sex till your presentation does not count. Yes, I get that some relationships start at work and coworkers fell in love and have sex , that it happens. But you only had to stay away from each other for few weeks , you could have all the romance and the sex after your presentation was done . I am supposed to think of both of you as adults why exactly?
Grade: C+
Marcus Thompson is going places, so he can’t think of a bigger waste of time than being put on loan to a two-bit firm to prepare some small-time report. The last thing he wants—or needs—is his impeccably dressed, hot-as-hell one-night stand as his boss.
As they work side by side, their attraction grows to a fever pitch, but there will be no kissing, no touching and absolutely no sex until the project is over—if they can wait that long.
Review.
I preordered this book after I read the first book by this writer - "Jeremiah". I am really at loss as to how to grade it. I loved it and I hated the trope the story used. "Unprofessional professional" is so not a favorite of mine, but I enjoyed the first book ( this book is a stand alone ) and I hoped that new to me writer will produce a work which I will like again so I decided to try while keeping my fingers crossed that the men would somehow manage to stay professionals. Alas.
But let me tell you what I liked first. I loved, loved that the narrator of this book speaks in a completely different voice than Jeremiah did. Let me be clear , I had absolutely no problem with Jeremiah's voice, I quite liked it. But he is a paramedic and Andre, main character in this book is a financial advisor, so to me it makes perfect sense that their voices would be different. However too often I will read several books by the same writer written in a same voice no matter who the narrator is ( profession, education level, etc ). I am trying to pay this writer a compliment basically :).
I enjoyed Marcus and Jeremiah together and separately. I liked that the source of their tension, what I call " the reason for mandatory break up" was very realistic and once again, made perfect sense. I mean, it was partially based on the guys not discussing the issue before it came up, but it is not exactly a miscommunication, it is more like something that newly formed couple did not get to discussing if that makes sense. I don't want to reveal the issue, but I really liked how it was handled and that the topic was even brought up in the first place.
And what I disliked was that basically Boss not being able to keep his hands off his intern for just several weeks till they offing finish a project. No, you cannot give your intern completely objective evaluation if you are having sex with him, sorry. NO, almost managed to not have sex till your presentation does not count. Yes, I get that some relationships start at work and coworkers fell in love and have sex , that it happens. But you only had to stay away from each other for few weeks , you could have all the romance and the sex after your presentation was done . I am supposed to think of both of you as adults why exactly?
Grade: C+
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2020
Author Jayce Ellis blew me away with André, an engaging, thought provoking, M/M romance between two intelligent and successful Black men. I loved that these characters were authentic, that Ms. Ellis added in a workplace conflict where white privilege allowed a white man to keep his job while the Black man was forced to change course in order to not further harm his career, and she addressed the stigma of being a Black gay man even within one’s own family. I know all of that might make this book sound really heavy, but I found it to be uplifting and a superb romance that was hard to put down.
André Ellison never intended to start his own company as soon as he did but being embroiled in a sex scandal at his old firm had him striking out on his own about 5 years earlier than planned. He doesn’t necessarily regret it, but he’s at the point where he needs to add another person which means taking on more clients and expanding the business. For someone who finds it hard to delegate, André is struggling but when his former company asks him to submit a proposal to work with them and one of their top clients and they will loan him an intern to get it done he realizes this might be just the thing to push his business to the next level. What he doesn’t expect is for the intern to be Marcus, the man he had a very memorable one night stand with the weekend prior.
Watching these two men go from one night stand, to basically employee/supervisor, to a friendly relationship, to boyfriends was enticing. Each step along the way they fought their intense attraction and worked long hours on the proposal for André’s business. There were some definite power shift moments throughout this story and it didn’t help that André was worried about taking advantage of Marcus (in a business way), thankfully he had Fiona his receptionist to help him see the light and bless Fiona for cluing in Marcus as well.
Both men had some family baggage that affected how they saw themselves and their relationships with another man but once they got to a comfortable place together they were able to work through those issues and help one another see things from a different perspective. While there was conflict, there wasn’t any manufactured drama, something I greatly appreciated.
I loved the realness of this story, the emotions throughout, that these men weren’t afraid to be real with one another, and that they were open and honest allowing the other to give them what they needed. Ms. Ellis seduced me into her world with her words and I not only learned a great deal from this book, I loved every minute of it.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
André Ellison never intended to start his own company as soon as he did but being embroiled in a sex scandal at his old firm had him striking out on his own about 5 years earlier than planned. He doesn’t necessarily regret it, but he’s at the point where he needs to add another person which means taking on more clients and expanding the business. For someone who finds it hard to delegate, André is struggling but when his former company asks him to submit a proposal to work with them and one of their top clients and they will loan him an intern to get it done he realizes this might be just the thing to push his business to the next level. What he doesn’t expect is for the intern to be Marcus, the man he had a very memorable one night stand with the weekend prior.
Watching these two men go from one night stand, to basically employee/supervisor, to a friendly relationship, to boyfriends was enticing. Each step along the way they fought their intense attraction and worked long hours on the proposal for André’s business. There were some definite power shift moments throughout this story and it didn’t help that André was worried about taking advantage of Marcus (in a business way), thankfully he had Fiona his receptionist to help him see the light and bless Fiona for cluing in Marcus as well.
Both men had some family baggage that affected how they saw themselves and their relationships with another man but once they got to a comfortable place together they were able to work through those issues and help one another see things from a different perspective. While there was conflict, there wasn’t any manufactured drama, something I greatly appreciated.
I loved the realness of this story, the emotions throughout, that these men weren’t afraid to be real with one another, and that they were open and honest allowing the other to give them what they needed. Ms. Ellis seduced me into her world with her words and I not only learned a great deal from this book, I loved every minute of it.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
July 23, 2020
I received a copy of this book via the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jayce Ellis is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. This is the second book of hers I’ve read and her storytelling only gets better. André is the second book in the High Rise series, and I am already eagerly awaiting the next installment. Ellis has this way with words and character building and emotion that just draws me in and won’t let me go.
This book, much like Jeremiah, does a wonderful job of weaving in cultural aspects that truly prove why it’s so important that we not only have BIPOC representation in Romancelandia characters but also that we have actual BIPOC authors writing these characters. There is no better way to learn about and experience another culture than to see it through the eyes of a member of that culture.
André and Marcus have an incredible journey in this book. They start off hot and just get hotter, yet they face some very real obstacles that keep their story down to Earth and relatable. I was rooting for these two from the get-go and my heart went out to them as they fought tooth and nail to find and keep the love they both deserved.
I honestly cannot wait to see what Ms. Ellis puts out next. She is going on my watch list and you’ll likely be seeing another review from me very, very soon following her next release! I would recommend this—and Jeremiah!—with all my heart to any and all readers of romance. Especially those who enjoy real, gritty characters; honest and genuine character-driven plots; and a heaping spoonful of sexy love.
Jayce Ellis is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. This is the second book of hers I’ve read and her storytelling only gets better. André is the second book in the High Rise series, and I am already eagerly awaiting the next installment. Ellis has this way with words and character building and emotion that just draws me in and won’t let me go.
This book, much like Jeremiah, does a wonderful job of weaving in cultural aspects that truly prove why it’s so important that we not only have BIPOC representation in Romancelandia characters but also that we have actual BIPOC authors writing these characters. There is no better way to learn about and experience another culture than to see it through the eyes of a member of that culture.
André and Marcus have an incredible journey in this book. They start off hot and just get hotter, yet they face some very real obstacles that keep their story down to Earth and relatable. I was rooting for these two from the get-go and my heart went out to them as they fought tooth and nail to find and keep the love they both deserved.
I honestly cannot wait to see what Ms. Ellis puts out next. She is going on my watch list and you’ll likely be seeing another review from me very, very soon following her next release! I would recommend this—and Jeremiah!—with all my heart to any and all readers of romance. Especially those who enjoy real, gritty characters; honest and genuine character-driven plots; and a heaping spoonful of sexy love.
July 18, 2020
I enjoyed this romance. But the last 20% and the “misunderstanding” dragged.
July 12, 2020
André and Marcus both go outside of their comfort zones for a rare night out ending in the best one-night stand of their lives. Both think oh, what could have been, until Marcus walks into André's office as his new intern.
Trying to put aside their desire so they can work on the project that could mean everything for André's financial advising business only works so long before these two explode into something that could mean forever. But past professional and personal hurts haunt both André and Marcus, making their HEA both hard won and a all the more satisfying.
The exploration of the power dynamics in both business and bed was exquisite. Ellis's characters are so well drawn and thoughtfully portrayed, including the secondary characters. You don't need to read Jeremiah first but you should!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy!
CW: casual homophobia from family, harassing language, past blackmail with a sex tape, parental death (in the past).
Trying to put aside their desire so they can work on the project that could mean everything for André's financial advising business only works so long before these two explode into something that could mean forever. But past professional and personal hurts haunt both André and Marcus, making their HEA both hard won and a all the more satisfying.
The exploration of the power dynamics in both business and bed was exquisite. Ellis's characters are so well drawn and thoughtfully portrayed, including the secondary characters. You don't need to read Jeremiah first but you should!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy!
CW: casual homophobia from family, harassing language, past blackmail with a sex tape, parental death (in the past).
October 6, 2022
“Use me, boss. For whatever you need.”
Mother of God. No way was I getting through this unscathed.
3.5 stars. I thought this was just going to be an average, mediocre read for me, but it really picked up in the last half and became something that I genuinely really enjoyed. This is a workplace romance between a financial advisor running a company on his own, and his temporary intern. They unknowingly have a one night stand before beginning their work together, and have a bit of a rocky start that gives this a slight enemies to lovers vibe. Only slight though. They're both black gay men who are struggling to shed the patriarchal ideals of society that have been forced upon them in one way or another, and I would have enjoyed it just for that alone. The fact that it's a pretty sexy read also it didn't hurt. There was some ex-boyfriend drama, but not the typically annoying kind that I can't stand, and the plot was engaging enough and didn't go so deep into the business or financial aspects that it couldn't be understood by a layperson. But what I love the most was the latter half and the non-traditional ways this ended up resolving itself. It was a lovely romance, and they worked together so much. I love characters who love taking care of other characters, and this made me super happy in that specific way. There was also a little cameo from the first couple in this series, and that was cute to see.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Tony Isabella and Pierre Brooks, and it was okay. Their voices were great, but I thought they both had awkward timing when it came to the narration; i.e., pauses or breaks where they didn't really fit. That didn't stymie my enjoyment much though. I continue to like or really like everything I've read from this author, and I look forward to reading more of her queer black romance.
August 1, 2020
This is such a good book. Marcus and Andre are an amazing couple, and watching them go from a hook-up, to oops-I'm-kind-of-your-boss, to friends, to lovers/amazing powerhouse team was so fun to watch and read. I thought the power dynamic of their quasi workplace relationship was handled really well. And I loved how clearly you could see why they were perfect for each other and what they each gave the other to make them work. And that was really just lovely.
What I also found really special about this story was all the workplace issues it explored, including definitions of success and figuring out your own path in a system rigged with pitfalls and unfairness, as well as narrow strictures. I thought the really subtle nuanced complexities about what exactly "settling" is and what an "opportunity" is and who gets to decide those things was really well done and didn't detract for the romance, but instead added really awesome layers. It is definitely an excellent read.
What I also found really special about this story was all the workplace issues it explored, including definitions of success and figuring out your own path in a system rigged with pitfalls and unfairness, as well as narrow strictures. I thought the really subtle nuanced complexities about what exactly "settling" is and what an "opportunity" is and who gets to decide those things was really well done and didn't detract for the romance, but instead added really awesome layers. It is definitely an excellent read.
June 20, 2020
Andre Ellison is a 34 year-old black man living in D.C. and running his one-man financial analyst company, which caters to small-time investors. He's got a degree from the Wharton Business school, and had a career working at a big investment company, until his STILL closeted ex-boyfriend (who STILL works for that firm) filmed Andre in a super compromising position and then "anonymously" shared the video with the firm's partners. Andre could have fought through the situation, but he used it as an opportunity to make a clean break, against the wishes of a partner, and Andre's mentor, Harold. Andre has a long-term complex about his sexuality, with hypermasculine ideals stemming from the barely disguised contempt of his brother and the pernicious way this had colored his family interactions. Andre is nearly apologetic about his sexuality, and though he desires trying bottoming, that switch in his head is set to "better be the man not the woman" and messes with his mojo.
Though Andre left Harold's firm four years ago, Harold has recently asked Andre to submit a proposal for a small firm-big firm partnership to manage the wealth of a multi-generational old-money family, the Penningtons. Andre's firm has make the cut of three--and he's getting an intern from Harold's firm to manage the final proposal. Andre is anxious about all of this, because he's a micromanager and he knows this portfolio would be the make-or-break opportunity that would enable him to hire full-time help. He goes out to a nearby club to blow off some steam on the Friday night before his intern is set to start, and meets a delicious specimen of masculinity, Marc, who tests all of Andre's boundaries. They hook up, and it's amazing, but was only destined to be one night.
Marcus Thompson a black 25 year-old Wharton MBA student nearly finished with his summer internship for a big-time wealth management company and he's sticking to his plan of managing foreign investment portfolios. There's a level of detachment in that, and he's big on risk assessment. He's also grown up in a family where his father pushed hypermasculine ideals--which intensified when Marcus came out at age 11. All the cooking and housework he did while caring for his sick mother was highly frowned upon by his father, though they otherwise accept him. It was his dad's idea to go into finance, and Marcus has no real passion for it. Yet, he's pretty sure he's being pawned off on a small firm project as punishment for his unwillingness to "play nice" and go out drinking with his fellow interns. He's mad enough to go out clubbing with his long-time friend, and summer housemate, Jake. Marcus thinks he can blow off his frustration so he can blow the mind of his new "boss". And, Dre makes one hot bed partner for the night. Shit hits the fan, however, when he turns up at Ellison Investments on Monday morning and learns that Andre is the man he'd had on his mind all weekend. He does NOT want to play nice anymore.
This is an engaging twist on the boss-employee love story. First, Andre and Marcus are both very stubborn men who are inadvertently in close quarters after they developed a sexual connection. Second, both men have some internalized self-hatred to exhume to get on track. Third, their professional partnership is destined to last three weeks at most--so they decide to bank their simmering attraction until the project is complete. Fourth, Marcus has no desire to work in Andre's firm, but he's drawn to the man--and he's intensely passionate about caring for Andre, who works crazy hours to manage his client list. Fifth, Andre is not TECHNICALLY employing Marcus, as he's paid from Harold's firm. Still a power imbalance remains.
I really liked how the attraction grew over the course of the few weeks of their close acquaintance. Further, each man helps the other to confront and deconstruct the toxic masculinity they've absorbed through their male family members. They each meet the other's family--not always by design--and their fresh perspective makes all the difference in the interpersonal interactions and their own internalized loathing. Those moments were especially rewarding because they were points of great self-reflection and growth for each man.
Naturally, while the romance is developing and the professional side is becoming promising, there will be moments of intense conflict. I think this was handled deftly, because it could have been wrapped up quicker, but in a way that may have been less satisfying. These are both strong, educated, intelligent black men. They need time to work through their feelings, and plot a course to reconciliation. Marcus was the one to walk away, and he's not sure how to ask forgiveness. Andre has realized that he's met his forever man, and even if their relationship might be unconventional--even for a gay partnership--he's willing to be the man Marcus wants to care for. It's a satisfying read, and definitely reflects cultural touchstones of Afro-American life, both middle class and beyond. I loved Andre's dear friend and colleague Fiona, who is a proud black Domme with a white boy sub connected to Marcus' sphere. She rocks it all day, every day.
While part of a "series" the connection points are made within the apartment building in which Andre lives, where Mr. Johnson, the doorman, takes great interest in making sure his "children" (Andre and Fiona) are well-cared-for. I loved that "old heads" nod to the Afro culture; Marcus knew he needed to earn that man's respect if he was going to be a part of Andre's life long-term. The family dynamics are clearing up for both Andre and Marcus, thanks to some frank conversation, and their happily ever after is 100% assured by the end of this story. Expect some hot office innuendo, and scorching sexytimes from the outset.
Though Andre left Harold's firm four years ago, Harold has recently asked Andre to submit a proposal for a small firm-big firm partnership to manage the wealth of a multi-generational old-money family, the Penningtons. Andre's firm has make the cut of three--and he's getting an intern from Harold's firm to manage the final proposal. Andre is anxious about all of this, because he's a micromanager and he knows this portfolio would be the make-or-break opportunity that would enable him to hire full-time help. He goes out to a nearby club to blow off some steam on the Friday night before his intern is set to start, and meets a delicious specimen of masculinity, Marc, who tests all of Andre's boundaries. They hook up, and it's amazing, but was only destined to be one night.
Marcus Thompson a black 25 year-old Wharton MBA student nearly finished with his summer internship for a big-time wealth management company and he's sticking to his plan of managing foreign investment portfolios. There's a level of detachment in that, and he's big on risk assessment. He's also grown up in a family where his father pushed hypermasculine ideals--which intensified when Marcus came out at age 11. All the cooking and housework he did while caring for his sick mother was highly frowned upon by his father, though they otherwise accept him. It was his dad's idea to go into finance, and Marcus has no real passion for it. Yet, he's pretty sure he's being pawned off on a small firm project as punishment for his unwillingness to "play nice" and go out drinking with his fellow interns. He's mad enough to go out clubbing with his long-time friend, and summer housemate, Jake. Marcus thinks he can blow off his frustration so he can blow the mind of his new "boss". And, Dre makes one hot bed partner for the night. Shit hits the fan, however, when he turns up at Ellison Investments on Monday morning and learns that Andre is the man he'd had on his mind all weekend. He does NOT want to play nice anymore.
This is an engaging twist on the boss-employee love story. First, Andre and Marcus are both very stubborn men who are inadvertently in close quarters after they developed a sexual connection. Second, both men have some internalized self-hatred to exhume to get on track. Third, their professional partnership is destined to last three weeks at most--so they decide to bank their simmering attraction until the project is complete. Fourth, Marcus has no desire to work in Andre's firm, but he's drawn to the man--and he's intensely passionate about caring for Andre, who works crazy hours to manage his client list. Fifth, Andre is not TECHNICALLY employing Marcus, as he's paid from Harold's firm. Still a power imbalance remains.
I really liked how the attraction grew over the course of the few weeks of their close acquaintance. Further, each man helps the other to confront and deconstruct the toxic masculinity they've absorbed through their male family members. They each meet the other's family--not always by design--and their fresh perspective makes all the difference in the interpersonal interactions and their own internalized loathing. Those moments were especially rewarding because they were points of great self-reflection and growth for each man.
Naturally, while the romance is developing and the professional side is becoming promising, there will be moments of intense conflict. I think this was handled deftly, because it could have been wrapped up quicker, but in a way that may have been less satisfying. These are both strong, educated, intelligent black men. They need time to work through their feelings, and plot a course to reconciliation. Marcus was the one to walk away, and he's not sure how to ask forgiveness. Andre has realized that he's met his forever man, and even if their relationship might be unconventional--even for a gay partnership--he's willing to be the man Marcus wants to care for. It's a satisfying read, and definitely reflects cultural touchstones of Afro-American life, both middle class and beyond. I loved Andre's dear friend and colleague Fiona, who is a proud black Domme with a white boy sub connected to Marcus' sphere. She rocks it all day, every day.
While part of a "series" the connection points are made within the apartment building in which Andre lives, where Mr. Johnson, the doorman, takes great interest in making sure his "children" (Andre and Fiona) are well-cared-for. I loved that "old heads" nod to the Afro culture; Marcus knew he needed to earn that man's respect if he was going to be a part of Andre's life long-term. The family dynamics are clearing up for both Andre and Marcus, thanks to some frank conversation, and their happily ever after is 100% assured by the end of this story. Expect some hot office innuendo, and scorching sexytimes from the outset.
September 6, 2020
This book was everything!
I just binged this book in like 12 hours and omg this book was so hot and sweet.
I really indentied so much with Marcus and his own journey. I really love the minor characters, Fiona is my favorite. I can only be as cool as her when I grow up. This book talked toxic masculinity and feminism without being too preachy about it. It just felt to me as a black queer person very black and very queer.
It was such a relief and a breath of fresh air! I will totally recommend this book to anyone who loves well written black queer romance.
I just binged this book in like 12 hours and omg this book was so hot and sweet.
I really indentied so much with Marcus and his own journey. I really love the minor characters, Fiona is my favorite. I can only be as cool as her when I grow up. This book talked toxic masculinity and feminism without being too preachy about it. It just felt to me as a black queer person very black and very queer.
It was such a relief and a breath of fresh air! I will totally recommend this book to anyone who loves well written black queer romance.
October 24, 2022
4.5 stars, B+/A-
The set up required a big suspension of disbelief, but once I relaxed into it, I really enjoyed this mm romance between two financial planners working on a big proposal.
This is my 4th and favorite Jayce Ellis romance. I’ve enjoyed her characters and her portrayal of family and community, particularly Black and queer community, in all of her books, but this is the first one where I really bought into the romance too.
It just hit all my sweet spots. I love a romance where the h/h help each other work out things with their families and the family scenes in this were particularly great. I also liked watching them figure out how to make their relationship work.
The set up required a big suspension of disbelief, but once I relaxed into it, I really enjoyed this mm romance between two financial planners working on a big proposal.
This is my 4th and favorite Jayce Ellis romance. I’ve enjoyed her characters and her portrayal of family and community, particularly Black and queer community, in all of her books, but this is the first one where I really bought into the romance too.
It just hit all my sweet spots. I love a romance where the h/h help each other work out things with their families and the family scenes in this were particularly great. I also liked watching them figure out how to make their relationship work.
July 24, 2020
Well, this one was fun. 😉 The first thing that I suppose I should mention is that you absolutely don’t need to read the first book in Jayce Ellis’ High Rise series to pick up André. As a matter of fact, unless I missed something, there’s only a very short cameo from the characters in Jeremiah and then they aren’t really introduced – I only knew who they were because I read the previous book.
I think what I liked most about André was how much both characters grew throughout the book. André had a huge chip on his shoulder and thought he knew exactly what he wanted – and definitely knew what he didn’t want – which was working for a small firm. The last thing Marcus wanted was an apprentice. He had plans to hire someone eventually, but he worked better alone – even if he was working himself ragged. It didn’t help that the two of them met prior to working together and neither one of them reacted well when the discovery was made. As they grew closer, they were determined to keep their relationship professional, even though their physical and emotional attraction was hard to ignore.
I also loved the supporting characters in André – and there were quite a few. There were also a couple that were easy to dislike, but they added another layer to the story that kept things interesting. Jayce Ellis is a “new to me” author, but I’m definitely going to be looking for more of her books in the future – whether it’s from the High Rise series or not. 😉
I received André in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I think what I liked most about André was how much both characters grew throughout the book. André had a huge chip on his shoulder and thought he knew exactly what he wanted – and definitely knew what he didn’t want – which was working for a small firm. The last thing Marcus wanted was an apprentice. He had plans to hire someone eventually, but he worked better alone – even if he was working himself ragged. It didn’t help that the two of them met prior to working together and neither one of them reacted well when the discovery was made. As they grew closer, they were determined to keep their relationship professional, even though their physical and emotional attraction was hard to ignore.
I also loved the supporting characters in André – and there were quite a few. There were also a couple that were easy to dislike, but they added another layer to the story that kept things interesting. Jayce Ellis is a “new to me” author, but I’m definitely going to be looking for more of her books in the future – whether it’s from the High Rise series or not. 😉
I received André in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 9, 2020
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This is the story of a financial advisor who inadvertently falls for his new intern. Andre is shocked to discover that his new intern is also his most recent hookup. But in order for Andre to win the big contract he needs for his new business, he and Marcus have to find a way to work together without their personal history causing any issues.
I have to admit that I find corporate finance incredibly dull. For most of the book, Andre and Marcus spend all of their time at work. Andre works and he sleeps. And while Marcus works as his intern, Marcus works and he sleeps. Fans of shows such as Suits might really enjoy the deadlines and workplace politics but I found parts of this story pretty slow and I found myself glazing over far too many times.
This book is at its strongest when it leaves the office and gets personal. Both Marcus and Andre have complicated, difficult relationships with their parents. Both men also have difficulty as gay black men finding a way to belong to both the white corporate world and the black communities they grew up in. Their experiences are complicated and their feelings get raw pretty quickly. The support Marcus and Andre lend each other is special and their connection is pretty wonderful because they make each other better, stronger versions of themselves. I would have enjoyed more of Marcus and Andre beyond the office - but the reality is that neither man has much time beyond the office.
This is the story of a financial advisor who inadvertently falls for his new intern. Andre is shocked to discover that his new intern is also his most recent hookup. But in order for Andre to win the big contract he needs for his new business, he and Marcus have to find a way to work together without their personal history causing any issues.
I have to admit that I find corporate finance incredibly dull. For most of the book, Andre and Marcus spend all of their time at work. Andre works and he sleeps. And while Marcus works as his intern, Marcus works and he sleeps. Fans of shows such as Suits might really enjoy the deadlines and workplace politics but I found parts of this story pretty slow and I found myself glazing over far too many times.
This book is at its strongest when it leaves the office and gets personal. Both Marcus and Andre have complicated, difficult relationships with their parents. Both men also have difficulty as gay black men finding a way to belong to both the white corporate world and the black communities they grew up in. Their experiences are complicated and their feelings get raw pretty quickly. The support Marcus and Andre lend each other is special and their connection is pretty wonderful because they make each other better, stronger versions of themselves. I would have enjoyed more of Marcus and Andre beyond the office - but the reality is that neither man has much time beyond the office.
July 21, 2020
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
What a fantastic office romance. Andre and Marcus meet at a bar and have an off the charts one night stand, only to find on Monday they are working together. Marcus is an intern at a large finance company and has been loaned out to Andre and his one man show to assist with catching a new client.
I loved their reactions when they realise they are going to be spending the next three weeks working together. It makes it clear that it is only going to be a matter of time before professional and personal lines mix. It is tantalising to watch them try to maintain professionalism when they clearly want more. I was loving my time with Andre and Marcus so much I found myself picking the book up at every opportunity even if it only had time to read a few paragraphs.
These two men as they give us a sophisticated and sexy romance. They work hard, they take care of each other and they even throw in some personal growth on their journey too. I completely adored Andre. 5 stars.
What a fantastic office romance. Andre and Marcus meet at a bar and have an off the charts one night stand, only to find on Monday they are working together. Marcus is an intern at a large finance company and has been loaned out to Andre and his one man show to assist with catching a new client.
I loved their reactions when they realise they are going to be spending the next three weeks working together. It makes it clear that it is only going to be a matter of time before professional and personal lines mix. It is tantalising to watch them try to maintain professionalism when they clearly want more. I was loving my time with Andre and Marcus so much I found myself picking the book up at every opportunity even if it only had time to read a few paragraphs.
These two men as they give us a sophisticated and sexy romance. They work hard, they take care of each other and they even throw in some personal growth on their journey too. I completely adored Andre. 5 stars.
November 19, 2021
Liked the height difference, but, DNF at 12%.
I stopped reading this many days ago, bored with the trope (oh no, you're my boss?), bored with a sex scene. I tried to get back into it, but I'm not interested in these characters.
Obviously, I am not this novel's target audience. But also, that's one of the tiredest of tired tropes in romance.
I stopped reading this many days ago, bored with the trope (oh no, you're my boss?), bored with a sex scene. I tried to get back into it, but I'm not interested in these characters.
Obviously, I am not this novel's target audience. But also, that's one of the tiredest of tired tropes in romance.
January 29, 2024
André is easily worth three-and-a-half or even four stars on its merits, but for some reason, I found it a slog. I've read one other Jayce Ellis romance (Learned Reactions) and I didn't care for the main characters or perhaps more accurately, I didn't care for their relationship development. While the details have since faded, I hesitated to take a chance on André. I only did so because a reviewer commented that unlike many romance novels, the conflict felt novel and authentic. It doesn't hinge either on a miscommunication or a nefarious plot to separate the heroes, and I craved a change of pace. I can safely say that I like both André and Marcus as well as the supporting cast of relatives, mentors, and friends. They're fully realized people with desires and messy family dynamics that come to shape their interactions, not only with one another, but with the world around them. I nonetheless found myself bored.
I didn't care about their professional aspirations and I never felt as if I had a real sense of their professional lives. It's likely because I have little to no familiarity with personal finance and I didn't need much more information than the text provided, but the (inconsequential) office politics seemed to stretch on and on. It helped when the action ramped up , but I think for me, it was too little, too late. I expected the story to end shortly after their all-important presentation and I felt a little disappointed that I still had a third of the book left.
It's not that I couldn't see anywhere else for André and Marcus to go. From a narrative perspective, they absolutely needed to spend time together as a couple rather than as placement supervisor and intern and the conflict(s) had to play out. While I think the tension between their respective desires and the (gendered, racialized) expectations imposed on them are interesting, I have mixed feelings about the execution here. André can't focus exclusively on the root cause of his sexual hang-ups if he'd like to resolve (or even simply address) them, and he'd be better served if he waited until he was ready. I appreciate that Marcus doesn't necessarily have the perfect response, but I wish the characters had revisited the conversation before
Instead, the focus seemed to shift to Marcus as he concludes that he'd be happiest as a I don't have an issue with the idea in and of itself, but I found it hard to believe that a goal-oriented, pragmatic man wouldn't pause to consider anything beyond his own feelings. I wasn't alone as his best friend, Jake; his parents, Mr and Mrs Thompson; and André are united in their disbelief. It just doesn't feel plausible that with a degree in finance, a risk-averse approach to life, and 25 years under capitalism, Marcus wouldn't pause to consider brass tacks.
His academic advisor, Brenda Fairley, doesn't know that he's only a couple months into his relationships with André, but she does point out that Marcus would be vulnerable without a degree or work experience if anything should happen to his support network. (They're in the US and André is a small business owner, so even if we put aside the possibility of a break-up, a serious health scare alone could destroy them.) I get that Marcus first shares his feelings under challenging circumstances, and he certainly has a right to process. It just felt wildly inconsistent and I never felt satisfied with the narrative explanation.
In many ways, it seemed like a tomorrow problem that the characters were forced to deal with prematurely and they did a poor job of it. The subsequent split didn't make a lot of sense to me, but I'm sure there are readers for whom it hit different. It might even have worked for me if there had been more time and space to play through these issues, but I just didn't feel it. I love that Ellis took these characters in a different direction than the stale, tired norm. Their problems felt real, even if I am a little confounded about the way they played out.
It is refreshing to see two characters struggling with what sex means to/for them and how to make their way in the world and why they want the things they do (or don't). I think that's missing from a lot of romance because it's simpler to have a miscommunication spiral out of control, and it risks less. I prefer to see my heroes mess up and get it wrong and apologize. For all my gripes, I loved Marcus and André, individually and with one another. I continue to enjoy the strong prose and I think the relationship development here is solid. I'm always happy to see sustained attention to and respect for black, queer life. There were some things that really resonated for me, though I differ a lot from these characters. Unfortunately, I think I have to conclude that whether due to subject matter, pacing, or some ineffable quality, Jayce Ellis isn't necessarily the author for me. I think that Ellis's work is worth a read to see if it might be for you and I hope other readers find what I went looking for in these pages.
I didn't care about their professional aspirations and I never felt as if I had a real sense of their professional lives. It's likely because I have little to no familiarity with personal finance and I didn't need much more information than the text provided, but the (inconsequential) office politics seemed to stretch on and on. It helped when the action ramped up , but I think for me, it was too little, too late. I expected the story to end shortly after their all-important presentation and I felt a little disappointed that I still had a third of the book left.
It's not that I couldn't see anywhere else for André and Marcus to go. From a narrative perspective, they absolutely needed to spend time together as a couple rather than as placement supervisor and intern and the conflict(s) had to play out. While I think the tension between their respective desires and the (gendered, racialized) expectations imposed on them are interesting, I have mixed feelings about the execution here. André can't focus exclusively on the root cause of his sexual hang-ups if he'd like to resolve (or even simply address) them, and he'd be better served if he waited until he was ready. I appreciate that Marcus doesn't necessarily have the perfect response, but I wish the characters had revisited the conversation before
Instead, the focus seemed to shift to Marcus as he concludes that he'd be happiest as a I don't have an issue with the idea in and of itself, but I found it hard to believe that a goal-oriented, pragmatic man wouldn't pause to consider anything beyond his own feelings. I wasn't alone as his best friend, Jake; his parents, Mr and Mrs Thompson; and André are united in their disbelief. It just doesn't feel plausible that with a degree in finance, a risk-averse approach to life, and 25 years under capitalism, Marcus wouldn't pause to consider brass tacks.
His academic advisor, Brenda Fairley, doesn't know that he's only a couple months into his relationships with André, but she does point out that Marcus would be vulnerable without a degree or work experience if anything should happen to his support network. (They're in the US and André is a small business owner, so even if we put aside the possibility of a break-up, a serious health scare alone could destroy them.) I get that Marcus first shares his feelings under challenging circumstances, and he certainly has a right to process. It just felt wildly inconsistent and I never felt satisfied with the narrative explanation.
In many ways, it seemed like a tomorrow problem that the characters were forced to deal with prematurely and they did a poor job of it. The subsequent split didn't make a lot of sense to me, but I'm sure there are readers for whom it hit different. It might even have worked for me if there had been more time and space to play through these issues, but I just didn't feel it. I love that Ellis took these characters in a different direction than the stale, tired norm. Their problems felt real, even if I am a little confounded about the way they played out.
It is refreshing to see two characters struggling with what sex means to/for them and how to make their way in the world and why they want the things they do (or don't). I think that's missing from a lot of romance because it's simpler to have a miscommunication spiral out of control, and it risks less. I prefer to see my heroes mess up and get it wrong and apologize. For all my gripes, I loved Marcus and André, individually and with one another. I continue to enjoy the strong prose and I think the relationship development here is solid. I'm always happy to see sustained attention to and respect for black, queer life. There were some things that really resonated for me, though I differ a lot from these characters. Unfortunately, I think I have to conclude that whether due to subject matter, pacing, or some ineffable quality, Jayce Ellis isn't necessarily the author for me. I think that Ellis's work is worth a read to see if it might be for you and I hope other readers find what I went looking for in these pages.
July 26, 2020
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes. This in no way affects my review; all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own.
Content notes:
André has been running his own financial firm for several years, but when the chance to work with the big firm he used to work for gives his firm a chance to grow, he decides to submit a proposal. Though he’s one of the finalists for the Pennington account, he has to work with one of Clarymore’s interns for three weeks to put together a proposal. André doesn’t want to work with an intern, so in an effort to mitigate stress the weekend before the competition is under way, he meets Marcus and they have a spectacular one night stand. Monday morning reveals Marcus is the intern, and the sparks between them are hard to ignore.
One of the things I really enjoy with this series is the close friendships. This definitely stands alone despite being the second in the series; there is no real character crossover and only a very brief cameo of the couple from book one. I love the ways friends are there and different friendship dynamics are shown. It is a great example of chosen family bonds and the ways friends are great for a reality check when necessary, as well as perspective when stuck in your own feelings.
I really enjoyed André and Marcus’ romance and the way things developed from ONS to employee/employer of a sort to committed romantic feelings. The potential power dynamics from the position are addressed upfront and they make a promise to not act on their attraction until after the proposal is presented. I also enjoyed them working with the long distance when Marcus goes back to college to finish his degree. Sometimes the pacing felt a little abrupt, but overall it flowed well. I even felt like the miscommunication near the end that was biggest conflict was realistic, though by that point in story I wish they were more firmly on sweet cycle and not having a conflict.
Overall this is a really sweet romance with great characters. It does some great subversion and challenging of toxic masculinity and harmful stereotypes.
Content notes:
André has been running his own financial firm for several years, but when the chance to work with the big firm he used to work for gives his firm a chance to grow, he decides to submit a proposal. Though he’s one of the finalists for the Pennington account, he has to work with one of Clarymore’s interns for three weeks to put together a proposal. André doesn’t want to work with an intern, so in an effort to mitigate stress the weekend before the competition is under way, he meets Marcus and they have a spectacular one night stand. Monday morning reveals Marcus is the intern, and the sparks between them are hard to ignore.
One of the things I really enjoy with this series is the close friendships. This definitely stands alone despite being the second in the series; there is no real character crossover and only a very brief cameo of the couple from book one. I love the ways friends are there and different friendship dynamics are shown. It is a great example of chosen family bonds and the ways friends are great for a reality check when necessary, as well as perspective when stuck in your own feelings.
I really enjoyed André and Marcus’ romance and the way things developed from ONS to employee/employer of a sort to committed romantic feelings. The potential power dynamics from the position are addressed upfront and they make a promise to not act on their attraction until after the proposal is presented. I also enjoyed them working with the long distance when Marcus goes back to college to finish his degree. Sometimes the pacing felt a little abrupt, but overall it flowed well. I even felt like the miscommunication near the end that was biggest conflict was realistic, though by that point in story I wish they were more firmly on sweet cycle and not having a conflict.
Overall this is a really sweet romance with great characters. It does some great subversion and challenging of toxic masculinity and harmful stereotypes.
November 2, 2022
Normally I would steer clear of a book with boss/intern romance in it, but the last two books by this author made me willing to try it and I’m so glad I did! It had none of the things I hate about that trope (exploitative power imbalance, control, cruelty-as-love, misogyny usually).
The two leads had an age gap of about 10 years. Andre is 34 and Marcus is a student who is almost 25. I appreciated Andre wasn’t Marc’s direct boss but that he also worked overtime to not exploit or take advantage of him. Marcus is an adult and went after what/who he wanted. It also helped that Marcus would have been fine without the internship and even if he left it wouldn’t be a big deal, so no big consequences forcing him to stay.
I loved how the leads supported each other and protected each other. I thought it was so sad that Andre had grown to only do certain things in bed because of his family’s passive/aggressive homophobia against things ‘only women should want to do in bed.’ Look, if you’re not doing the consensual things you and your partner enjoy during sex, wtf are you doing it for? I get the pressure, and I appreciated Marcus was willing to encourage Andre to be more himself. I appreciated Andre helped Marcus learn to navigate things he struggled with at his job in a kind and positive way.
“He was so confident, so self-assured, so desperately in need of ongoing affection. Giving it to him was my jam, and I couldn’t wait to do more.” Honestly that was just the cutest dynamic between them. Andre is awesome and used to no one personally wanting to help him (his family, ex-boyfriends, etc) and is used to thinking he had to pull trice his weight to count, and Marcus admires him and likes taking care of him. That dynamic can get weird if done wrong but is awesome if done right.
The misunderstanding at the end felt a bit sudden, but it wasn’t out of place.
Also, Fiona was a genius and her relationship with Brian was just too cute!
The two leads had an age gap of about 10 years. Andre is 34 and Marcus is a student who is almost 25. I appreciated Andre wasn’t Marc’s direct boss but that he also worked overtime to not exploit or take advantage of him. Marcus is an adult and went after what/who he wanted. It also helped that Marcus would have been fine without the internship and even if he left it wouldn’t be a big deal, so no big consequences forcing him to stay.
I loved how the leads supported each other and protected each other. I thought it was so sad that Andre had grown to only do certain things in bed because of his family’s passive/aggressive homophobia against things ‘only women should want to do in bed.’ Look, if you’re not doing the consensual things you and your partner enjoy during sex, wtf are you doing it for? I get the pressure, and I appreciated Marcus was willing to encourage Andre to be more himself. I appreciated Andre helped Marcus learn to navigate things he struggled with at his job in a kind and positive way.
“He was so confident, so self-assured, so desperately in need of ongoing affection. Giving it to him was my jam, and I couldn’t wait to do more.” Honestly that was just the cutest dynamic between them. Andre is awesome and used to no one personally wanting to help him (his family, ex-boyfriends, etc) and is used to thinking he had to pull trice his weight to count, and Marcus admires him and likes taking care of him. That dynamic can get weird if done wrong but is awesome if done right.
The misunderstanding at the end felt a bit sudden, but it wasn’t out of place.
Also, Fiona was a genius and her relationship with Brian was just too cute!
July 14, 2020
I liked this one.
Andre is the second book I've read by Jayce Ellis; Jeremiah was my first. I can't put my finger on it exactly but I had a harder time getting into Andre. I suspect that it was just me and where my head was at when I started it because once I was about 40% in, I couldn't put it down. I stayed up way too late (even for this night-owl) so I could finish it.
Like book one in the series, Andre challenged me because I wasn't familiar with a lot of the slang used but that just made it a more interesting story to read. The book started off HOT as fire right out of the gate and actually then simmered to a slow burn for a while. That was necessary because what should have been a one-night stand unexpectedly turned into a boss/employee relationship. As much chemistry as these two guys had between them, I was amazed at how well they were able to keep things under control while still boss/employee.
There was a fair amount of financial jargon used, due to the occupations of both Andre and Marcus as financial planners, but it wasn't enough to put me off of the story. One of the secondary characters is a really sneaky and nasty dude – just the type of character I like to see be redeemed in a later story. I kind of doubt that will happen, though, as the series is based upon the common denominator of at least one of the MCs living in the same apartment building.
There was a pretty big twist in this story that I didn't see coming. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that it involves Marcus and a discovery he makes about himself. I was caught completely off-guard and I applaud Jayce Ellis for what she did with the character of Marcus.
If you enjoy hot as fire sexy time, two strong characters and a good cast of secondary characters Andre should be a good fit for you. BTW, although it's part of a series it totally stands alone. The two MCs from Jeremiah just make a brief cameo appearance in Andre.
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
Andre is the second book I've read by Jayce Ellis; Jeremiah was my first. I can't put my finger on it exactly but I had a harder time getting into Andre. I suspect that it was just me and where my head was at when I started it because once I was about 40% in, I couldn't put it down. I stayed up way too late (even for this night-owl) so I could finish it.
Like book one in the series, Andre challenged me because I wasn't familiar with a lot of the slang used but that just made it a more interesting story to read. The book started off HOT as fire right out of the gate and actually then simmered to a slow burn for a while. That was necessary because what should have been a one-night stand unexpectedly turned into a boss/employee relationship. As much chemistry as these two guys had between them, I was amazed at how well they were able to keep things under control while still boss/employee.
There was a fair amount of financial jargon used, due to the occupations of both Andre and Marcus as financial planners, but it wasn't enough to put me off of the story. One of the secondary characters is a really sneaky and nasty dude – just the type of character I like to see be redeemed in a later story. I kind of doubt that will happen, though, as the series is based upon the common denominator of at least one of the MCs living in the same apartment building.
There was a pretty big twist in this story that I didn't see coming. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that it involves Marcus and a discovery he makes about himself. I was caught completely off-guard and I applaud Jayce Ellis for what she did with the character of Marcus.
If you enjoy hot as fire sexy time, two strong characters and a good cast of secondary characters Andre should be a good fit for you. BTW, although it's part of a series it totally stands alone. The two MCs from Jeremiah just make a brief cameo appearance in Andre.
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
July 10, 2020
I didn't read the first book in this series, and don't believe I have missed anything. I checked some reviews and don't recall a 'Jeramiah' being in this one, so I think they will be standalones, all connected by the building (maybe?)
Andre runs his own finance business and it's soon clear that he really needs this big partnership he's about to put in a bid for, and it's this motivation that drives both the narrative and the tension. Having an amazingly sexy, fulfilling one night stand with the person who's the intern to help Andre is not the best way to begin a business arrangement, but this is what happens between boss and underling, Marcus.
These two African American gay boys have both internalised expectations and recriminations from society and their parents so that there is a strong conflict from being black and gay. This social commentary element of the story works well, especially as it explores mental health issues, although less convincing is the internal office machinations created by weasel Phil.
I also found the slang between the romantic leads were often confusing for this middle-ages white woman, but I could work out meaning through context, and do recognise how much authenticity and immediacy this language contributes to the characters and tone of the story.
The last section went off in directions that don't interest me in my mm fiction (), but I did love the way both men confront their families and explain their desires from a relationship, and try to explain nicely how much they need to reject the assumptions from their parents.
It's important to see diverse characters in fiction, and for that reason alone, I recommend this very hot, and romantic novel. Thanks to Carina press and Netgalley for advanced copy. Andre is out on July 13.
Andre runs his own finance business and it's soon clear that he really needs this big partnership he's about to put in a bid for, and it's this motivation that drives both the narrative and the tension. Having an amazingly sexy, fulfilling one night stand with the person who's the intern to help Andre is not the best way to begin a business arrangement, but this is what happens between boss and underling, Marcus.
These two African American gay boys have both internalised expectations and recriminations from society and their parents so that there is a strong conflict from being black and gay. This social commentary element of the story works well, especially as it explores mental health issues, although less convincing is the internal office machinations created by weasel Phil.
I also found the slang between the romantic leads were often confusing for this middle-ages white woman, but I could work out meaning through context, and do recognise how much authenticity and immediacy this language contributes to the characters and tone of the story.
The last section went off in directions that don't interest me in my mm fiction (), but I did love the way both men confront their families and explain their desires from a relationship, and try to explain nicely how much they need to reject the assumptions from their parents.
It's important to see diverse characters in fiction, and for that reason alone, I recommend this very hot, and romantic novel. Thanks to Carina press and Netgalley for advanced copy. Andre is out on July 13.
July 19, 2020
4.5 but I’m rounding up because I can (and also goodreads doesn’t do half stars)
After finishing Jeremiah I immediately bought this book bc I really enjoyed the warmth of the relationship building in the previous book and was looking for more of the same feeling.
This story didn’t disappoint. Marc and Andrè have some awesome chemistry and I’m happy a friend’s casual comment about Jeremiah in group chat brought me to Jayce Ellis and her writing.
I really felt the characters conflict related to family dynamics and the perception of peoples motives based on casual bigotry as people grow up. I understood how the characters ended up where they were and how their relationship stalled based on their family dynamics.
But of course the promise of HFN/HEA was there so it was good to see both Andrè and Marc work through them, navigating external family dynamics and how that impacted them as a couple.
The heat between them was there from the start and built into something beautiful between them. I also loved the supporting characters. They really helped bring depth to both Marc and Andrè.
I would love to read more about them as their relationship settles in the future.
I’m just sad there aren’t more yet. I’ve really enjoyed getting into these stories over the last 3 days.
This book can be read as a stand-alone but I would recommend the joy of Jeremiah and Collin in whatever order you choose. I’m looking forward to whatever is next in this world.
After finishing Jeremiah I immediately bought this book bc I really enjoyed the warmth of the relationship building in the previous book and was looking for more of the same feeling.
This story didn’t disappoint. Marc and Andrè have some awesome chemistry and I’m happy a friend’s casual comment about Jeremiah in group chat brought me to Jayce Ellis and her writing.
I really felt the characters conflict related to family dynamics and the perception of peoples motives based on casual bigotry as people grow up. I understood how the characters ended up where they were and how their relationship stalled based on their family dynamics.
But of course the promise of HFN/HEA was there so it was good to see both Andrè and Marc work through them, navigating external family dynamics and how that impacted them as a couple.
The heat between them was there from the start and built into something beautiful between them. I also loved the supporting characters. They really helped bring depth to both Marc and Andrè.
I would love to read more about them as their relationship settles in the future.
I’m just sad there aren’t more yet. I’ve really enjoyed getting into these stories over the last 3 days.
This book can be read as a stand-alone but I would recommend the joy of Jeremiah and Collin in whatever order you choose. I’m looking forward to whatever is next in this world.
December 10, 2021
Andre' is hardworking and is trying to grow the firm he is helming. He has an opportunity to do that through a collaboration project with the larger firm he left with stipulations. In the competition he has created a proposal to join he has to take on an intern. Andre' gives himself a night off and picks up a one night stand in an effort to relax and blow off steam. Turns out he has met his potential intern who turns out to have been his one night stand. Now the challenge for both of them is how to keep things professional, when what they experienced personally in the night they had together seemed like it could have been so much more. It is only so long before the professional merges with the personal, however both men have baggage that complicates their situation. I thought the author did a great job of portraying the tensions and the desires that course through the complicated relationship that Andre' and Marcus share.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 23, 2020
André is a relatively low angst, entertaining office romance - André and Marcus have no idea they'll be working together when they meet. Of course, the workplace dynamic of André being Marcus' boss spices things up a bit, and it adds a little something to the tension between these two. They definitely have good chemistry, and they're both likable characters. All in all, I did like the story even though there were a couple of things I wanted some type of closure for. But at the end of the day, this is a romance and it's a pretty good one, so I guess the side stuff is just that. The book is well written, and the characters are engaging, and I do enjoy the lower angst level, especially in this crazy world. I was also happy to see some diversity in the genre. We don't get nearly enough of that. This one may not have been exactly what I wanted on some things, but it was certainly worth the read and I'll be interested to see what the author does next.
December 10, 2021
A brilliant read could not put it down
This book totally drew me in I just couldn’t put it down it’s about two guys to have things in the past that is still affecting take today. Marcus and Andre met One night on at a club called the park. And as soon as they arise met they both knew they were going home together. And they had a magical night. But what they didn’t expect to happen was come Monday morning that Andre would be Marcus’s boss.
Could they keep their hands off each other??
Firstly let me tell you there is so much more than what I’ve just told you but I just don’t wanna give anymore away because I had my eyes wide open reading this book There is so much honestly so many little storylines that are going on. This book opened my heart wide open, the tales that the boys had gone through made me cry. I just wish people were more excepting.
Super exciting to read more from Jayce Ellis
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book totally drew me in I just couldn’t put it down it’s about two guys to have things in the past that is still affecting take today. Marcus and Andre met One night on at a club called the park. And as soon as they arise met they both knew they were going home together. And they had a magical night. But what they didn’t expect to happen was come Monday morning that Andre would be Marcus’s boss.
Could they keep their hands off each other??
Firstly let me tell you there is so much more than what I’ve just told you but I just don’t wanna give anymore away because I had my eyes wide open reading this book There is so much honestly so many little storylines that are going on. This book opened my heart wide open, the tales that the boys had gone through made me cry. I just wish people were more excepting.
Super exciting to read more from Jayce Ellis
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 16, 2020
Love this new book by Jayce Ellis. The second book is better than the first. Andre is a gay young man that has his firm after leaving a company after he was exposed by coworker that was his lover. Marcus is a student, works at the previous company that Andre worked at, and is interning for Andre so he can help him with an account. The two men has a passionate one stand and they didn't know that would be working together until later on. They both are attracted to each but they both have their issues. Andre is leery about any relationship after what happen and is having major issues with his family about his sexuality. Marcus is sassy, seems like he's a chip on shoulder, and indecisive about his career. The two are great together. The book is romantic, some angst, with characters, and I loved it. I'm looking forward to the next book from this author.
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