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!

Review of Jared’s Evolution (Jared & Kieran #1) by Riley Hart

by Riley Hart

 5 stars

He wants to dominate me…to discipline me. He wants me to call him Daddy…

I’ve always taken care of myself—worked hard to become king of the courtroom and excel in the cutthroat business of winning cases. I’m fierce…brutal…confident. I’m a lie. Underneath my armor, I’m drowning, losing myself under the weight of life. At thirty-three years old, I should be able to handle the pressure.

My neighbor Kieran sees past my spotless suits and manufactured control to the real Jared. The one who secretly craves being dominated, to serve, and to give up control—not just in the bedroom, but in every aspect of my personal life.

I can’t want this…but I do… When I’m under Kieran’s command—spanked, rewarded and caged—I’m free. With Kieran’s care and guidance, my mind is unburdened as my body soars to new heights, and Kieran becomes what we both need him to be: Daddy.

It’s a journey of dominance and submission—of rules, schedules, security and discipline. He opens my world, teaches me, changes me…but he doesn’t let me in. It’s temporary, Daddy tells me, and I’d be wise to remember that, so I don’t get hurt.

Let’s be honest – BDSM is not our kink, and we tend to stay away for that genre.  But with all the hype around Jared’s Evolution by Riley Hart we couldn’t resist, and so glad we didn’t – this book is one of her best and a winner winner winner!

So much we loved:

-        -  BDSM world: This book opened us up to a fascinating world.  The Daddy/Boy kink features heavily in Jared’s Evolution and as Jared learns about this world so do we.  We the reader feel like we are a passenger on his discovery, and it is a fascinating look at someone struggling with what society deems outside the norm.

-      -    Wonderfully crafted:  Jared’s book is a beautifully written book, it flows and is so easy to fall into the pages.  Riley Hart has created 2 characters that are so skillfully developed, we fell in love.  There is a natural progression to Jared’s Evolution that sucked us in as readers, and although BDSM can be a jarring genre, this story has a delicate feel to it, and we wrestle with everything Jared is feeling.

-          Characters:  We said a lot about this already but, we fell in love with Jared.  He is such an opposite person; strong and successful by day, and a lost soul at night.  When he struggles with fully accepting himself and the Daddy lifestyle; our heart broke for him.

-      -    Spicy Chemistry:  There is a simmering chemistry between Jared and Kieran, it is right below the surface, and is so hot.  This isn’t a romance in a traditional sense, but that doesn’t take away from the bubbling heat between these men.

What we didn’t like:

-       -   The end:  Yes, that it ended.  Seriously we need the next book. We are so fascinated by Jared and Kieran, and are so excited by this new series by Riley Hart.  

Jared’s Evolution absolutely blew us away – we enjoyed Riley Hart’s writing so much!  We loved Jared accepting what he needs and Kieran being the person to stand up and give it to him.  But all we can say is WHEN DOES THE NEXT BOOK COME OUT!!!!!

Review of Depth of Field (Last chance #1) by Riley Hart

by Riley Hart

4 stars

Shane Wallace has made a decent life for himself in Last Chance. He built his own home on his mom’s property to take care of her, owns an automotive repair shop, and when he wants to get laid, Portland isn’t too far away. Not too shabby for the boy who spent his childhood getting bullied and feeling alone. Shane’s content to leave his past behind him...until one of his childhood tormentors comes back to town.

Maxwell Sullivan never planned to step foot in Last Chance again. Here, he was Maxwell, a teen who suffered in silence while everyone thought he had the perfect life. Now, he’s “Van,” the erotic artist and photographer. He’s only here to help his mom tie up some loose ends after his father’s death and to apologize to Shane. After that, he’s heading back to LA for good.

Shane never thought he’d have anything in common with Maxwell, but there’s a depth to Van that surprises him. Van knows what it feels like to be alone. He sees Shane in ways no one else does. There’s a shared connection neither can deny. Somehow, despite their rocky history, they get each other.

It’s not long before the two are so drawn to each other that they tumble into bed—sometimes with Van’s camera involved. Their chemistry in and out of the bedroom is undeniable. Except nothing is ever black and white. Shane can’t leave his mom and Van’s life is in LA. With two different lives pulling them in opposite directions, their picture-perfect ending might not be in the cards.

Riley Hart again nails a sexy enemies-to-lover romance in Depth of Field. She creates to main characters both hiding in their own ways who find that they fit so good together.

Maxwell Sullivan was the typical jock growing up, living what everyone assumed was the perfect life, but outside appearances can be deceiving.  Leaving his childhood town at 18 he shed that person and became Van, true to what he wants and who is really is.  Now 10 years later he is making his first trip home to support his mother in the wake of his father’s death, but he knows that he has so many amends to make – especially to Shane who he bullied most of his life.  Shane Wallace had always done the right this, instead of pursuing his dreams he has stayed in his small childhood home caring for his sick mother.  Shane is content in his life, he wants more, but as he thinks who doesn’t.  But when Van shows back up in his life trying to apologize, Shane thinks that he wants more than to just be content.

We really liked Depth o Field, it is an easy read, and although there is angst – cause really the bully coming back to apologize years later – it isn’t overwhelming, and adds to the push pull, enemies-to-lovers theme that Riley Hart masters so well. Shane and Van have this really amazing emotional connection, the history they share from grouping up in the same small town, that jumps off the page and won’t be denied.  There is like this string between the men that even if they try to fight it, it keeps pulling them together. Shane is a generous person, we don’t know if we would have been as forgiving as he was, and we wished that he’d have made Van work a little harder for forgiveness.

So can we say this book is smoking!!!  Burning, smoldering, scorching, intense, passionate we could go on and on.  Van is an artist and takes erotic photos – this ends up in the bedroom and adds this level of voyeurism to the sex between these men.  It is distractingly hot.

Depth of Field is a great read, exciting and moving and SO realistic! We really enjoy Riley Hart’s writing, and the way she creates her characters. She has an authenticity to her writing, these feel like real people in real life, just finding someone to love.  

Review of Owning It by Riley Hart and Devon McCormack

 Review of Owning It by Riley Hart and Devon McCormack

5 stars

Just out of an eighteen-year marriage, the last thing Jackson expects the first time he visits a gay bar is for a sexy, drunk, twenty-six-year-old twink to mistakenly climb into his Jeep. The twink part he’s good with, the drunk part…not so much. As far as Jackson’s concerned, the boy should come with a warning label. But Derek is not as flighty as Jackson thought…he’s actually pretty incredible. Getting to know the wild, funny man is a breath of fresh air. And when Derek calls him Daddy? Christ, he never thought something like that would feel so right.

Derek has serious daddy issues, and his name is Jackson. He’s stubborn and controlling…and ever since Derek woke up in the silver fox’s condo, he can’t get Jackson out of his mind. Maybe because no matter how many times he throws himself at him, Jackson doesn’t take the bait. And maybe because Jackson is the one person who sees him for who he really is. But Derek loves a challenge, and he’s eager to rock Jackson’s world.

Jackson isn’t interested in a meaningless hookup. He wants the real Derek, not just the sassy jokester everyone else sees. But it’s not easy for Derek to open up. He feels much safer guarding his heart. And Jackson needs to figure out the balance between living for himself and the mountain of responsibilities weighing him down. Derek and Jackson must find the common ground between hookup and commitment—if they can’t own their issues and work together to overcome their faults, they could smother the flame between them that’s just beginning to ignite.

So happy to finally read this book – Derek is a favouite character in the Metropolis series, and this book delivers his happy ending and SO much more.   We will start by saying that reading the description we weren’t overly excited for Derek’s story, and some Daddy kink, boy were we wrong, this is smoking hot, sweet, sexy and the best of the Metropolis series. 

Owning It is the 3^rd installment in the Metropolis Series, based around an apartment complex.  Derek is considered a twink, a go-to-fun guy, the life of the party, flirty and fun, and he plays his charter well.  After a drunken night of fun he stumbles in KJackson’s car thinking he is the Uber driver.  Jackson is newly divorced with a teenage son, and finally allowing himself to live his life for himself, and in walks hurricane Derek. 

Sign, this book is pure magic.  We love that Derek isn’t just a hook up to Jackson.  Derek struggles with letting everyone see his real self, and Jackson sees through his fun flirty exterior and wants to see the man underneath.  Derek needs someone to fight for him, to nurture him, someone he can lean on and Jack son is that.  Jackson really wants Derek to see his worth, and it creates this slow burn romance those notches up the sexual tension.  Let’s talk Daddy kink, woohooo, it is smoking hot.  Actually, this is our first Daddy kink book (say that 3 times fast!) , and there is something so sexy about Derek and Daddy Jackson, the heat literally melts the pages.  We thought it might be a little weird, but it fits Derek and Jackson, and only adds to the book.

Riley Hart and Devon McCormack are a formidable writing team, their voices blend seamlessly, and they weave a story that feels like every word moves the story along.  There is no unnecessary angst, ill-communication, or the usual pitfalls couples fall into.  Building through the Metropolis series, it is fun to revisit our favourite couples, but really excited about some of the new men being introduced. 

Owning It is a fun, flirty read that is one of our favourites this year.  If the Metropolis series keeps going this way we can’t wait to read the next books!