Christine d’Abo

Fresh Starts in WORKING IT–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a contemporary romance form Christine d’Abo. WORKING IT is the first book in her Ringside Romance series published this year, and I liked the odd-couple sweetness of it.

About the book:
Nolan Carmichael is getting a fresh start—new career, new company, new life. The only problem is, he liked his old life just fine . . . until an accident robbed him of his health, his job, his self-confidence, and his ability to go out in public without having anxiety attacks.

Zack Anderson has scared away his last four administrative assistants. So when he hires Nolan on a whim, he’s not too worried, since Nolan will be gone within the week anyway. Two weeks later, Nolan has made himself indispensable, completely reforming Zack’s schedule, life . . . and libido.

But in a company already torn by internal politics, one wrong step could ruin both their careers. And not only are they working to reopen Ringside Gym, Zack’s retreat when he was a troubled teen, but they also can’t help themselves falling for each other. If only the rest of their lives could go as smoothly as things do when they’re alone together.

My Review:
Nolan Carmichael suffered a devastating injury in a terrible car wreck two years ago. A couple of his co-workers didn’t and he lives with the pain of the injuries as well as their loss. It’s time, however, for him to work through his equally-crippling anxiety, and find a new job because his savings is dwindling and his younger sister’s job prospects might cause her to move soon. He goes to an interview as an admin assistant, where he meets a sexy man in the toilets just before he’s brought in for the interview. And, it turns out the sexy man he’d met is the office tornado, Chief Technical Officer and all-around admin terror, Zach Anderson.

Zach’s never had a male assistant before, and he’s chased off more than a few assistants already. His workload is becoming more than he can bear, however, especially if he wants to devote any thine to rehabbing Ringside Gym, the haven where he met his best pals in his youth. The owner had died and the place is a musty albatross that’s only going to become a bigger money pit the longer it sits vacant. But Nolan, despite his quirks, is a hard worker and unwilling to let Zach’s irrational mood shifts tear him down. Plus, they develop a rapport that only heightens their mutual attraction. Nolan’s also unwilling to let Zach’s dream die–and he works overtime to help him find a pathway to his true passion: building an LGBTQ-friendly gym and after-school shelter for kids in the city.

There’s a mess of office politics going on, as their company prepares for layoffs in order to mean a partnership agreement, and Zach is thoroughly upset that one of the jobs on the chopping block could very-well be Nolan’s. The thing is, Nolan is a different man to the one who barely made it to his interview. He still suffers the depression and anxiety, but he’s tested his resilience, and developed a stronger set of coping strategies. Zach’s friends recognize Nolan for the gem he is, and counsel Zach not to screw it up. But will having to fire the man he’s coming to care deeply for spell the end of the romance?

Spoiler: Nope. It’s a sweet and surprisingly tender read, though I was expecting far more boxing in this tale. Instead, there’s the clean-out of a musty gym, and the building of new dreams together. Also, some rather nice sexytimes, including an office scene that steamed up my screen. I look forward to reading on in this series and watching Zach’s pal Max find love.

Interested? You can find WORKING IT on Goodreads, Riptide Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks and Kobo.

About the Author:
A romance novelist and short story writer, Christine has over forty publications to her name. She loves to exercise and stops writing just long enough to keep her body in motion too. When she’s not pretending to be a ninja in her basement, she’s most likely spending time with her family and two dogs.

You can catch up with Christine on her website, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Fun and Flirty, Fresh and Dirty: SUBMISSIVE SEDUCTIONS-A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a new erotic BDSM romance from Christine d’Abo. SUBMISSIVE SEDUCTIONS is a fun book that follows a novice sub as she explores the world of kink with Gareth, a widower who’s not quite sure what he’s in for, I think…

Submissive SeductionsAbout the book:
Sometimes getting what you want…makes you crave something more

Purchasing a Dom from a charity auction was the wildest thing Liz had ever done. The chance to bring her secret fantasy to life, to be a submissive—even just for one night—was worth any price. And Gareth was everything she wanted in a Master. He touched, he taught, he tantalized. He opened her world to pleasures she’d never imagined. But was it enough?

After one night turned into a blurred-line relationship, Liz’s feelings for Gareth went beyond desire. Yet the kink, no matter how hot, had her wondering if she could ever have a normal relationship. Her Dom was a man with a tragic past and he’d put rules in place from the start.  If Liz chose to break them would she lose the intense passion she’d just discovered—as well as the man she loves?

My Review:
Liz is a young, professional woman who believes she *might* be into kink. Her bestie/apartment mate is a confirmed sub engaged to a Dom. Connie has invited Liz to her regular BDSM club for a charity Dom/sub auction. Connie’s hand-picked a Dom for Liz to bid for, and Liz is stunned to learn that the beautiful man she admired backstage, Gareth, is the same man Connie was hoping she’d win.

Liz does win Gareth, a slightly older man who happens to be a widower, and is having his first foray into the scene since his wife/sub died tragically four years ago. Liz and Gareth bond, and share a scene, but is this the end?

The book is written in three parts, the auction, the chase and the submission. It’s all told from Liz’s POV, which is fine. She’s brash and funny and her internal thoughts made me laugh out loud. She wants to explore a real and true relationship, but must proceed slowly because Gareth is reluctant. He’s still grieving. I really liked how Liz turned the tables on Gareth, how she was assertive in her desires. It’s always refreshing when a sub is a bit bratty, and Liz is definitely that!

I think this book is strong because the relationship develops over the course of several months. It’s thoughtful and considerate. Neither Gareth nor Liz are 100% confident 100% of the time, and that’s refreshing. They acknowledge their shortcomings and their fears, which allows the reader to step inside this dynamic easily. I love how uncertain Liz is, regarding BDSM. I love that she questions her desires, wonders if they are real, wonders if they are appropriate. It felt very genuine. Her reliance on both Connie and Gareth as guides in these new experiences felt natural, as well.

Having read a number of books in this genre, I have to say I liked this one. It’s fun and flirty, and fair-minded.

Interested? You can find SUBMISSIVE SEDUCTIONS on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

About the Author:
A romance novelist and short story writer, Christine d’Abo has over thirty publications to her name. She loves to exercise and stops writing just long enough to keep her body in motion too. When she’s not pretending to be a ninja in her basement, she’s most likely spending time with her family and two dogs.

You can catch up with Christine online on her website, Goodreads, twitter and Facebook.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Fixed by a REBOUND REMEDY–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a recently published contemporary M/M romance from Christine d’Abo. REBOUND REMEDY is a light-hearted fling between virtual strangers, that turns out to be WAAAAAY more.

Rebound Remedy
About the book:
The last thing Cole expects to get for the holidays is dumped. But there he is, in the airport on his way to Banff for a romantic getaway, helplessly watching as his boyfriend’s ex declares undying love, proposes—and is accepted. With a few weeks to go until Christmas, Cole’s mood dives from jolly to jaded. But instead of sitting at home alone and feeling sorry for himself, he goes to his favorite bar, McGregor’s, for a pint and some company.

The moment Owen McGregor sets eyes on Cole, he knows there’s something wrong. So he takes it upon himself to ensure that Cole has a happy holiday: twelve outings for the twelve days before Christmas. Even if he can’t quite think up twelve activities that don’t involve getting the forlorn hunk into his bed.

With each outing they take together, Cole realizes that the love he thought he’d shared with his ex was less than perfect. And that Owen might prove to be more than just his rebound remedy.

My Review:
This is a sweet M/M Christmas romance. It is being offered as a charity book, with 20% of profits given to the National GLBT Hotline.

Cole is a successful man who always seems to be the “Rebound Guy” in all his relationships. He’s literally departing for a Christmas holiday with his boyfriend of the past 6 months when the guy’s ex shows up to woo him back. At the airport. Down on love, he hits his neighborhood bar where he’s engaged by the sexy bartender, Owen.

Owen isn’t just a bartender, though. He’s the owner of MacGregor’s–ever since his dad’s stroke three years ago. While Owen’s a bisexual, he hasn’t had a fling with a man since college. Still, he’s intrigued and attracted to Cole.

They decide to start a fling to get Cole out of his rebound rut. Buddies with benefits, and it’s working–a bit. Cole doesn’t want to have a rebound guy, and he feels like he’d be taking advantage of Owen. Owen’s got some family issues–namely his father, who is undergoing some emotional problems–and he doesn’t want to burden Cole with all that.

Keep it light, breezy…

Yeah, not so much. Cole pulls back, only to dive back in. Owen has to open up if he’s going to be fair at all to Cole.  They have a nice little romance, but it’s a bit rushed at the end. Insta-lust I can buy, but it got a little too serious too quickly. That said, these guys are great. They are fun and friendly and just looking for the right person with whom to spend time. I bet they get it right in the New Year, as Christmas seemed to be the final reconciliation.

Interested? You can find REBOUND REMEDY on Goodreads, Riptide Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBooks. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

About the Author:
A romance novelist and short story writer, Christine has over thirty publications to her name. She loves to exercise and stops writing just long enough to keep her body in motion too. When she’s not pretending to be a ninja in her basement, she’s most likely spending time with her family and two dogs.

Christine can be found on her website, twitter, Facebook and Goodreads.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!