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Florida Books #3
No Souvenirs
A vacation fling. No complications. No connections. And no regrets.
Trauma surgeon Jae Sun Kim has just lost the job he wanted more than anything else in his life. Looking for a way to hit the reset button, he takes a scuba vacation. He didn’t plan on seasickness, or a dive master who is sex-on-the-beach personified.
Shane McCormack’s tendency to drift away from complicated situations has landed him a job as a dive master in Belize, which isn’t as glamorous as it sounds. But with the big three-oh looming, asking his parents to bail him out again isn’t an option. The job isn’t without its perks, though, and as soon as he figures a way to keep that hot but arrogant ass of a doctor from tossing his cookies over the side of the boat, he plans to flirt the control freak out of his brittle shell.
The close quarters on the ship generate more heat than either expects, but a vacation fling is all that’s in the plans. An unexpected adventure leaves them changed in ways that make it impossible to go back to their old lives. The risks they’ll both have to take could leave them with nothing but more scars, or the best souvenir of all.
Trauma surgeon Jae Sun Kim has just lost the job he wanted more than anything else in his life. Looking for a way to hit the reset button, he takes a scuba vacation. He didn’t plan on seasickness, or a dive master who is sex-on-the-beach personified.
Shane McCormack’s tendency to drift away from complicated situations has landed him a job as a dive master in Belize, which isn’t as glamorous as it sounds. But with the big three-oh looming, asking his parents to bail him out again isn’t an option. The job isn’t without its perks, though, and as soon as he figures a way to keep that hot but arrogant ass of a doctor from tossing his cookies over the side of the boat, he plans to flirt the control freak out of his brittle shell.
The close quarters on the ship generate more heat than either expects, but a vacation fling is all that’s in the plans. An unexpected adventure leaves them changed in ways that make it impossible to go back to their old lives. The risks they’ll both have to take could leave them with nothing but more scars, or the best souvenir of all.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 9, 2010
18 people are currently reading
820 people want to read
About the author
K.A. Mitchell
48 books1,112 followersK.A. Mitchell discovered the magic of writing at an early age when she learned that a carefully crayoned note of apology sent to the kitchen in a toy truck would earn her a reprieve from banishment to her room. Her career as a spin-control artist was cut short when her family moved to a two-story house, and her trucks would not roll safely down the stairs. Around the same time, she decided that Chip and Ken made a much cuter couple than Ken and Barbie and was perplexed when invitations to play Barbie dropped off. She never stopped making stuff up, though, and was surprised to find out that people would pay her to do it. Although the men in her stories usually carry more emotional baggage than even LAX can lose in a year, she guarantees they always find their sexy way to a happy ending.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
December 28, 2014
holy shit, that was excellent.
fun, and sexy, with some solid body-blows in the emo department.
i especially liked the tasteful disposition of angsty tropes, which somehow, in their elegance, failed to make me feel like an objectified monkeyturd.
asian MC!
and the sex is, like, nuclear.
there's too much of it unless you read this over a period of days; halfway through i was wondering whether to switch to another book until my dick stopped feeling so fapped-out.
but it felt organic (heh) and integral (mmhmm). it felt like it mostly advanced the story, and i really liked that, even if i was a little bored and beat-up after my sixth orgasm in as many hours.
recommended.
fun, and sexy, with some solid body-blows in the emo department.
i especially liked the tasteful disposition of angsty tropes, which somehow, in their elegance, failed to make me feel like an objectified monkeyturd.
asian MC!
and the sex is, like, nuclear.
there's too much of it unless you read this over a period of days; halfway through i was wondering whether to switch to another book until my dick stopped feeling so fapped-out.
but it felt organic (heh) and integral (mmhmm). it felt like it mostly advanced the story, and i really liked that, even if i was a little bored and beat-up after my sixth orgasm in as many hours.
recommended.
December 27, 2011
To say I absolutely LOVED this book just doesn't say enough as to how major awesome this book was, especially after the epic FAIL of the last book I read featuring an Asian male character. I am now adding Kim and Shane to my slowly growing pantheon of favorite couples.
No Souvenirs is M/M romance done RIGHT! The characters are men, not thinly-disguised stereotyped females. The characters have flaws, but they are also humorous at times. There is real emotion and chemistry between them. I especially loved the arrogant Jae Sun Kim; he's dry, droll and highly dominant. There's just nothing sexier than a dominant Asian male who somehow manages to make medical terminology hotter than just saying "fuck me". And what can I say about long, tall, redheaded (oh yes!) Texan Shane (aka Scuba Cowboy)? In spite of having an idiot for a governor, if there are guys like him running around that state, I'd be inclined to live there, LOL!
This isn't a fluffy love story. Both men have deep scars--in the case of Kim, one of his is covered with a Queensryche tattoo (yes! another reason for me to absolutely LOVE this book since I am a die-hard Ryche fan!)--they're also both alpha and their path to love isn't an easy one, especially for Kim, whose highly traditional and religious Koream parents would never accept their gay son so he's still in the closet to them. I hope there's a sequel where Kim finally does come out. And the sex between these two alphas is off the freaking CHAIN!!! But don't let the fact that Shane lets Kim top him at every turn fool you into thinking he's a sub. There's a feeling he's just as dominant, but also comfortable with letting another man take the reins (though at first he's a little uncertain at first). Normally I love it when both men switch, but in this case, having Kim as the main dominant was quite novel and it actually makes sense, considering his personality.
I have a brand new author to love! K.A. Mitchell rocks!
No Souvenirs is M/M romance done RIGHT! The characters are men, not thinly-disguised stereotyped females. The characters have flaws, but they are also humorous at times. There is real emotion and chemistry between them. I especially loved the arrogant Jae Sun Kim; he's dry, droll and highly dominant. There's just nothing sexier than a dominant Asian male who somehow manages to make medical terminology hotter than just saying "fuck me". And what can I say about long, tall, redheaded (oh yes!) Texan Shane (aka Scuba Cowboy)? In spite of having an idiot for a governor, if there are guys like him running around that state, I'd be inclined to live there, LOL!
This isn't a fluffy love story. Both men have deep scars--in the case of Kim, one of his is covered with a Queensryche tattoo (yes! another reason for me to absolutely LOVE this book since I am a die-hard Ryche fan!)--they're also both alpha and their path to love isn't an easy one, especially for Kim, whose highly traditional and religious Koream parents would never accept their gay son so he's still in the closet to them. I hope there's a sequel where Kim finally does come out. And the sex between these two alphas is off the freaking CHAIN!!! But don't let the fact that Shane lets Kim top him at every turn fool you into thinking he's a sub. There's a feeling he's just as dominant, but also comfortable with letting another man take the reins (though at first he's a little uncertain at first). Normally I love it when both men switch, but in this case, having Kim as the main dominant was quite novel and it actually makes sense, considering his personality.
I have a brand new author to love! K.A. Mitchell rocks!
November 4, 2013
I have to laugh because when I first spied this book on Amazon, I read the blurb and frowned. Hmm, doctor? 'Not interested…' Scuba diving? 'Know nothing about that…' It takes place on a ship? 'No, no, not for me…' Then I looked at the cover, and well, Jae Sun Kim's image kind of got to me. I am so glad I purchased it, because I would have missed reading what I believe is one of the best male/male contemporary romances ever written.
I love this story and have read it no less than eight times. I'm having a hard time preventing myself from picking it up and rereading it right now. I wish I could put into words exactly what magic K.A. Mitchell has woven with this book and will try, but feel sure I'll fall short.
What we have here is a war of wills between two very dominant personalities. The lead characters compliment each other extremely well, but it is K.A. Mitchell's thorough exploration of each of the men, via charismatic reveals of both their personalities and backgrounds, that make this novel exceptional.
Sparse, sparkling, prose provide dark glimpses into Kim Jae's Korean family background that create a symbiotic balance to his arrogant, stone-faced doctor persona which pretty much made me fall in love with him. Add in the dynamic, yet almost ethereal descriptions of his "doctors know how" lovemaking and I wanted to push Shane out of the story and replace him with yours truly.
But I couldn't and soon did not want to.
Shane, in a word, is adorable. A free spirit with the causal confidence of a surfer boy and a wide-eyed wonder to see beauty in all things, he's hiding a self esteem problem, an aversion to complexity, as well as an extremely sharp intelligence that he is slow to let anyone see, lest they "expect things" of him. 'Hmmm, I think I just described myself.'
Put these two quiet, but giant personalities together on a boat and the war for dominance begins. Full of witty repartee, to die for sex scenes and very believable characterization, K.A. Mitchell has created an engrossing and captivating tale of two highly desirable men trying to find ground with each other even as neither wants or knows how to give way.
I don't want to say any more, lest I spoil your journey. The author named this effort correctly, for the book is no souvenir… it is a prize. Thank you for penning this brilliant and sexy novel, K. A. Mitchell!
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been purchased by the reviewer.
I love this story and have read it no less than eight times. I'm having a hard time preventing myself from picking it up and rereading it right now. I wish I could put into words exactly what magic K.A. Mitchell has woven with this book and will try, but feel sure I'll fall short.
What we have here is a war of wills between two very dominant personalities. The lead characters compliment each other extremely well, but it is K.A. Mitchell's thorough exploration of each of the men, via charismatic reveals of both their personalities and backgrounds, that make this novel exceptional.
Sparse, sparkling, prose provide dark glimpses into Kim Jae's Korean family background that create a symbiotic balance to his arrogant, stone-faced doctor persona which pretty much made me fall in love with him. Add in the dynamic, yet almost ethereal descriptions of his "doctors know how" lovemaking and I wanted to push Shane out of the story and replace him with yours truly.
But I couldn't and soon did not want to.
Shane, in a word, is adorable. A free spirit with the causal confidence of a surfer boy and a wide-eyed wonder to see beauty in all things, he's hiding a self esteem problem, an aversion to complexity, as well as an extremely sharp intelligence that he is slow to let anyone see, lest they "expect things" of him. 'Hmmm, I think I just described myself.'
Put these two quiet, but giant personalities together on a boat and the war for dominance begins. Full of witty repartee, to die for sex scenes and very believable characterization, K.A. Mitchell has created an engrossing and captivating tale of two highly desirable men trying to find ground with each other even as neither wants or knows how to give way.
I don't want to say any more, lest I spoil your journey. The author named this effort correctly, for the book is no souvenir… it is a prize. Thank you for penning this brilliant and sexy novel, K. A. Mitchell!
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been purchased by the reviewer.
March 12, 2010
KA Mitchell has a pretty devoted following and her writing is an easy explanation for why. This offering fits well with the backlist as a solid story but not the best. No Souvenirs starts poorly with a sluggish beginning, too much sex and not enough plot, but soon picks up with trademark great writing and breathes life into the somewhat anemic characters to finish with a strong ending. The beginning is difficult to get into as the plot limps along, the characters have sex but rarely speak, and the setting is almost lost but stick with it as the story picks up considerably at the halfway mark and zips along to a delightful and romantic ending. It’s unfortunate that the story is so uneven and makes it a difficult one to re-read but at the end, I was glad I read it.
The story picks up with Jae Sun Kim, the resident doctor from Collision Course and friend of Aaron and Joey. Although to be honest, I didn’t remember who this was until Joey and Aaron make a physical appearance in the second half of the book and I remembered the connection with the previous book. This definitely helps as I suddenly remembered the prickly doctor and understood the added layers and depth to the man presented. However the story is about Kim as he takes an unexpected vacation when his fellowship falls through. Hoping to get away from the stress and panic of what to do with his life, Kim decides on diving in Belize. However, he still can’t stand people and even more so the divemaster with a Texas drawl, Shane. Yet the two are thrown together in a life or death situation that cements their connection.
The plot itself is good with a lot of action and character development in the second half. The first part of the book though is clumsy and lumbers sluggishly through a confusing explanation of why Kim is on vacation while seeming to force the chemistry between Shane and Kim. The tropical setting of Belize is not translated well at all and the vibrancy of the location is not well described. The various dives are quick and forgettable even as the story infuses a lot of diving terms all throughout the story so you never forget it’s a factor. In between this there is a lot of sex between Shane and Kim that offers little to either man or the story except an underlying theme of the sexual dynamics between them. The first half of the story felt boring and forced as the two men engage in sex scene after sex scene while inanely bantering. The turn at about halfway is another obvious story manipulation but not horrible since the pace picks up considerably. Here the two must work together to survive and the strong will of Kim is shown instead of just a prickly asshole. His slight panic and fear humanize the man who has shown very few likable characteristics up until now.
At this point, the book turns and becomes absorbing, interesting, and totally engaging. The dynamic between Kim and Shane is filled with tension as they rarely communicate verbally. This causes some problems but the sexual chemistry becomes more natural and electric. Although the action slows down, the pace continues to move along quickly as the relationship becomes the focus and the strength of Mitchell’s writing comes across very well. The characters become more defined and move beyond pre-set stereotypes to include subtly and depth. The relationship intensity also picks up a notch as the two men struggle with a happy ending. Surprisingly the setting of Kim’s small house in Florida comes alive much more than tropical Belize.
The characters end up as fully three dimensional with strengths and weaknesses. Their relationship is likely to be interesting and dynamic for a long time to come, which continues to make them interesting characters on their own and together. The slow first half is overtaken with a strong finish and I almost wish the two had found another way to meet. The brief cameos of Aaron and Joey are delightful and fun to see from another point of view – usually Shane’s – making them a great touch. The choice of alternating third person point of view from Kim and Shane is effective, although sometimes seems to chose the wrong POV leaving the reader in the dark too much, but mostly well done. Overall despite the bad start, the ending is worth hanging in there for a good story. Fans of the author are likely to forgive the beginning and focus on the strengths of the story and great characters.
The story picks up with Jae Sun Kim, the resident doctor from Collision Course and friend of Aaron and Joey. Although to be honest, I didn’t remember who this was until Joey and Aaron make a physical appearance in the second half of the book and I remembered the connection with the previous book. This definitely helps as I suddenly remembered the prickly doctor and understood the added layers and depth to the man presented. However the story is about Kim as he takes an unexpected vacation when his fellowship falls through. Hoping to get away from the stress and panic of what to do with his life, Kim decides on diving in Belize. However, he still can’t stand people and even more so the divemaster with a Texas drawl, Shane. Yet the two are thrown together in a life or death situation that cements their connection.
The plot itself is good with a lot of action and character development in the second half. The first part of the book though is clumsy and lumbers sluggishly through a confusing explanation of why Kim is on vacation while seeming to force the chemistry between Shane and Kim. The tropical setting of Belize is not translated well at all and the vibrancy of the location is not well described. The various dives are quick and forgettable even as the story infuses a lot of diving terms all throughout the story so you never forget it’s a factor. In between this there is a lot of sex between Shane and Kim that offers little to either man or the story except an underlying theme of the sexual dynamics between them. The first half of the story felt boring and forced as the two men engage in sex scene after sex scene while inanely bantering. The turn at about halfway is another obvious story manipulation but not horrible since the pace picks up considerably. Here the two must work together to survive and the strong will of Kim is shown instead of just a prickly asshole. His slight panic and fear humanize the man who has shown very few likable characteristics up until now.
At this point, the book turns and becomes absorbing, interesting, and totally engaging. The dynamic between Kim and Shane is filled with tension as they rarely communicate verbally. This causes some problems but the sexual chemistry becomes more natural and electric. Although the action slows down, the pace continues to move along quickly as the relationship becomes the focus and the strength of Mitchell’s writing comes across very well. The characters become more defined and move beyond pre-set stereotypes to include subtly and depth. The relationship intensity also picks up a notch as the two men struggle with a happy ending. Surprisingly the setting of Kim’s small house in Florida comes alive much more than tropical Belize.
The characters end up as fully three dimensional with strengths and weaknesses. Their relationship is likely to be interesting and dynamic for a long time to come, which continues to make them interesting characters on their own and together. The slow first half is overtaken with a strong finish and I almost wish the two had found another way to meet. The brief cameos of Aaron and Joey are delightful and fun to see from another point of view – usually Shane’s – making them a great touch. The choice of alternating third person point of view from Kim and Shane is effective, although sometimes seems to chose the wrong POV leaving the reader in the dark too much, but mostly well done. Overall despite the bad start, the ending is worth hanging in there for a good story. Fans of the author are likely to forgive the beginning and focus on the strengths of the story and great characters.
October 28, 2011
Jae Sun Kim was introduced in Collision Course as Aaron's doctor friend that flirted with Joey a bit. I actually liked Kim in Collision Course as a peripheral character because he kept Aaron on his toes, and helped Aaron to appreciate Joey more.
In No Souvenirs, Kim is on vacation after a fellowship that he was interested in didn't come through. On this trip, he rooms with dive master Shane McCormack. I'm not really into redheads OR southern accents, but I just thought Shane was adorable. But again, KAM uses the same awful formula for her Alpha male character. I HATED Jae Sun. He was SUCH a tool. Here is the formula that I thought Book 1 and Book 2 fell into. Let's see if No Souvenirs follows in these footsteps:
• One happy-go-lucky guy chasing after his man: CHECK
• One rude, arrogant, Alpha male prick who doesn't recognize love when it slaps him in the face: CHECK
• Meet to Sex in less than 60 seconds (okay, more like a day): CHECK
• D/s theme: CHECK (and to go a step further, in Diving in Deep and No Souvenirs, there are initially 2 alpha male tops and one beats the other one into submission) DOUBLE CHECK
• Issues with one of the MC's occupation: CHECK
• HEA: CHECK
I think I just read the same story 3 times. But each Alpha male character was worst than the last. Heaven forbid these guys show any emotion at all. And when they start caring about the other guy, that's when they put their jerkiness in 2nd gear and rev the asshole motor a little higher.
It was definitely time to channel some Aaron Chase before Kim ended up getting rolled under a wave stronger than any he'd been upended by when Joey tried to teach him to surf. Kim stepped away from Shane and the locker, keeping his obvious arousal hidden under the suddenly too-warm towel. "Fuck. You."
*sigh* - what I wouldn't give to be treated like that...so romantic. I can't tell you how many times I was reading and said "oh yeah, I would've walked out the door after that....yup - that too...oh yeah, I'd be so gone."
On a positive note, I did really like Joey's shirt - "I Taught Your Boyfriend That Thing You Like."
In No Souvenirs, Kim is on vacation after a fellowship that he was interested in didn't come through. On this trip, he rooms with dive master Shane McCormack. I'm not really into redheads OR southern accents, but I just thought Shane was adorable. But again, KAM uses the same awful formula for her Alpha male character. I HATED Jae Sun. He was SUCH a tool. Here is the formula that I thought Book 1 and Book 2 fell into. Let's see if No Souvenirs follows in these footsteps:
• One happy-go-lucky guy chasing after his man: CHECK
• One rude, arrogant, Alpha male prick who doesn't recognize love when it slaps him in the face: CHECK
• Meet to Sex in less than 60 seconds (okay, more like a day): CHECK
• D/s theme: CHECK (and to go a step further, in Diving in Deep and No Souvenirs, there are initially 2 alpha male tops and one beats the other one into submission) DOUBLE CHECK
• Issues with one of the MC's occupation: CHECK
• HEA: CHECK
I think I just read the same story 3 times. But each Alpha male character was worst than the last. Heaven forbid these guys show any emotion at all. And when they start caring about the other guy, that's when they put their jerkiness in 2nd gear and rev the asshole motor a little higher.
It was definitely time to channel some Aaron Chase before Kim ended up getting rolled under a wave stronger than any he'd been upended by when Joey tried to teach him to surf. Kim stepped away from Shane and the locker, keeping his obvious arousal hidden under the suddenly too-warm towel. "Fuck. You."
*sigh* - what I wouldn't give to be treated like that...so romantic. I can't tell you how many times I was reading and said "oh yeah, I would've walked out the door after that....yup - that too...oh yeah, I'd be so gone."
On a positive note, I did really like Joey's shirt - "I Taught Your Boyfriend That Thing You Like."
October 28, 2010
This m/m romance is what I wish all erotic romance would be: full of the hawt hawt sexy time that is part of a realistic and believable STORY.
I'm sorry, but with the exception of KA Mitchell and Megan Hart (who is not strictly an ER writer, I maintain that her books are genre-defying), I have not read a whole lot of erotic romance that is strong in the believability department. Hot, yes. But the story inevitably sounds immature, like a Playboy story, a porno narrative, or somebody's fantasy--not like people and situations that actually occur.
Joan at Dear Author wrote an excellent review: "I have learned to live with the fact that I can’t turn off my literary critic. I might want to at times, just so I can settle in and enjoy a book without thinking about it, but I can’t, so I deal with it. And it’s books like this one that makes all my training worthwhile. Watching how the symbolism of Kim’s tattoo and the imagery of death and the theme of impulsive actions weave themselves throughout the book was a wonder to behold. It’s done so smoothly, I think, so unintrusively, that it’s not obvious to any but the most obsessive reader. But it’s there and it layers the book, drawing everything together to make everything just make sense by the end.
And it’s unintrusive because you trust your readers to get it. You trust us to get the desert dry humor of these two men, their flaws and foibles and fucked-up motivations. You trust us to understand and in doing that, present us with an amazing story because you’re letting the characters speak for themselves without any unnecessary explanatory narration."
Anyway: Fantastic writing. Hot sex. Touching love story. What more could you ask for?
I'm sorry, but with the exception of KA Mitchell and Megan Hart (who is not strictly an ER writer, I maintain that her books are genre-defying), I have not read a whole lot of erotic romance that is strong in the believability department. Hot, yes. But the story inevitably sounds immature, like a Playboy story, a porno narrative, or somebody's fantasy--not like people and situations that actually occur.
Joan at Dear Author wrote an excellent review: "I have learned to live with the fact that I can’t turn off my literary critic. I might want to at times, just so I can settle in and enjoy a book without thinking about it, but I can’t, so I deal with it. And it’s books like this one that makes all my training worthwhile. Watching how the symbolism of Kim’s tattoo and the imagery of death and the theme of impulsive actions weave themselves throughout the book was a wonder to behold. It’s done so smoothly, I think, so unintrusively, that it’s not obvious to any but the most obsessive reader. But it’s there and it layers the book, drawing everything together to make everything just make sense by the end.
And it’s unintrusive because you trust your readers to get it. You trust us to get the desert dry humor of these two men, their flaws and foibles and fucked-up motivations. You trust us to understand and in doing that, present us with an amazing story because you’re letting the characters speak for themselves without any unnecessary explanatory narration."
Anyway: Fantastic writing. Hot sex. Touching love story. What more could you ask for?
April 22, 2013
3.5 Stars
Jae Sun Kim is a trauma surgeon and all-around arrogant prick. On a diving vacation in Belize he strikes up a sex-fest with the dive-master, Shane McCormack. Both have issues with love and commitment but neither can deny their irrepressible attraction to each other both in and out of bed.
This was another satisfying sequel to the Florida Books series. True to form, this installment had a lot of hot sex, a tiny bit of angst, and very light romance. I enjoy K.A. Mitchell’s books but sometimes I want more sweetness … more romance … more something. This was no exception. I liked both Jay and Shane but Jay’s prickiness made him an unbearable ass at times. Jay and Shane get their sh*t together eventually and everything worked out in the end but I found myself wanting a taste of sweetness to reassure myself of their hard won HEA. In this case, were just the toppings I needed; I just wish I had the opportunity to enjoy it more. Perhaps an epilogue?
Bottom line: a sexy sequel to the Florida Books series.
Jae Sun Kim is a trauma surgeon and all-around arrogant prick. On a diving vacation in Belize he strikes up a sex-fest with the dive-master, Shane McCormack. Both have issues with love and commitment but neither can deny their irrepressible attraction to each other both in and out of bed.
This was another satisfying sequel to the Florida Books series. True to form, this installment had a lot of hot sex, a tiny bit of angst, and very light romance. I enjoy K.A. Mitchell’s books but sometimes I want more sweetness … more romance … more something. This was no exception. I liked both Jay and Shane but Jay’s prickiness made him an unbearable ass at times. Jay and Shane get their sh*t together eventually and everything worked out in the end but I found myself wanting a taste of sweetness to reassure myself of their hard won HEA. In this case, were just the toppings I needed; I just wish I had the opportunity to enjoy it more. Perhaps an epilogue?
Bottom line: a sexy sequel to the Florida Books series.
October 6, 2010
I realy liked this story. Cool and unemotional trauma surgeon Jay has his entire life planned out by the second. But then not only do his professional plans come apart, his personal life receives an unexpected shock as well when he meets Shane. Shane is almost the exact opposite: a drifter who has a different profession every few weeks, and who feels worthless, despite the fact that he has multiple advanced degrees.
When they go through a life-changing event together, both men change. Shane accepts it immediately, Jay takes a little longer. It almost destroys their budding relationship, and held me on the edge of my seat until the last page. The explanation at the end helped me understand what Jay's problem was, but it would have made him a more likeable character if I'd had a hint of that much earlier in the book. It would have enabled me to connect to him more strongly, too. Even so, this was a very good read.
When they go through a life-changing event together, both men change. Shane accepts it immediately, Jay takes a little longer. It almost destroys their budding relationship, and held me on the edge of my seat until the last page. The explanation at the end helped me understand what Jay's problem was, but it would have made him a more likeable character if I'd had a hint of that much earlier in the book. It would have enabled me to connect to him more strongly, too. Even so, this was a very good read.
April 1, 2012
Two wonderful protagonists! For Jae Sun, arrogant control freak, rendered almost autistic by an old trauma, everything is about skill and knowing all the answers. Feelings don't figure into his conception of the world. Shane, hedonist and drifter, has a propensity to get into trouble because he is used to follow his instincts. He hides his vulnerability behind a the facade of a dumb hick and his insecurities behind his seemingly careless swagger. How can those two match? They do; in fact, they're perfect for each other. They struggle, they fight, each other and FOR each other with claws and teeth, and still manage to find healing with and from each other. And I can't remember another book where so much sex had so much meaning - and was so hot to read. Powerfully written and simply beautiful. Highly recommended!
November 9, 2012
2.5 stars
No Souvenirs redeemed itself in the second half of the book. The first half was boring and moved along too slowly. I also didn't really feel the attraction between Shane and Kim at first. Kim was detached and unemotional. The only thing that saved him was his streak of arrogance. By the second half of the book I started warming up to Kim more. The plot picked up and I found myself wanting to know more about Kim. I was glad to see him open up at the end but of course he took his feelings a little too far by mentioning Even if is was a joke, it still seemed out of place.
Now on to Dylan's book!
No Souvenirs redeemed itself in the second half of the book. The first half was boring and moved along too slowly. I also didn't really feel the attraction between Shane and Kim at first. Kim was detached and unemotional. The only thing that saved him was his streak of arrogance. By the second half of the book I started warming up to Kim more. The plot picked up and I found myself wanting to know more about Kim. I was glad to see him open up at the end but of course he took his feelings a little too far by mentioning Even if is was a joke, it still seemed out of place.
Now on to Dylan's book!
November 18, 2010
I have had a draining week, and I'm trying like hell to work on my own writing, but I'm bone-weary of the world, and it's like wading through a bog. I decide I have deserved a break and finally act on Sarah Frantz's insistence I read No Souvenirs. God damn, but I'm so fucking glad I did.
I think this book was perfect for me because it was so much catharsis. It'd be good on any day, I'd think, but for me this week I really, really needed to watch Kim's order get broken down by love. I don't know precisely why I needed that. Probably something to do with having to smile through a nine-year-old daughter's birthday as my beloved cat of fifteen years wasted away until I had to cradle her all the way to her euthanasiation because she could barely lift her head. (Spell check is not liking "euthanisation," but spell check can bite me.) And trying to write book three of my most successful series to date while ALSO writing a fucking historical. Yes, I'm insane. Stop pointing it out.
Anyway. My life had me so tired and stressed out that last night after getting more chiropractic adjustments on my neck than I knew could be done, I was so strung out I couldn't stand the sound of drawers being shut in the kitchen, so I downloaded this book. I stayed up too late reading it in bed, lamented I didn't have it when I got stuck waiting at an appointment, and gave myself permission to get further behind on my writing so I could finish it. I laughed, I snickered, I purred at the yummy sex, and I felt something heavy let go in me at the end. In short, I got a vacation I badly needed in the care of an author who never once let me get hurt, and I was never worried for a minute that she'd let the world so much as stumble, let alone harm me. And I was not disappointed.
Thank you, Ms. Mitchell, for giving my soul some much needed respite. I'd make a cheesy crack about the great souvenir you gave me, but I shall resist. (Except of course you're thinking it now, so I still win.)
I think this book was perfect for me because it was so much catharsis. It'd be good on any day, I'd think, but for me this week I really, really needed to watch Kim's order get broken down by love. I don't know precisely why I needed that. Probably something to do with having to smile through a nine-year-old daughter's birthday as my beloved cat of fifteen years wasted away until I had to cradle her all the way to her euthanasiation because she could barely lift her head. (Spell check is not liking "euthanisation," but spell check can bite me.) And trying to write book three of my most successful series to date while ALSO writing a fucking historical. Yes, I'm insane. Stop pointing it out.
Anyway. My life had me so tired and stressed out that last night after getting more chiropractic adjustments on my neck than I knew could be done, I was so strung out I couldn't stand the sound of drawers being shut in the kitchen, so I downloaded this book. I stayed up too late reading it in bed, lamented I didn't have it when I got stuck waiting at an appointment, and gave myself permission to get further behind on my writing so I could finish it. I laughed, I snickered, I purred at the yummy sex, and I felt something heavy let go in me at the end. In short, I got a vacation I badly needed in the care of an author who never once let me get hurt, and I was never worried for a minute that she'd let the world so much as stumble, let alone harm me. And I was not disappointed.
Thank you, Ms. Mitchell, for giving my soul some much needed respite. I'd make a cheesy crack about the great souvenir you gave me, but I shall resist. (Except of course you're thinking it now, so I still win.)
March 1, 2016
I read book 2 in the Florida series, Collision Course, back in June of 2012. I liked it a lot, and I remember I'd planned on getting to 'No Souvenirs' soon after. I didn't get to it until February of 2016.
Well, better late than never I suppose.
It would be very easy to get fed up by both of the MCs and their actions. Jae is emotionally stunted, the result of his rigid upbringing and suppressing his desires. On the other hand, Shane isn't very mature, and has never been able to settle on anything in either his personal or professional lives. When the two first meet on board a diving cruise they don't necessarily like each other, but they definitely want to get in each other's pants.
The emotional side of the relationship grows slowly, which I liked. Given the situations the two are put in, it would have been easy to throw in some insta-love. I thought the pace that Jae and Shane took was realistic, with their personal issues. Sometimes the two are rude and snarky to each other, but it was funny and cute. Instead of emotions, these two talk through sex.
I loved that 'No Souvenirs' turned the stereotype of the sweet and submissive Asian on its head. Jae Sun isn't docile or submissive by any definition of the word. In fact, he's very much so the dominant partner in bed, which suits Shane just fine.
And the sex was hawt. I may have even re-read a couple of sex scenes. Twice.
The resolution was again realistic, yet very sweet. There are a couple of things which weren't completely settled, but it made sense. Overall though, both Shane and Jae got their heads out of their asses and dealt with their problems so that they could become a real couple.
Well, better late than never I suppose.
It would be very easy to get fed up by both of the MCs and their actions. Jae is emotionally stunted, the result of his rigid upbringing and suppressing his desires. On the other hand, Shane isn't very mature, and has never been able to settle on anything in either his personal or professional lives. When the two first meet on board a diving cruise they don't necessarily like each other, but they definitely want to get in each other's pants.
The emotional side of the relationship grows slowly, which I liked. Given the situations the two are put in, it would have been easy to throw in some insta-love. I thought the pace that Jae and Shane took was realistic, with their personal issues. Sometimes the two are rude and snarky to each other, but it was funny and cute. Instead of emotions, these two talk through sex.
I loved that 'No Souvenirs' turned the stereotype of the sweet and submissive Asian on its head. Jae Sun isn't docile or submissive by any definition of the word. In fact, he's very much so the dominant partner in bed, which suits Shane just fine.
And the sex was hawt. I may have even re-read a couple of sex scenes. Twice.
The resolution was again realistic, yet very sweet. There are a couple of things which weren't completely settled, but it made sense. Overall though, both Shane and Jae got their heads out of their asses and dealt with their problems so that they could become a real couple.
March 20, 2011
I have said this before but it still holds true. KA Mitchell writes very compelling characters that have realistic baggage and issues that must be overcome. That is standard for books that I have read by her. This one is no different. She also writes very well with fantastic imagery and some great lines of thought.
I loved this book. Both Jae Sun (Kim) and Shane are interesting and I cared about them both quickly. I wanted them to be happy and to find what they needed in each other. The book is balanced with witty dialog, messy emotional turmoil, great sex and adventure.
I love that Kim reacts first to everything in a scientific medical way and that Shane understands it. I love that Shane isn’t too afraid to acknowledge feelings even if he knows that Kim really is. More importantly they both see through the barriers and see each other. Gradually, they both shift in personality to help bridge the gaps in ways that are not unrealistic or so out of character as to be unbelievable or unsustainable. That is a rare connection and it’s something that K.A. Mitchell writes fabulously. She doesn’t need psychos or coincidence or crazy exes to make the story weighty and meaty while focusing on the relationship between the two main characters rather than any distracting outside issue to move the couple forward one step at a time.
It was very nice to visit, albeit briefly, with Aaron and Joey again too from "Collision Course." I can only wish to take home a tacky souvenir like Shane from a scuba trip to Belize. We could all be so lucky. I highly recommend this book.
I loved this book. Both Jae Sun (Kim) and Shane are interesting and I cared about them both quickly. I wanted them to be happy and to find what they needed in each other. The book is balanced with witty dialog, messy emotional turmoil, great sex and adventure.
I love that Kim reacts first to everything in a scientific medical way and that Shane understands it. I love that Shane isn’t too afraid to acknowledge feelings even if he knows that Kim really is. More importantly they both see through the barriers and see each other. Gradually, they both shift in personality to help bridge the gaps in ways that are not unrealistic or so out of character as to be unbelievable or unsustainable. That is a rare connection and it’s something that K.A. Mitchell writes fabulously. She doesn’t need psychos or coincidence or crazy exes to make the story weighty and meaty while focusing on the relationship between the two main characters rather than any distracting outside issue to move the couple forward one step at a time.
It was very nice to visit, albeit briefly, with Aaron and Joey again too from "Collision Course." I can only wish to take home a tacky souvenir like Shane from a scuba trip to Belize. We could all be so lucky. I highly recommend this book.
September 14, 2012
Reread: moved my rating from 4 to 5 stars. I think I enjoyed it even more the second time around. I can see this becoming a true comfort read.
Loved this series! And, I hope that there will be more.
Jae Sun's romance with Shane was a great read. I loved how Jae Sun opened up, especially after reading about him in Collision Course. And, while Jae's still sort of stiff at the end, he still grew, while not having a personality transplant. (Which was good, because I liked him the way he was.) One thing that I really liked about Jae was his dry sense of humor. He'd throw out these comments that would seem cranky or serious, and then it would become apparent he was messing with the person he was talking to. (Usually, Aaron, the hero from Collision Course.)
I also loved how Shane really put himself out there with Jae. Except for a BMU at the end, he was a really straight forward guy, which is exactly what Jae needed.
Originally read: 6/21/2010 to 6/22/2010
Reread: 9/13/2012
Loved this series! And, I hope that there will be more.
Jae Sun's romance with Shane was a great read. I loved how Jae Sun opened up, especially after reading about him in Collision Course. And, while Jae's still sort of stiff at the end, he still grew, while not having a personality transplant. (Which was good, because I liked him the way he was.) One thing that I really liked about Jae was his dry sense of humor. He'd throw out these comments that would seem cranky or serious, and then it would become apparent he was messing with the person he was talking to. (Usually, Aaron, the hero from Collision Course.)
I also loved how Shane really put himself out there with Jae. Except for a BMU at the end, he was a really straight forward guy, which is exactly what Jae needed.
Originally read: 6/21/2010 to 6/22/2010
Reread: 9/13/2012
August 9, 2013
Kim and Shane meet on a diving trip in Belize and there is an instant sexual attraction. The bond between them is strengthened after they experience a life-changing event together. Things are still uncertain for them when, on impulse, Shane travels to Florida to visit Kim. It's hard not to love Shane. He's like an open book and he throws himself out there with boundless enthusiasm. Kim is a harder character to warm up to and his inability to communicate is incredibly frustrating at times. Both men have their individual vulnerabilities and insecurities and their lack of communication leads to a misunderstanding that threatens to end their relationship. Kim and Shane make a very unusual couple but somehow together they work.
March 10, 2010
I really wanted to give this 5 stars. I love K.A. Mitchell's writing, I'm a total fangirl, and she did an awesome job with this book as always. Her sex scenes are the best in the genre, hands down. And her stories are never formulaic. She's awesome at keeping her characters and her plots and her storylines fresh. I really really really enjoyed this book.
I think the only thing keeping it from being a 5 star read is that the end just wasn't as satisfying as I wanted it to be. Which is actually kind of common of Mitchell's work and wasn't a total surprise. But I'm a sappy romantic at heart and I love a good fairy tale ending. This was more of an HFN.
I think the only thing keeping it from being a 5 star read is that the end just wasn't as satisfying as I wanted it to be. Which is actually kind of common of Mitchell's work and wasn't a total surprise. But I'm a sappy romantic at heart and I love a good fairy tale ending. This was more of an HFN.
October 6, 2013
I liked this. Shane is sweet and uncertain, even if he is totally an in the moment person who can't stay in one place too long. It was great getting under Dr. Kim's carefully structured surface. But given how the characters personalities are, I can't help but wonder what would happen after 3 years. And with the ending suggesting what it did, how that would even be possible. I'm willing to forgive a lot here though, just because I like the two of them together so much.
September 2, 2011
Beautiful, sexy and intriguing love story!
Read
January 31, 2011K.A. Mitchell continues in her light BDSM series: it’s light since it’s a type of BDSM that can be right for a wide audience, and above all, it’s not in your face. The type of BDSM in these stories are not the type you see inside dungeons or private clubs, but it’s more a thing of power play inside the relationship.
Jae Sun Kim is the very interesting and a bit aloof doctor that in Collision Course was the antagonist of Joey’s love interest, Aaron. It was clear that the love story was between Joey and Aaron, but Kim was indeed a very interesting character who deserved his own story. In No Souvenirs, Kim is on holiday in Belize and he has a fling with Shane, an American scuba-diver who is half losing time and half deciding what to do in life. So Shane is quite at the opposite of Kim, successful doctor and with his path paved in front of him. It’s not clear if Kim approached the vacation fling with the attitude of “right now” and then forget everything, but unexpectedly Shane turns the tables.
Maybe thanks to a dramatic experience that bonds them together, Shane shows at Kim’s doorstep; again, Shane’s attitude is of taking things easily, without planning the future, but Kim can’t be the same. Kim is tightly closed inside himself, with a thick shield around; he can’t allow someone that easy like Shane too much near him, he is too much of a threat for his safeness. In their relationship, love and sex, they have the same attitude: Shane, bigger and stronger in body, is used to be the top in the relationship, but when Kim makes clear that he will never bottom, Shane takes happily a dive into this new development, that allows him to continue being easy and free, being the top in the relationship is also hard work, something that Shane is more than willing to let doing to someone else; on the other hand, Kim’s refusal to being a bottom is another proof of his safe-shield, being a bottom means allowing another man to have the top hand in his fate, and that is not an option.
So when the relationship starts, things seem clear: it’s not something that will last, they don’t have to set up rules, since they don’t need them, they will not have time to follow them. But despite the unsteady basis, and maybe despite the involved men’s will, the relationship grows healthy and strong, and it’s almost with a drunken stupor that both of them will awake one morning to discover that there is something more than a fling between them, and now that they have it, they need to change their life to accommodate it, and in the end, to set up those rules.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1609280024/?...
Jae Sun Kim is the very interesting and a bit aloof doctor that in Collision Course was the antagonist of Joey’s love interest, Aaron. It was clear that the love story was between Joey and Aaron, but Kim was indeed a very interesting character who deserved his own story. In No Souvenirs, Kim is on holiday in Belize and he has a fling with Shane, an American scuba-diver who is half losing time and half deciding what to do in life. So Shane is quite at the opposite of Kim, successful doctor and with his path paved in front of him. It’s not clear if Kim approached the vacation fling with the attitude of “right now” and then forget everything, but unexpectedly Shane turns the tables.
Maybe thanks to a dramatic experience that bonds them together, Shane shows at Kim’s doorstep; again, Shane’s attitude is of taking things easily, without planning the future, but Kim can’t be the same. Kim is tightly closed inside himself, with a thick shield around; he can’t allow someone that easy like Shane too much near him, he is too much of a threat for his safeness. In their relationship, love and sex, they have the same attitude: Shane, bigger and stronger in body, is used to be the top in the relationship, but when Kim makes clear that he will never bottom, Shane takes happily a dive into this new development, that allows him to continue being easy and free, being the top in the relationship is also hard work, something that Shane is more than willing to let doing to someone else; on the other hand, Kim’s refusal to being a bottom is another proof of his safe-shield, being a bottom means allowing another man to have the top hand in his fate, and that is not an option.
So when the relationship starts, things seem clear: it’s not something that will last, they don’t have to set up rules, since they don’t need them, they will not have time to follow them. But despite the unsteady basis, and maybe despite the involved men’s will, the relationship grows healthy and strong, and it’s almost with a drunken stupor that both of them will awake one morning to discover that there is something more than a fling between them, and now that they have it, they need to change their life to accommodate it, and in the end, to set up those rules.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1609280024/?...
March 14, 2010
This started out rather weak and I thought it was going to be nothing more than mild erotica. Neither protag was appealing and I had to think back to which K A Mitchell book I enjoyed that made me look forward to this one. I'm not sure but I think it featured another Asian guy.
Anyway, to my delight, NS picked up and I ended up liking both men because they pushed past their own weak spots when they realized the other meant more, much more, than a vacation quickie. Shane is not the rough, devil-may-care dive-master bordering on Loser guy and Jae Sun is not as confident and arrogant as he appears. All posturing on both men's parts though through most of the second half, I felt for Shane in the face of Jae Sun's stony exterior. He handled Jae Sun well, though, so when I came to the end of the book, I was convinced Shane was the right guy to bring out the best in Jae Sun...because there were parts where I didn't think he was good enough - at all! - for Shane.
I was curious about Aaron's and Joey's book, not being to recall if I'd read it. I liked Joey here in NS so I looked up Collision Course and saw that I'd abandoned it because I couldn't take to a protag with 'cotton candy' hair.
Anyway, to my delight, NS picked up and I ended up liking both men because they pushed past their own weak spots when they realized the other meant more, much more, than a vacation quickie. Shane is not the rough, devil-may-care dive-master bordering on Loser guy and Jae Sun is not as confident and arrogant as he appears. All posturing on both men's parts though through most of the second half, I felt for Shane in the face of Jae Sun's stony exterior. He handled Jae Sun well, though, so when I came to the end of the book, I was convinced Shane was the right guy to bring out the best in Jae Sun...because there were parts where I didn't think he was good enough - at all! - for Shane.
I was curious about Aaron's and Joey's book, not being to recall if I'd read it. I liked Joey here in NS so I looked up Collision Course and saw that I'd abandoned it because I couldn't take to a protag with 'cotton candy' hair.
November 20, 2012
I liked this story much better than Collision Course, the previous book in the series. I never read book 1 because those MC's were seen in book 2, and I didn't care for them. Nearly the same thing happened here. I didn't care for the book 2 characters' role in this story, but that's really the only thing I didn't like.
This is the story of Dr Jae Sun Kim, the ER doc in book 2, and his love interest Shane, who he meets when he takes a vacation to Belize to be recertified in scuba diving. The chemistry is great and the development of their feelings for each other takes a long time. There is some early hot and heavy sex but the actual feelings and relationship take quite awhile to develop. I liked the way the author handled that development and let them finally have a HEA.
This is the story of Dr Jae Sun Kim, the ER doc in book 2, and his love interest Shane, who he meets when he takes a vacation to Belize to be recertified in scuba diving. The chemistry is great and the development of their feelings for each other takes a long time. There is some early hot and heavy sex but the actual feelings and relationship take quite awhile to develop. I liked the way the author handled that development and let them finally have a HEA.
March 11, 2010
Wow talk about a lengthy story and this is it in a nutshell. Not my favorite book in all the ones K.A. wrote mind you, but it was ok. This one for me was not as emotional and left me a tad detached from it. A little less info and detail wouldn't have done this story any amount of damage and a little less wouldn't have been a bad thing. Not really. I think with all the medical lingo and jargon a dictionary would have been handy for those of us not medically inclined. For me at least.
If asked what was the most memorable about this book it would be when they got stranded out to sea and Shane's life was endangered. Why? Because my reaction was thank God I can't swim cause that freaked me out.
Still a good read.
If asked what was the most memorable about this book it would be when they got stranded out to sea and Shane's life was endangered. Why? Because my reaction was thank God I can't swim cause that freaked me out.
Still a good read.
August 4, 2012
A surprise. And a good one.
KA Mitchell has turned the usual stereotypes over and has Jae Sun Kim, a do-things-right semi-nerdy Asian doctor tops Shane, our taller, more muscles and white 'hero', a sea diver jock type.
I liked that Mitchell makes Jae Sun rather not-perfect. He seems rather unknowing about people and relations, and also too wanting to have things his way. He does find a way forward, he's very toppy over Shane, and makes Shane and us like that, and how he does it.
Shane is a good guy, even if a bit lost. I liked that he found a way to be ok with being in a relationship different from whats he has known and wanted.
KA Mitchell has turned the usual stereotypes over and has Jae Sun Kim, a do-things-right semi-nerdy Asian doctor tops Shane, our taller, more muscles and white 'hero', a sea diver jock type.
I liked that Mitchell makes Jae Sun rather not-perfect. He seems rather unknowing about people and relations, and also too wanting to have things his way. He does find a way forward, he's very toppy over Shane, and makes Shane and us like that, and how he does it.
Shane is a good guy, even if a bit lost. I liked that he found a way to be ok with being in a relationship different from whats he has known and wanted.
August 24, 2013
For some reason, K.A. Mitchell's writing seems to always click with me, and this was no different.
The story is about Jae Sun Kim, a trauma surgeon who has his carefully placed plans for the future falter and reacts by taking a random vacation, on which he meets Shane, a divemaster who acts on impulse and is quite the opposite of Kim's carefully maintained personality.
Though I spent all day, a lazy day, reading this, it felt like time flew by. I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic of the two and would even love to see more of them in the future.
The story is about Jae Sun Kim, a trauma surgeon who has his carefully placed plans for the future falter and reacts by taking a random vacation, on which he meets Shane, a divemaster who acts on impulse and is quite the opposite of Kim's carefully maintained personality.
Though I spent all day, a lazy day, reading this, it felt like time flew by. I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic of the two and would even love to see more of them in the future.
October 1, 2014
This was good at about 25-30%. I put it down several times until that point. Then I read through. Like the other KA Mitchell books I've read, I think it ends somewhat abruptly. There are boatloads of issues, they build up, they resolve, and The End. It's not that I think there's more that NEEDS to be told. I suppose it's that I like to see some of the development after they break through. But that's not this author's style, as far as I can tell, and there's not anything wrong with it.
Overall, good book with some hot sex.
Overall, good book with some hot sex.
July 9, 2017
Well this was a pleasant surprise. I've never read this author before, but this book was lovely. I adored Kim and Shane, Kim especially. This is a pretty low angst, very sexy, smart and funny story. There were several moments I feared drama cliches were about to go down, but they were avoided. Instead, the plot was carried by awesome characters and good writing. Alright, the insanely hot sex scenes helped too (edging and chair sex? yes please). I also appreciated that these two were able to fall in love without dissolving into sappiness.
November 3, 2014
This is the third book in the series. And it fell a little flat for me. I mean I think it moved slow and then the conflicts seemed weird and like they were made bigger to force the story. Also there was some stuff that seemed to come out of nowhere. And this time bringing in the characters from the last book seemed odd as well. Overall it just didn't gel.
August 5, 2012
Very good m/m romance about an ER doctor who takes an impulsive dive vacation in Belize when things go awry in his life. He gets to know the dive instructor really well... Reread.
April 11, 2015
OMFG the sex is so hot by brainz are fried. What an awesome book! Review to come..
March 18, 2011
I was bored - not willing to read any of the books I had with me nor to continue the ones I'd started. But as I flicked through my digital library, I kind of felt in the mood to read about a certain, prickly Korean-American doctor who falls for a drawling, red-headed, blue-eyed scuba-diving instructor with two Ph.D.'s.
I had forgotten how much I had enjoyed this book. I loved the interactions and banter between the two protagonists. I had never really considered Asian men sexy (good-looking or cute, yes; sexy, not really) but through Shane's eyes, I was forced to reconsider - at least in the case of Dr. Jae Sun Kim. What I really appreciated about No Souvenirs was the fact that the author had portrayed an Asian man - and not the usual Chinese/Japanese/etc. man but Korean man - in a flattering light. He wasn't a geek or a martial artist but he was a doctor. What tickled me also was that although he was shorter than Shane, he was also the more dominant in bed - as Shane was startled to find out - and the shorter, Korean-American doctor topping the taller Scuba Cowboy quite forcefully was such a sexy image, I still cannot get over it.
Kim, due to personality and issues in his past, has difficulty communicating and believing in intangible things such as love. Yet, he clearly felt more than lust for Shane. The scenes where he asks Shane to stay are touching, more so for the fact that he finds himself unable to explain why he wants Shane to stay. Shane, due to past experiences, fears that he cannot commit to a long-term relationship. When they do fall for each other, it's:
and this:
I'm not bored any longer.
I had forgotten how much I had enjoyed this book. I loved the interactions and banter between the two protagonists. I had never really considered Asian men sexy (good-looking or cute, yes; sexy, not really) but through Shane's eyes, I was forced to reconsider - at least in the case of Dr. Jae Sun Kim. What I really appreciated about No Souvenirs was the fact that the author had portrayed an Asian man - and not the usual Chinese/Japanese/etc. man but Korean man - in a flattering light. He wasn't a geek or a martial artist but he was a doctor. What tickled me also was that although he was shorter than Shane, he was also the more dominant in bed - as Shane was startled to find out - and the shorter, Korean-American doctor topping the taller Scuba Cowboy quite forcefully was such a sexy image, I still cannot get over it.
Kim, due to personality and issues in his past, has difficulty communicating and believing in intangible things such as love. Yet, he clearly felt more than lust for Shane. The scenes where he asks Shane to stay are touching, more so for the fact that he finds himself unable to explain why he wants Shane to stay. Shane, due to past experiences, fears that he cannot commit to a long-term relationship. When they do fall for each other, it's:
Stay. Kim wanted to say it again, wanted to ask Shane with every thrust they made together. Ask him now when their bodies were flying on the high of all those hormones and neurotransmitters and everything made perfect sense.
and this:
"Mine's moving all right." Jay rolled on top of him. "I want to fuck you."
Jay hadn't asked him before. Just told him, and yeah, Shane knew that he liked Jay taking the reins like he had been, got harder than diamonds when Jay grabbed the back of Shane's neck and fucked into his throat. Asking felt different. It was the same quiet voice Jay had used when he'd said "Stay." It made Shane want to take Jay inside and wrap him up tight so he'd always smile like that, because that happy look on his face was too damned quick to disappear, like he was a kid whose toys kept getting snatched away.
I'm not bored any longer.
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