Review of No Limits (No Shame #2) by Nora Phoenix

  

 by Nora Phoenix

3.5 stars

Josh is convinced he’ll never find someone who’ll love him the way he is. He’s not exactly a catch with his PTSD, which has transformed him into a homebody most of the times. Sweet, maybe, but also boring as hell. Plus, there’s that submissive tendency he recently discovered and is dying to explore. His complicated relationship with Noah and Indy don’t make it easy, either. When Connor shows interest in him, he can’t believe the sexy cop would look at him twice, let alone make an effort to get to know him. When he does, Josh discovers they have more in common than he’d ever thought possible.

Connor had survived the ordeal that left his best friend and fellow Marine dead, but that survival came at a price. He’s a robot, going through the motions, but barely alive. Until fate intervenes when he meets Josh. The vulnerable man triggers all kinds of protective and dominant urges in Connor, but what would a cute guy like Josh want with an inexperienced, closed-off, bossy steamroller like him?

When Connor discovers his past endangers Indy, all hope for a future between him and Josh seems lost. After all, there’s no way Josh will ever choose Connor over Indy’s safety and Noah’s lifelong friendship. When a crisis hits, can Connor prove he’s strong enough to deal with everything that’s thrown his way?

No Limits is the 2^nd in the No Shame series by Nora Phoenix, and a great continuation from the first book No Filter.  While we enjoyed the first book, we found editing and story inconsistencies kept us form loving it, Nora Phoenix has ironed out a bot of the story, making No Limits a much easier read.

The yay?

-  BDSM:  We really enjoyed watching Connor and Josh finding their kinks, and exploring their dominant/submissive relationship.  Nora Phoenix spent some time really developing this relationship and not jumping too hardcore into whips and chains.  It seems like a natural progression for their relationship, and we loved how it suited and settled Josh.

-  Continuation of Story:  This is a series; you can’t read this book without reading the last book. We liked that, but it could be a negative.

-  Story flow:  The story was so much better edited, there was a flow to the events and just didn’t stumble along. 

The meh?

-  Confusion:  We still feel the story was a little confused about what it is trying to be.  Erotica, threesome / foursome ménage, hurt comfort, mafia, there is a lot going on.  Seem to jump from story line to storyline and it gives us a bit of whiplash.

-  The cliffhanger:  Just like the end of the first in the series and man it is unsatisfying!

-  Story flow:  Yes, this was something we enjoyed, but there is so much going on in this book, that sometimes we felt a good editor could streamline a bit more, and deal with the grammatical and word confusion issues.

So many things going on, so many feelings and storyline, so many relationships.  We love these boys and feel invested in the series, but a few issues still nagged at us, and ironing out the kinks could really skyrocket this series. 

Review of Working It by Riley Hart & Devon McCormack

By Riley Hart and Devon McCormack
  
 4 Stars

 Such a fun read.  If you a looking for a sweet, romantic m/m loving good time, then Working It, the 2^nd in the Metropolis Series is one you should pick up!

The Metropolis series focuses around a group of single males all living in the same apartment complex.  And although this is the 2^nd story of the series (Faking It being the first) it is not, per se, a continuing story.  However, we do get to visit with some our favorite characters form the first book, the delicious Travis and Gary and the smart-mouthed Derek.  So much fun.  Working It can be ready as a standalone story.  

Working It focuses on the story of Hayden and Cody.  Hayden is a sweet, nerdy math fellow, who is struggling with the direction of his life after the end of a 3-year relationship.  Cody is a free-spirited, easy-going tattoo artist who has had his own trying journey with family.  They are brought together when Hayden needs a room to rent and Cody is willing give a hand-up to a friend-of-a-friend.  The outcome is hot, sexy and sweet!  

We really liked this book, there isn’t much angst, the plot line is pretty familiar (friends-to-lovers), and the story moves along.  But what really sets it apart from other similar books, are the characters.  You really feel like you know Hayden and Cody, and can feel the comfort, friendship, love and SPARKS between them.  Cody has a pretty one sided story; kicked out by parents, taken in by a stranger, but his optimistic streak helps Hayden move through his self-esteem issues and end up really complementing each other. 

Let’s talk about the good stuff!  Even though I have used sweet 10+ times describing this book, there is some serious heat, serious….like the threesome kind.  Yes, Yes and YES.  These 2 authors (Riley Hart & Devon McCormack) produce some pretty steamy books, but seem to have found the right level of heat vs. story for Working It.  The sex seems to enhance the love story and doesn’t overwhelm.

 

So, do you want an easy, fun, sweet, sexy read, then pick up Working It, you won’t be disappointed!