Up for the Challenge by Riley Hart & Devon McCormack

by Riley Hart & Devon McCormack

3.5 Stars

ETHAN:

I’m not used to anyone having the upper hand over me, and in a single night, Sean Wright rescues me twice. That’s why he intrigues me—why for the first time, I want another man. I’m used to getting what I want, and I don’t plan to let anything stop me. Only…he continues to get the best of me, and it only makes me want him more. When I start to see Sean’s not just good looks, hot sex, and constant competition, I realize I’m in over my head…and I might like it. He makes me laugh and he understands the pain I feel over my past, a pain we share. Even more than that, somehow, Sean *gets* me, but I’m not going to lie and pretend that giving my heart doesn’t scare me.

SEAN:

The night I rescued the presumably straight Ethan Harris…twice, I figured that would be the last time I saw him. However, he keeps finding his way back into my life and into my bed. Guess he wasn’t as straight as I thought. Ethan’s full of surprises, though, and being bi is just one of them. As cocky as he can be, he’s also sharp and witty...and even when he’s being his most arrogant self, he’s charming as hell. He likes to win, but so do I. However, as we get to know each other, I realize there’s more to us than the games we play in and out of the bedroom. It’s a game neither of us have played before—one we could both wind up losing. And with our hearts on the line, the real question is, when push comes to shove, are we both UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?

Up for the Challenge is another collaboration between Riley Hart and Devon McCormack.  It is a fun, easy, low-angst read with lots of good sexy between the sheets action.  

Loved?

-      -    Connection: There is a serious chemistry between Sean and Ethan, from the very moment they meet, there are sparks, and we can feel them being drawn together, even as they try hard to resist the pull.

-      -    Banter: there are some true laugh out loud moments, it is a humorous book.  But the real gem is the banter between Ethan and Sean, it is sexy, smart, and so fun, we wish there was more of it.

-      -    Bi vs. GFY: We really liked that these men were Bi, and not GFY, it was a nice change instead of another gay-for-you story-line.  It made the journey of their relationship and journey of actually accepting who they are. 

-     -     Secondary Characters:  Loved Sean’s parents – so much fun and added so much to this story.

-          Filthy:  Let’s get honest, Devon McCormack and Riley Hart can be filthy, and this book delivers.  The sex is searing, and so passionate, and so so so so filthy.

Meh?

-      -    Immature: Sean and Ethan are positioned as professional mid-thirty men, and instead if felt a little like college bros speaking to each other. 

-   -       Something to happen: as we said this is an easy read, and a bit too easy a love-story.  It is low-angst, which we loved, but sometimes a bit of angst id good.  We missed the friction, the rub in their relationship. 

Up for the Challenge is a fun enjoyable read, but it might not be of those memorable stories that you come back to over and over again.  We have always liked the collaboration between Riley Hart and Devon McCormack and can’t wait for many more stories!