Kidnapped by Pirates by Keira Andrews

by Keira Andrews

5 stars

Will a virgin captive surrender to this pirate’s sinful touch?

Nathaniel Bainbridge is used to hiding, whether it’s concealing his struggles with reading or his forbidden desire for men. Under the thumb of his controlling father, the governor of Primrose Isle, he’s sailing to the fledging colony, where he’ll surrender to a respectable marriage for his family’s financial gain. Then pirates strike and he’s kidnapped for ransom by the Sea Hawk, a legendary villain of the New World.

Bitter and jaded, Hawk harbors futile dreams of leaving the sea for a quiet life, but men like him don’t deserve peace. He has a score to settle with Nathaniel’s father—the very man whose treachery forced him into piracy—and he’s sure Nathaniel is just as contemptible.

Yet as days pass in close quarters, Nathaniel’s feisty spirit and alluring innocence beguile and bewitch. Although Hawk knows he must keep his distance, the desire to teach Nathaniel the pleasure men can share grows uncontrollable. It’s not as though Hawk would ever feel anything for him besides lust…

Nathaniel realizes the fearsome Sea Hawk’s reputation is largely invented, and he sees the lonely man beneath the myth, willingly surrendering to his captor body and soul. As a pirate’s prisoner, he is finally free to be his true self. The crew has been promised the ransom Nathaniel will bring, yet as danger mounts and the time nears to give him up, Hawk’s biggest battle could be with his own heart.

If you have read anything we have reviewed you know out fan-girl love of Keira Andrews – in our eyes she writes complete gems.   And we thought Kidnapped by the Pirate, a bodice ripping, harlequin style romance?  We weren’t sure, but really, sexy swashbuckling men, we might have a new favourite Keira Andrews book!

Loved?

-          Tropes:  So many to choose from; virgin, May-December, captives, sexy-pirates, enemies to lovers – take your pick.  So good! Now reading the list, there is a lot going on, but it all works together.  The virgin trope usually annoys us, but being set in 1710 added to the truthfulness, times were different and people were betrothed instead of jumping from bed partner to bed partner.

-          Piracy:  We found the subject of Kidnapped by the Pirate fascinating.  We haven’t read many pirate romances, and this one had so many details of the period of time, the piracy vs. privateering, we felt pulled into 1710 and life aboard a ship.

-          Fun:  This is a fun read.  Swashbuckling, kidnapping, battle on the high seas. There wasn’t’ a point we skimmed or fast-forwarded, or rolled our eyes ant the ridiculous of the situation, because it is so enjoyable.

-          Sexy times:  Wooohooo Keira Andrews can write a sheet-burner, and Kidnapped by the Pirate is smoking hot.  When Hawk and Nathaniel finally give up to their bodice-ripping desires, there is no stopping these very dirty men, it is scorching. 

-          Epilogue:  No spoilers, but man, we love a good epilogue!

Meh?

-          Hmmmmm.  We can’t think of anything – you?

Kidnapped by the Pirate promises a fast-paced, adventurous love story, and it delivers whole heartedly.  If you enjoy adventure on the high seas, sizzling sex and a sweet romance than Kidnapped by the Pirate should be your next read!  

Review of The Chimera Affair by Keira Andrews

 by Keira Andrews

4 stars

When young Sebastian Brambani meets a sexy and exciting older man, he’s easily seduced. But for spy Kyle Grant, it’s all business. Sebastian is simply a pawn in Kyle’s mission to acquire a dangerous chemical weapon from Sebastian’s criminal father. Kyle’s life is his work for a shadowy international agency protecting the world from evil, and he can’t worry about what will happen to Sebastian when the job is done.

Sebastian’s unwitting role in Kyle’s plan is the last straw for his ruthless father, who has been embarrassed by his gay son for the last time. But when Kyle discovers Sebastian could be the key to finding the deadly Chimera, he rescues him from his father's hitman and fights to keep him alive. Can a hardened spy and naïve college student take down a criminal kingpin, stay one step ahead of the killers on their trail—and fight the scorching attraction between them?

This gay romance from Keira Andrews features sexy spies, an age difference, a sheltered and passionate virgin, action and adventure, and of course a happy ending.

Keira Andrews, sexy spies , suspense and a fast paced European adventure – sign us up!   But really we are unsure why we missed reading this Keira Andrew gem, but so glad we spent time with Kyle and Sebastian.

Sebastian Brambani is a spoiled rich kid, who has never measures up to the expectations of his criminal father, and being caught in compromising pictures with his college roommate has put him firmly on the best behavior list.  Hoping that spending the summer acting like the perfect straight son will get him sent back to his prestigious university in the US, but a chance encounter with a mysterious older man and one of his father’s famous parties blows that idea out of the water.  Kyle Grant is a spy, and is willing to do anything to get the job done; including seducing the son of weapons dealer he is hired to steal from.  But when the Chimera he is tasked in finding isn’t where Intel says it set in motion a deadly trek through Europe, trying to keep them both alive.

This book took us a while to warm up, we aren’t really much for the ‘virgin’ stories, age-gap, yes, but the unexperienced lover story isn’t our cup of tea.  But the action is the book pulled us through and we are so glad for that.  We jump straight into the story, the action starts on page 5 and goes goes goes from there.  There is a balance between the suspense and the romance and Keira finds this balance pretty effortlessly.  The best part is the blood pounding adrenalin rush in the action and the ramp up of the sexual tension between Kyle and Sebastian.

Kyle keeps trying to resist Sebastian, but the pull between these men is just too strong.  There is a significant age difference between Kyle and Sebastian, significant not only in age but in life experience but it works somehow. Sebastian brings out the protective nature of Kyle, and helps Kyle remember that he is a person outside of being a spy, that he deserves a real life.  And Kyle helps Sebastian realize that he is a capable, strong grown-up man, regardless of what his father thinks.  These men find each other at the right time, when they both need each other.  It is sweet and sexy, but oh so HOT!  Keira Andrews can write a sex scene that simmers off the page, and sometime we felt like the sex was ill timed, but it added to their chemistry.

The Chimera Affair is a must-read, a stand-out in the suspense/spy trope and a really believable romance. Fast-paced, sweet, sexy, enemies-to-lovers, age-gap, fantastic read! And one of the best parts is the added bonus follow up story  The Argentine Seduction, a great little bonus at the end of a great book!

Review of Your Fallen Star by Raleigh Ruebin

Your Fallen Star by Raleigh Ruebin

2.5 stars

 A decade and a half ago, Leo Stone was famous. Fans galore, and money pouring in like a waterfall. Music industry royalty.

…And then the band broke up.

Leo went from a prince to pauper, and now he’s trying to make a comeback. To clean up his image and grab a little publicity, his manager hires Jamie Sheffield to write his biography.

Straight out of college, Jamie can’t believe his luck. He’d never quite gotten over his teen-aged crush on Leo, and now here he is, talking with Leo, thinking about Leo. Sleeping with Leo. And the heat between them is enough to set paper on fire.

But Leo’s afraid to commit to Jamie, no matter how much Jamie wants it. Not with the tabloids standing by, waiting for their next serving of scandal. And all the while, the book is getting closer to being finished. Will their story be cut short, or can they make it last forever?

This is such a great premise for a story, a fallen boy-band member and the man tasted with writing his biography, how could they not fall in love?  But Your Fallen Star had a few too much angst and twists for our liking.

Leo Stone is an ex boy-band member, now in his 30’s he is struggling with who he is and where to go from here.  His agent comes up with a brilliant idea to release his biography and hires Jamie Sheffield, a budding screenplay writer fresh out of college.  They meet and the sparks fly.  Leo is wrapped up in someone who actually wants to be with him for him and Jamie is star struck that this famous man wants him. 

This book starts with so much great potential, the sparks between Leo and Jamie are sizzling, but it starts to fizzle.  There is the usual attraction, and their beginning love is sweet, hot and so believable. 

But then it starts to slide into ill-communication angst.  Leo rebounds between wanting Jamie and pushing him away.  The May/December romance isn’t a new idea but this one doesn’t seem to work.  Both of these men waffle, Jamie – am I good enough to be a screenwriter, am I right following my dreams, should I give up and go home?  And Leo – why would Jamie want me, I am going to ruin his career, what am I going to do with the rest of my life?  They are so on-again-off-again it is a bit like whiplash.   And truthfully gets a little annoying, I just wanted one of them to set up and own their relationship, but nope, back and forth we go.  They both seem to think they know what is best for each other, without even talking about what they both need. 

All the angsty stuff aside, there is some chemistry between Leo and Jamie, and it makes Your Fallen Star hot.  There is a weird sex scene in a guest bedroom (that someone is staying in) at a huge Hollywood party that one of the more successful members of the boy-band is throwing, that well, is weird.  And we spend the 5 pages before in Leo’s head going over the reasons why he can’t let anyone know him and Jamie are tighter.  So, weird. 

Your Fallen Star is the start of a new series, and we see so much potential, but this May/December Romance just fizzled for us.

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!