What do you think?
Rate this book
Workplace Encounters #1
The Elevator Mechanic
This edition is no longer available. The book will be re-released by Diversity Novels.
Joe Taylor isn't interested in anything beyond casual sex - until he meets Bill Evans.
Joe is a quiet elevator installer who longs for a more stable life than having to change work sites and teams all the time. He doesn't want a relationship, though. When he runs into Bill Evans, his priorities begin to change.
Bill is about to open his own fitness center at the new super mall north-east of Philadelphia where Joe currently works. The two men are immediately attracted to each other, and when they meet again at a gay club at the end of the work week, the sparks fly. Bill suggests a casual arrangement for weekend sex, which suits Joe initially.
But when the sex gets hotter by the weekend, and Joe begins to be attracted to Bill beyond the physical, will they be able to make a relationship work?
Joe Taylor isn't interested in anything beyond casual sex - until he meets Bill Evans.
Joe is a quiet elevator installer who longs for a more stable life than having to change work sites and teams all the time. He doesn't want a relationship, though. When he runs into Bill Evans, his priorities begin to change.
Bill is about to open his own fitness center at the new super mall north-east of Philadelphia where Joe currently works. The two men are immediately attracted to each other, and when they meet again at a gay club at the end of the work week, the sparks fly. Bill suggests a casual arrangement for weekend sex, which suits Joe initially.
But when the sex gets hotter by the weekend, and Joe begins to be attracted to Bill beyond the physical, will they be able to make a relationship work?
147 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 9, 2010
4 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
Serena Yates
104 books771 followersI’m a night owl and start writing when everyone else in my time zone is asleep. I’ve loved reading all my life and spent most of my childhood with my nose buried in a book. Although I always wanted to be a writer, financial independence came first. Twenty-some years and a successful business career later I took some online writing classes and never looked back.
Living and working in eight countries has taught me that there is more than one way to get things done. It has instilled tremendous respect for the many different cultures, beliefs, attitudes, and preferences that exist on our planet.
I like exploring those differences in my stories, most of which happen to be romances. My characters have a tendency to want to do their own thing, so I often have to rein them back in. The one thing we all agree on is the desire for a happy ending.
I currently live in Canada, sharing my house with a vast collection of books. I like reading, traveling, spending time with my nieces and listening to classical music. I have a passion for science and learning new languages.
Living and working in eight countries has taught me that there is more than one way to get things done. It has instilled tremendous respect for the many different cultures, beliefs, attitudes, and preferences that exist on our planet.
I like exploring those differences in my stories, most of which happen to be romances. My characters have a tendency to want to do their own thing, so I often have to rein them back in. The one thing we all agree on is the desire for a happy ending.
I currently live in Canada, sharing my house with a vast collection of books. I like reading, traveling, spending time with my nieces and listening to classical music. I have a passion for science and learning new languages.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
April 13, 2011
Generally when I review a book, I start off with a two paragraph blurb. I'd focus on one character per paragraph, touching on what makes them tick while giving an idea of the plot. For this book, however, I'm finding it impossible to stick to my usual style.
First off, there's little to no characterization to speak of. Little sets the two characters, Joe Taylor and Bill Evans, apart. Ms. Yates all but forgot to give them personalities and backgrounds. They're cardboard cutouts lamely occupying plot roles. Bill's the alpha male and Joe's the heroine.
Secondly, there's not much of a plot going on. I'd say it's formulaic, which it is, but that's only the half of it. It's also absurdly shallow. It's written at the level of an elementary chapter book. Joe and Bill lock eyes, Joe and Bill bump into each other at a club, Joe and Bill have sex, Joe and Bill fall in love, the end. There's no sexual tension, ambiguity, character arc, conflict, tension arc, etc.
Finally, the book is just juvenile. The writing is execrable. Gems include:
There is nothing about this book to recommend it. It takes the concept of "poorly written" to startling new heights. Avoid at all costs, unless you're in the mood for a trainwreck read.
First off, there's little to no characterization to speak of. Little sets the two characters, Joe Taylor and Bill Evans, apart. Ms. Yates all but forgot to give them personalities and backgrounds. They're cardboard cutouts lamely occupying plot roles. Bill's the alpha male and Joe's the heroine.
Secondly, there's not much of a plot going on. I'd say it's formulaic, which it is, but that's only the half of it. It's also absurdly shallow. It's written at the level of an elementary chapter book. Joe and Bill lock eyes, Joe and Bill bump into each other at a club, Joe and Bill have sex, Joe and Bill fall in love, the end. There's no sexual tension, ambiguity, character arc, conflict, tension arc, etc.
Finally, the book is just juvenile. The writing is execrable. Gems include:
"He leaned forward and breathed in the scent of soap and musk that rose from Joe's hairy balls."
"With their bodies touching groin to chest, kissing became a whole new experience."
"Their hips started moving automatically, his erection seeking Bill's and finding it with unerring accuracy."
"Forget fortune cookies for dessert. He was going to go for another round of Joe's sweet cream."Between the awkward, pervy moments to the bits of anatomical implausibility, the book was on par with fanfic. And not just fanfic, bad fanfic. I've read free wankfic on Literotica that contained more realistic dialog, richer characterization and sex scenes that were erotic rather than unintentionally hilarious.
There is nothing about this book to recommend it. It takes the concept of "poorly written" to startling new heights. Avoid at all costs, unless you're in the mood for a trainwreck read.
Read
October 9, 2010Published today, this is the first book in my series of 'Workplace Encounters'. Inspired by men meeting at work - but definitely staying away from the so-called office romance. This series will look at all types of workplace, even the occasional office may play a role, but the 'romance part' is guaranteed not to take place there.
I hope you will enjoy reading this book, and its future sequels, as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I hope you will enjoy reading this book, and its future sequels, as much as I enjoyed writing it.
October 25, 2010
I found this story alot of fun. The characters were interesting and not the type of people who would necessarily get together. That intrigued me as did the level of research and the detail it took to make the characters and their occupations believable without going into to much detail. The sex was hot but didn't overshadow the rest of the story. For a fun few hours, pick up this story.
February 3, 2011
So many random things that stuck in my head on this one, so let's play with bullet points--
* My first Serena Yates book. There shall be more.
* I'm willing to bet no one's read a story about an elevator mechanic.
* Yates did her homework on that role - she included a lot of interesting info about the job of installing elevators, but not too much info. She kept the setting real without an info dump.
* At first I didn't get into the characters or their relationship, but I couldn't say where that changed. I was iffy and then I was smiling along with them.
* Joe was adorable in his sexual shyness, but by no means effeminate - a good combination.
* I liked how Bill toned himself down to match Joe's needs, but didn't compromise his own desires.
* One sexy word: frottage
* Two more sexy words: sex toys
* I've read other stories involving spankings, but this was the first spanking scene that I found sexy... and this one was super hawt!
* My first Serena Yates book. There shall be more.
* I'm willing to bet no one's read a story about an elevator mechanic.
* Yates did her homework on that role - she included a lot of interesting info about the job of installing elevators, but not too much info. She kept the setting real without an info dump.
* At first I didn't get into the characters or their relationship, but I couldn't say where that changed. I was iffy and then I was smiling along with them.
* Joe was adorable in his sexual shyness, but by no means effeminate - a good combination.
* I liked how Bill toned himself down to match Joe's needs, but didn't compromise his own desires.
* One sexy word: frottage
* Two more sexy words: sex toys
* I've read other stories involving spankings, but this was the first spanking scene that I found sexy... and this one was super hawt!
April 4, 2011
This was a nice quick read with characters that I really liked. I love to see a character like Joe, that really learns something about himself from his relationship and applies it to his life. He becomes a better person. I would have loved to know the outcome of his lawsuit, but seeing him stand up to his asshole boss, Donald, was enough to really show me how much his time with Bill has affected him.
A really good story that covers quite a bit of ground for it's short length. With novellas, I often feel like they are novel-length stories that are masquerading as short stories. They either have the ending cut off, or skip major points of the story. This is a good example of a story that is meant for this length, with just the right amount of tension and conflict. Good job Serena!
A really good story that covers quite a bit of ground for it's short length. With novellas, I often feel like they are novel-length stories that are masquerading as short stories. They either have the ending cut off, or skip major points of the story. This is a good example of a story that is meant for this length, with just the right amount of tension and conflict. Good job Serena!
November 23, 2010
Very sexy Read
January 14, 2011
I really liked the overall plot. I thought the concept for this story was really interesting how it was based off blue-collar workers. I've never read a story about an elevator mechanic and it was quite interesting reading about the little details given on how an elevator was built.
Joe, who is the elevator mechanic, doesn't have that much sexual experience. In his line of work, you can't really be gay so he satisfies his occasional needs at clubs every couple of months. Bill is an owner of a future fitness studio. He's probably as experienced as you can get with sex, going to clubs every weekend. When Joe sees Bill at a job site, it's instant attraction but Joe leaves before any words are exchanged. When they meet again at the same club that night, Bill is determined not to let Joe get away and from there they start a no strings attached affair. However, when Joe gets hurt at work, their relationship starts to change.
Joe was a cute character. While he was a very masculine man, he still blushed whenever Bill would say sex-related things. It was adorable to me. I loved the way Bill wasn't unaffected either. They definitely make a very cute couple.
Though, while I liked the story in general, there was too much sex for my taste. If I had to guess, I'd say a little more than half the book is sex, a majority of it in the first half. Don't get me wrong, I have no problems with sex in a story but with the mood I was in, I just wasn't interested in that much of it. I also would have liked for the characters to have more background. We don't really know anything about them except for what is on the surface. I would have liked more information about their childhood, family, and friends. As it was, I just couldn't really see how they knew each other enough to love one another.
All in all, it was an alright story and I'll still read the rest of the series. I'd recommend it if you are looking for something hot to read. ;-P
Joe, who is the elevator mechanic, doesn't have that much sexual experience. In his line of work, you can't really be gay so he satisfies his occasional needs at clubs every couple of months. Bill is an owner of a future fitness studio. He's probably as experienced as you can get with sex, going to clubs every weekend. When Joe sees Bill at a job site, it's instant attraction but Joe leaves before any words are exchanged. When they meet again at the same club that night, Bill is determined not to let Joe get away and from there they start a no strings attached affair. However, when Joe gets hurt at work, their relationship starts to change.
Joe was a cute character. While he was a very masculine man, he still blushed whenever Bill would say sex-related things. It was adorable to me. I loved the way Bill wasn't unaffected either. They definitely make a very cute couple.
Though, while I liked the story in general, there was too much sex for my taste. If I had to guess, I'd say a little more than half the book is sex, a majority of it in the first half. Don't get me wrong, I have no problems with sex in a story but with the mood I was in, I just wasn't interested in that much of it. I also would have liked for the characters to have more background. We don't really know anything about them except for what is on the surface. I would have liked more information about their childhood, family, and friends. As it was, I just couldn't really see how they knew each other enough to love one another.
All in all, it was an alright story and I'll still read the rest of the series. I'd recommend it if you are looking for something hot to read. ;-P
December 5, 2010
'The Elevator Mechanic' by Serena Yates is about Bill and Joe, two men with shaky pasts, devoid of the love and support everyone deserves. Constant disappointment and ridicule caused them to retreat into themselves and avoid commitment, which effectively denied them what they needed most—a fulfilling relationship of love and trust.
Both characters showed tremendous personal growth by recognizing that when it came to each other, their fears were unfounded. They went from mistrusting, insecure men into a strong, confident couple. They slipped so naturally into a relationship that before they realized it, 'I' became 'we', and even more impressive, they were willing to admit that they were happy about it. They recognized that their passion for each other went much deeper and broader than either of them had previously experienced, then actively pursued what they needed to do in order for it to work. The old doubts and fears gave way to new truths and against all odds, they didn't let their gloomy, negative pasts rob them of a bright, positive future.
I especially loved their personality quirks--Joe's blushing, showing vulnerability as opposed to his outward passivity, and Bill with his bad boy, apathetic attitude in contrast to his nurturing tendencies. These details helped set the stage for their future success. As disillusioned as they seemed to be, subconsciously they continued to hope for something more.
'The Elevator Mechanic' is a delightful, heart warming story which I thoroughly enjoyed, and would recommend, particularly for anyone who believes in the power of love and its ability to overcome all obstacles, and in destiny, the feeling that there is someone out there meant just for you.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Queer Magazine Online
Both characters showed tremendous personal growth by recognizing that when it came to each other, their fears were unfounded. They went from mistrusting, insecure men into a strong, confident couple. They slipped so naturally into a relationship that before they realized it, 'I' became 'we', and even more impressive, they were willing to admit that they were happy about it. They recognized that their passion for each other went much deeper and broader than either of them had previously experienced, then actively pursued what they needed to do in order for it to work. The old doubts and fears gave way to new truths and against all odds, they didn't let their gloomy, negative pasts rob them of a bright, positive future.
I especially loved their personality quirks--Joe's blushing, showing vulnerability as opposed to his outward passivity, and Bill with his bad boy, apathetic attitude in contrast to his nurturing tendencies. These details helped set the stage for their future success. As disillusioned as they seemed to be, subconsciously they continued to hope for something more.
'The Elevator Mechanic' is a delightful, heart warming story which I thoroughly enjoyed, and would recommend, particularly for anyone who believes in the power of love and its ability to overcome all obstacles, and in destiny, the feeling that there is someone out there meant just for you.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Queer Magazine Online
Read
January 21, 2015Rereleased today, The Elevator Mechanic is he first of the Workplace Encounters books to be published by Dreamspinner Press. It is the story of quiet elevator installer Joe who doesn't think he needs a relationship, and experienced fitness trainer Bill, who falls in lust with Joe at first sight - but isn't looking for more than a casual encounter either. When things get hot, then hotter between them, they both reconsider their options...
Workplace Encounters is inspired by men meeting at work - but definitely staying away from the so-called office romance. This series looks at all types of workplace, even the occasional office may play a role, but the 'romance part' is guaranteed not to take place there.
Upcoming books in this series include a rerelease of The Chauffeur in early March, and a NEW story, The Bricklayer, in April.
I hope you enjoy Joe and Bill's, ahem, escapades!
Serena
P.S.: For people who bought the first edition: I have added a few scenes and details (about 4,500 words), but the story remains essentially the same.
Workplace Encounters is inspired by men meeting at work - but definitely staying away from the so-called office romance. This series looks at all types of workplace, even the occasional office may play a role, but the 'romance part' is guaranteed not to take place there.
Upcoming books in this series include a rerelease of The Chauffeur in early March, and a NEW story, The Bricklayer, in April.
I hope you enjoy Joe and Bill's, ahem, escapades!
Serena
P.S.: For people who bought the first edition: I have added a few scenes and details (about 4,500 words), but the story remains essentially the same.
October 14, 2010
Wow.
This story with amazing guys, super hot sex and a dramatically different setting from Serena’s other works was a wild eye opener for me.
I love mechanical things and the fantastic info Serena included was terrific and added just the right amount of grounding reality. The steaminess and sexual energy just blew me away.
If this is just the first of Serena’s “workplace” stories, I am panting for the rest of the series.
This story with amazing guys, super hot sex and a dramatically different setting from Serena’s other works was a wild eye opener for me.
I love mechanical things and the fantastic info Serena included was terrific and added just the right amount of grounding reality. The steaminess and sexual energy just blew me away.
If this is just the first of Serena’s “workplace” stories, I am panting for the rest of the series.
March 11, 2019
This review was first posted to Love Bytes: LGBT Book Reviews. It has been slightly edited here for content.
I was in the mood for a quick, steamy read for my next Retro Review, as well as a story grounded more in reality than in the fantastic. This is a fast, readable story with some gorgeous love scenes, but I was left wanting more.
Years before I read this book, I read another book in Yates’ “Workplace Encounters” series, The Ship Engineer. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a huge fan, and didn’t have much interest in the rest of the books. But I’d been craving romances with blue-collar protagonists after reading stories about rock stars and secret agents for so long, so I decided to go back to this series. I certainly enjoyed this story more.
Joe, the titular elevator mechanic, is instantly smitten with Bill, a personal trainer who is overseeing the opening of his own gym. But Joe is shy and unwilling to take chances until he encounters Bill at a club and they have an explosive connection. They decide on a no-strings relationship, but of course, things get more intense as feelings become involved and Joe has an accident at work.
In terms of a blue-collar main character, this story totally delivers. Joe has the real fears of a middle-class worker—he craves stability and permanence in his career rather than taking risks, because without his job, he’d have nothing. So when he gets hurt and has to rely on Bill, we really feel his pain. There’s also just enough detail about Joe’s job to keep us interested. Yates obviously did her research!
Despite some scorching kinkiness in the love scene department, we never get a very clear picture of Joe or Bill as characters. Joe has rich backstory potential, but we never learn much about it, and Bill’s need for success and independence is deserving of more detail. They create heat in the bedroom when Joe gives up control to Bill, and their instant affection towards each other is super sweet, but it lacks the substance a great novella needs to be really interesting.
At that time, this book was in its second run through Dreamspinner after being previously published through a defunct company, and it is still available through Dreamspinner today.
I was in the mood for a quick, steamy read for my next Retro Review, as well as a story grounded more in reality than in the fantastic. This is a fast, readable story with some gorgeous love scenes, but I was left wanting more.
Years before I read this book, I read another book in Yates’ “Workplace Encounters” series, The Ship Engineer. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a huge fan, and didn’t have much interest in the rest of the books. But I’d been craving romances with blue-collar protagonists after reading stories about rock stars and secret agents for so long, so I decided to go back to this series. I certainly enjoyed this story more.
Joe, the titular elevator mechanic, is instantly smitten with Bill, a personal trainer who is overseeing the opening of his own gym. But Joe is shy and unwilling to take chances until he encounters Bill at a club and they have an explosive connection. They decide on a no-strings relationship, but of course, things get more intense as feelings become involved and Joe has an accident at work.
In terms of a blue-collar main character, this story totally delivers. Joe has the real fears of a middle-class worker—he craves stability and permanence in his career rather than taking risks, because without his job, he’d have nothing. So when he gets hurt and has to rely on Bill, we really feel his pain. There’s also just enough detail about Joe’s job to keep us interested. Yates obviously did her research!
Despite some scorching kinkiness in the love scene department, we never get a very clear picture of Joe or Bill as characters. Joe has rich backstory potential, but we never learn much about it, and Bill’s need for success and independence is deserving of more detail. They create heat in the bedroom when Joe gives up control to Bill, and their instant affection towards each other is super sweet, but it lacks the substance a great novella needs to be really interesting.
At that time, this book was in its second run through Dreamspinner after being previously published through a defunct company, and it is still available through Dreamspinner today.
December 28, 2010
3.5 stars
This is the first book by Serena Yates that I read.
The good things: I really LOVE how the characters are about blue-collar workers. It's refreshing to read about an Elevator Mechanic and an owner of fitness facility. I don't think those occupations are frequently used. I also enjoy how the story is taken from both men's point of view.
Of the two, Joe is the one I enjoy the most because he has this trait that is adorable, like blushing or his wanting to explore new ways in love making. Starting as a guy, who said to be NOT standing up on his own, for getting the things he want, to being able to say what he needs to say to his boss is a character development that I like.
The love making scene has a naughty kink and pretty hot to read
The not-so-good things: I feel that the story could use a deeper exploration, especially in Joe's past -- and why he is behaving like he does. We are only given bits and pieces of information, which left me wanting for more. Also, I would love to see more action in Bill to coax that from Joe. It seems like Bill is only thinking about it, he sense that there's something behind it, but never actually DO anything about it. Therefore, it doesn't pack enough punches or emotion for me to give it higher rating.
This is the first book by Serena Yates that I read.
The good things: I really LOVE how the characters are about blue-collar workers. It's refreshing to read about an Elevator Mechanic and an owner of fitness facility. I don't think those occupations are frequently used. I also enjoy how the story is taken from both men's point of view.
Of the two, Joe is the one I enjoy the most because he has this trait that is adorable, like blushing or his wanting to explore new ways in love making. Starting as a guy, who said to be NOT standing up on his own, for getting the things he want, to being able to say what he needs to say to his boss is a character development that I like.
The love making scene has a naughty kink and pretty hot to read
The not-so-good things: I feel that the story could use a deeper exploration, especially in Joe's past -- and why he is behaving like he does. We are only given bits and pieces of information, which left me wanting for more. Also, I would love to see more action in Bill to coax that from Joe. It seems like Bill is only thinking about it, he sense that there's something behind it, but never actually DO anything about it. Therefore, it doesn't pack enough punches or emotion for me to give it higher rating.
February 5, 2011
The Elevator Mechanic by Serena Yates was one hot quick read.
There’s something about blue collar workers that is enticing. Joe is the more effeminate of males, possessing keen intelligence and intuitive skills for his job. Unfortunately, he lacked the self confidence to stand up for himself. This is the same characteristic that had Joe sitting on the sidelines of love.
Until he meets Bill, an entrepreneur with dreams and plans of his own. Both men have issues from their childhood that make them wary of long term commitment, the kind where emotions are bared for anyone to see.
When an accident happened on the job, Bill needed to decide what was more important, showing love, allowing it to grow or putting its existence on the back burner. Joe had to find it in himself how to deal with a bully, and finally stand his ground.
The emotional growth of this couple was splendid, and the skyrocketing sensuality was heart melting. The culmination of both made for a fantastic read!
-- Cia, Siren Book Reviews
There’s something about blue collar workers that is enticing. Joe is the more effeminate of males, possessing keen intelligence and intuitive skills for his job. Unfortunately, he lacked the self confidence to stand up for himself. This is the same characteristic that had Joe sitting on the sidelines of love.
Until he meets Bill, an entrepreneur with dreams and plans of his own. Both men have issues from their childhood that make them wary of long term commitment, the kind where emotions are bared for anyone to see.
When an accident happened on the job, Bill needed to decide what was more important, showing love, allowing it to grow or putting its existence on the back burner. Joe had to find it in himself how to deal with a bully, and finally stand his ground.
The emotional growth of this couple was splendid, and the skyrocketing sensuality was heart melting. The culmination of both made for a fantastic read!
-- Cia, Siren Book Reviews
March 21, 2011
This story is formulaic. Boy spots boy and their eyes meet; boy later meets boy and they have sex; one of them gets fired and the other one helps him out; and on and on until they prepare to ride off into the sunset together. It should probably be in the Nifty Erotic Stories archive, where it would be a standout for its grammar and spelling, even if the sex isn't as well written as that found in many stories on Nifty.
The dialogue is choppy, probably because it isn't connected to the action. It made me think of Maggie the cat in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," when she referred to sister woman's children as "no neck monsters", because their fat little heads sat on their fat little bodies with no visible means of connection. Can we coin the phrase "no neck dialogue" to describe the way this story is structured?
An ounce of attribution here and there would have added several pounds of polish to this story, and a higher rating.
Then there is the business of so many sentences being a stand-alone paragraph. What’s up with that?
The dialogue is choppy, probably because it isn't connected to the action. It made me think of Maggie the cat in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," when she referred to sister woman's children as "no neck monsters", because their fat little heads sat on their fat little bodies with no visible means of connection. Can we coin the phrase "no neck dialogue" to describe the way this story is structured?
An ounce of attribution here and there would have added several pounds of polish to this story, and a higher rating.
Then there is the business of so many sentences being a stand-alone paragraph. What’s up with that?
February 5, 2015
Terrific Start to a Series
Originally published in 2011 and reissued in 2015, this is the first in a series of blue-collar type romances between men who lust after men but may not want to fall in love. If they are all as good as this one, and as fast to read and enjoy, Ms. Yates is going to have a blockbuster series on her hands--but IMHO the publisher would be wise to retain the original cover of the book to bring out the perfect depiction of the MCs..
This one involves Joe Taylor, an elevator mechanic on a mall development project, and Bill Evans, a big personal trainer who is opening his own business in the same mall. How they meet, meet again, and continue to meet on their way to meeting their needs, is really handled quite sweetly and with extraordinary heat. You can see where the plot line may go somewhat early on, but the twists toward the end bring a smile to your face with not as much angst as could have been wrung out of their sweaty t-shirts. Nice start...but bring that cover back!
Originally published in 2011 and reissued in 2015, this is the first in a series of blue-collar type romances between men who lust after men but may not want to fall in love. If they are all as good as this one, and as fast to read and enjoy, Ms. Yates is going to have a blockbuster series on her hands--but IMHO the publisher would be wise to retain the original cover of the book to bring out the perfect depiction of the MCs..
This one involves Joe Taylor, an elevator mechanic on a mall development project, and Bill Evans, a big personal trainer who is opening his own business in the same mall. How they meet, meet again, and continue to meet on their way to meeting their needs, is really handled quite sweetly and with extraordinary heat. You can see where the plot line may go somewhat early on, but the twists toward the end bring a smile to your face with not as much angst as could have been wrung out of their sweaty t-shirts. Nice start...but bring that cover back!
February 26, 2013
Hard to believe but I have never read anything by Serena Yates. I chose The Elevator Mechanic considering many positive reviews, and I'm happy to say that I'm not in the least bit disappointed. Her writing is flowing, smooth and it kept my interest until the very last page. Both characters, while having some minor insecurities, are strong, loyal, and very right for each other. I adored the tender and caring side of their relationship and savoured the sizzling chemistry, and I definitely appreciated the fact that Ms. Yates kept the sex scenes relatively short and to the point.
With that said, I highly recommend that you read it!
With that said, I highly recommend that you read it!
October 12, 2010
The story is interesting, but that's all. Both main characters did pull me into the story but it was to simple. I didn't get the feeling for them at all. I started to ask myself, what was the past of each of them, but that's I guess was not relevant or important. You get the picture of "now" and what was in the past, what troubles and hurt both of them went true, was not actually explained, what I definitely missed.
The couple is good together and they have that instant chemistry, but the plot could have been a lot more developed.
The story is nice, but I will forget it fast, lol.
Recommended light read.
The couple is good together and they have that instant chemistry, but the plot could have been a lot more developed.
The story is nice, but I will forget it fast, lol.
Recommended light read.
August 27, 2015
Whilst having lunch one day, Joe looks up across the Mall and see a pair of legs followed by a gorgeous body descending the stairs instead one of the vacant stores. When the two make eye contact Joe runs off.
A few days later, the men meet each other again in one of the local gay bars.
They agree to a weekend thing with no strings attached. However, after Joe is injured at work, that resolution doesn't last long.
There really wasn't a lot of story here but there was a lot of sex.
If I am honest, I felt it was also a little preachy about the aspects of health and safety.
3.5 rounding up.
A few days later, the men meet each other again in one of the local gay bars.
They agree to a weekend thing with no strings attached. However, after Joe is injured at work, that resolution doesn't last long.
There really wasn't a lot of story here but there was a lot of sex.
If I am honest, I felt it was also a little preachy about the aspects of health and safety.
3.5 rounding up.
October 28, 2010
Wonderfully written story. I loved the interaction between the characters as their relationship deepened. I am excited for the next book in the series.
January 18, 2011
Another wonderful story from Serena. She is now permanently on my "must read anything new by" list of authors.
February 2, 2011
Bill and Joe were hot:-) Enjoyed this book a lot:-)No surprise, I always enjoy Serena's books!
February 13, 2011
A great start to the Workplace Encounters Series. Both characters were endearing with their insecurities. Loved the unexpected kinkiness of both men. A fun sexy read.
April 30, 2018
Joe Taylor doesn't ask for a lot out of life. He would like to find a way for his career as an elevator installer and mechanic to not mean he is in a different city every few months, but he's content with the rest. When Joe spies Bill Evans, a fitness entrepreneur working to open his own gym in a mall where Joe is currently working, he begins to wonder if he might want something more permanent that goes beyond just his career aspirations. And when the two connect, Joe is convinced. But Joe's job in Philadelphia is nearly completed and his boss will be sending him on to the next job. And he's not ready to leave. Can the two of them work together to find an answer that doesn't put an end to their budding romance?
March 13, 2021
I am giving this one 4-stars instead of 3-stars just because of the unique career choice! Curious to see where the next book takes us... The Chauffeur! *snort* LOL!!!
April 3, 2018
Sweet and uncomplicated book about Joe, an elevator installer, and Bill, a gym owner. While I thought their relationship was nice, it was underwhelming.
September 13, 2021
2.5 stars
December 28, 2010
The Elevator Mechanic is a story which portrays the journey two men take as they open their hearts to accept love into their lives. Joe Taylor is an understated man with a past that has caused him to seek stability and to steer clear of any form of rejection of confrontation. Bill Evans is a man who wants to start up his own fitness center and to be his own boss. Both men are afraid to make connections that last beyond a one-night-stand, but all of that changes one Friday night when they meet up at the same gay club Explosion.
In this story, Serena Yates portrays the emotions of these two men as they struggle with their inner demons and slowly heal as they each bring out something that si missing in the other. As a lover of character driven plots, I found this story to be heartwarming. I appreciated that Ms, Yates selected to focus on the main characters and how their relationship evolved over the course of the book rather than plugging the love and sex into an action packet plot line.
With that being said, I found the prose to do a lot more telling than showing. Where emotions ran high, I found that the characters were telling me how they were feeling and thinking their insecurities rather than allowing the emotions to come through in the natural flow of the story itself.
Throughout the story, Ms. Yates made references to Joe’s past which included a father who landed in prison when Joe was 10 and he allusion to possible sexual abuse, although it is never explicitly stated. The scars from Joe’s past lend themselves to making him a complex character and I would have enjoyed learning more about his history and how that history affected his present. It would have made his journey more poignant and emotional for me to have seen exactly what he had to overcome in order to accept love into his life.
The sex scenes were a joy to read, creative and exploratory. I always love when an author can infuse both physical eroticism with the feelings and emotions of two people who are in love or who are falling in love. Ms. Yates does this extremely well.
Overall, the story was a pleasant read. There was room for the story to have dug a bit deeper in terms of developing the characters and their emotions, but overall, I found the story easy to read, the flow just right, and the sincerity of the author’s love for her characters obvious.
While I have read other stories by Serena Yates which I feel have achieved everything I state here, plus the things that this story didn’t achieve as well (in particular Eye of Scota: Cinaed), this book was a fun read.
In this story, Serena Yates portrays the emotions of these two men as they struggle with their inner demons and slowly heal as they each bring out something that si missing in the other. As a lover of character driven plots, I found this story to be heartwarming. I appreciated that Ms, Yates selected to focus on the main characters and how their relationship evolved over the course of the book rather than plugging the love and sex into an action packet plot line.
With that being said, I found the prose to do a lot more telling than showing. Where emotions ran high, I found that the characters were telling me how they were feeling and thinking their insecurities rather than allowing the emotions to come through in the natural flow of the story itself.
Throughout the story, Ms. Yates made references to Joe’s past which included a father who landed in prison when Joe was 10 and he allusion to possible sexual abuse, although it is never explicitly stated. The scars from Joe’s past lend themselves to making him a complex character and I would have enjoyed learning more about his history and how that history affected his present. It would have made his journey more poignant and emotional for me to have seen exactly what he had to overcome in order to accept love into his life.
The sex scenes were a joy to read, creative and exploratory. I always love when an author can infuse both physical eroticism with the feelings and emotions of two people who are in love or who are falling in love. Ms. Yates does this extremely well.
Overall, the story was a pleasant read. There was room for the story to have dug a bit deeper in terms of developing the characters and their emotions, but overall, I found the story easy to read, the flow just right, and the sincerity of the author’s love for her characters obvious.
While I have read other stories by Serena Yates which I feel have achieved everything I state here, plus the things that this story didn’t achieve as well (in particular Eye of Scota: Cinaed), this book was a fun read.
January 18, 2015
This is my first Serena Yates book, and while it was interesting, it didn’t have a lot of depth. There were things I liked a lot and things I found shallow and a bit lacking. I do need to say that the cover almost kept me from reading this book; I’m sorry but it has to be one of the worst covers I‘ve ever seen.
I liked that both characters were blue-collar workers, so there’s no Cinderella story of finding the rich prince overnight. Joe was an elevator mechanic; he works hard every day and doesn’t live a life of luxury. Bill is in the process of starting his own business as a fitness instructor, but he worked hard all his life and is determined to show those who don’t believe in him that he’s capable of becoming successful.
Joe works at the mall where Bill is going to locate his business and when they meet they’re instantly attracted to each other. I felt their chemistry and I loved how their relationship progressed from fuck buddies to a real friendship. When Joe was hurt on the job, Bill didn’t hesitate for a second to help him out; they become even closer and their friendship turns into love.
One of my complaints is that there’s no real plot to this story. The characters have way too much sex (I can’t believe I’m saying this but in this case less is indeed more). The book is pretty short and when half of it is taken by sex scenes, there’s not much room left for the development of any plot. We don’t get to know much about Bill or Joe other than their present. I wanted to know more about their past, their personalities, and their relationship with other people; unfortunately I didn’t get to see any of that.
While this wasn’t an intense or action packed book, I still enjoyed reading it. Don’t let that horrendous cover stop you from giving this book a try. I recommend this to readers that enjoy a light, angst free short story packed with a LOT of sex. Hot sex!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
I liked that both characters were blue-collar workers, so there’s no Cinderella story of finding the rich prince overnight. Joe was an elevator mechanic; he works hard every day and doesn’t live a life of luxury. Bill is in the process of starting his own business as a fitness instructor, but he worked hard all his life and is determined to show those who don’t believe in him that he’s capable of becoming successful.
Joe works at the mall where Bill is going to locate his business and when they meet they’re instantly attracted to each other. I felt their chemistry and I loved how their relationship progressed from fuck buddies to a real friendship. When Joe was hurt on the job, Bill didn’t hesitate for a second to help him out; they become even closer and their friendship turns into love.
One of my complaints is that there’s no real plot to this story. The characters have way too much sex (I can’t believe I’m saying this but in this case less is indeed more). The book is pretty short and when half of it is taken by sex scenes, there’s not much room left for the development of any plot. We don’t get to know much about Bill or Joe other than their present. I wanted to know more about their past, their personalities, and their relationship with other people; unfortunately I didn’t get to see any of that.
While this wasn’t an intense or action packed book, I still enjoyed reading it. Don’t let that horrendous cover stop you from giving this book a try. I recommend this to readers that enjoy a light, angst free short story packed with a LOT of sex. Hot sex!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
July 11, 2011
This was a really light and fast read for me and overall, I did enjoy it. I really loved Joe and Bill's characters, two blue collar workers who meet while simultaneously working at a mall construction site.
This story, however, some niggles that really stood out for me that kept me from rating it higher. The big one is the dialogue between Joe and Bill outside the sex scenes. Instead of allowing the characters to show their feelings/thoughts throughout the flow of the story, the characters simply spoke out loud and told us. It reminded me of work colleagues speaking in a meeting, rather than lovers. This was not the case, however, during the sex scenes because those were hot hot hot!
This book also contains one of my pet peeves in books: unnecessary scenes/tragedies. Here, she seems to make references to Joe’s past, which included a father in prison and possible sexual abuse by his mother's boyfriends, but the author didn't go much further with either of those issues. So why bring it up if it isn't necessary to advance the plot? The only thing it accomplished, I guess, was to explain Joe's skittishness in developing relationships. But why have such a tragic past if not necessary? Joe certainly didn't have any sexual hang ups, which is usually the result of being molested. Joe is gay in a blue collar workplace: in the context of this story, that's enough reason for why Joe is so cautious.
Also, for someone who works on a construction site, Joe talks way too polite and "correct" to his coworkers (like Pete). Being around blue collar workers all my life, these guys are all pretty rough talkers; unlike an office environment, there is no such thing as political correctness, lol! They have a reputation as alpha males for a reason. But that's a just a minor detail that doesn't take away from the story, but rather I guess just emphasized how shy and sweet Joe's character is.
Overall, the story was a fun read and I do recommend it.
This story, however, some niggles that really stood out for me that kept me from rating it higher. The big one is the dialogue between Joe and Bill outside the sex scenes. Instead of allowing the characters to show their feelings/thoughts throughout the flow of the story, the characters simply spoke out loud and told us. It reminded me of work colleagues speaking in a meeting, rather than lovers. This was not the case, however, during the sex scenes because those were hot hot hot!
This book also contains one of my pet peeves in books: unnecessary scenes/tragedies. Here, she seems to make references to Joe’s past, which included a father in prison and possible sexual abuse by his mother's boyfriends, but the author didn't go much further with either of those issues. So why bring it up if it isn't necessary to advance the plot? The only thing it accomplished, I guess, was to explain Joe's skittishness in developing relationships. But why have such a tragic past if not necessary? Joe certainly didn't have any sexual hang ups, which is usually the result of being molested. Joe is gay in a blue collar workplace: in the context of this story, that's enough reason for why Joe is so cautious.
Also, for someone who works on a construction site, Joe talks way too polite and "correct" to his coworkers (like Pete). Being around blue collar workers all my life, these guys are all pretty rough talkers; unlike an office environment, there is no such thing as political correctness, lol! They have a reputation as alpha males for a reason. But that's a just a minor detail that doesn't take away from the story, but rather I guess just emphasized how shy and sweet Joe's character is.
Overall, the story was a fun read and I do recommend it.
February 23, 2015
3 star review by Amber
This was such a sweet story with deliciously dirty elements here and there. Serena Yates is a “new to me” author and I’m very happy to have read this book.
Joe Taylor is as blue collar as it gets. He works in trade as an elevator mechanic. The job itself is strenuous and taxing but on top of that it is very dangerous. It’s enough that he is always protecting himself while on the job but lately he’s been playing babysitter to a hot shot on his crew who thinks he doesn’t have to abide by safety protocol. Furthermore, while on the job he caught sight of what essentially is his dream man. So, caught up in staring at the man he didn’t realize the man was staring back and he decided to flee. To unwind from the stressful day he decides to go out to a club and catch himself a bedmate.
Bill Evans is on the cusp of realizing his dream of owning his own fitness center. While scoping out the space he sees Joe eating by himself in the building he’s working at. Shocked by the immediate attraction all he can do is watch as Joe leaves.
As things tend happen they both find themselves at the same club later that night and let’s just say the sparks fly. Both however don’t foresee being able to sustain a committed relationship so agree to keep it casual and light.
I loved the intense attraction they had for each other. It was obvious as a reader that it was so much more than casual but I loved watching them figure it out. What lacked in this story was the element of surprise. Everything was a little predictable, which was sort of disappointing.
This story is tons of hot sex, a crazy boss, a terrible accident, with loads of new soft and squishy emotion thrown in. Overall a good story and I’m looking forward to the rest in the series.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
This was such a sweet story with deliciously dirty elements here and there. Serena Yates is a “new to me” author and I’m very happy to have read this book.
Joe Taylor is as blue collar as it gets. He works in trade as an elevator mechanic. The job itself is strenuous and taxing but on top of that it is very dangerous. It’s enough that he is always protecting himself while on the job but lately he’s been playing babysitter to a hot shot on his crew who thinks he doesn’t have to abide by safety protocol. Furthermore, while on the job he caught sight of what essentially is his dream man. So, caught up in staring at the man he didn’t realize the man was staring back and he decided to flee. To unwind from the stressful day he decides to go out to a club and catch himself a bedmate.
Bill Evans is on the cusp of realizing his dream of owning his own fitness center. While scoping out the space he sees Joe eating by himself in the building he’s working at. Shocked by the immediate attraction all he can do is watch as Joe leaves.
As things tend happen they both find themselves at the same club later that night and let’s just say the sparks fly. Both however don’t foresee being able to sustain a committed relationship so agree to keep it casual and light.
I loved the intense attraction they had for each other. It was obvious as a reader that it was so much more than casual but I loved watching them figure it out. What lacked in this story was the element of surprise. Everything was a little predictable, which was sort of disappointing.
This story is tons of hot sex, a crazy boss, a terrible accident, with loads of new soft and squishy emotion thrown in. Overall a good story and I’m looking forward to the rest in the series.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews