Available: April 4, 2016
Genre: Erotic Romance, MM, Romantic Comedy
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-77233-795-2
Parker Knowles needs a date. No, really. If he can’t find one by Valentine’s Day, he’s agreed to let his sister fix him up. And quite frankly, he’d rather chew off his own arm than go out with someone of his sister’s choosing. Internet phenom, Lane Steadman, has offered to show Parker the art of the perfect selfie. After all, an outstanding dating profile is useless without a topnotch photo, right? Can love really be found on the Internet? Or is a real-world connection closer to Parker than he thinks?
L.D. Blakeley is a new author for me, so I was excited to see what this novella would bring. Let’s just say I’ll be looking for more. This was terrific—very well-written, smart, and fun. A story about an online dating profile could go horribly wrong, from being over-the-top to boring and cliched. This story is neither of those. Instead, it’s warm and funny with a healthy dose of smoking hot.
I loved seeing the world through Parker’s eyes. There’s nothing I like better than big brains, and Parker’s got them. And like many smart folks, he still can’t see how great he is. Fortunately, he’s got Lane to show him. Once again, they could have been—together or apart—tropes. Parker’s quiet and nerdy; Lane’s outgoing, physically fit, and bisexual. Yet neither of them felt like stock characters.
Speaking of Lane being bi, while I won’t say that was my favorite part (trust me, this story has a lot more to love than just the one aspect), I did think it was awesome. Some great bi-myth-busting, but not in a way that felt “educational.” Because it’s from Parker’s perspective, I loved the way his own insecurities play into his assumptions about Lane, and yet they’re handled with grace.
Parker and Lane have some hotter-than-blazes chemistry. This is not your slow-burn, big romantic feels kind of story. This is two guys who know what they want, and that’s each other. There’s clearly more developing between them, though, and it’s fun to imagine their relationship taking off.
What really did it for me with this book was the sense of humor. This doesn’t take itself to seriously. This is a true erotic rom-com. It’s sexy, playful, and witty. The writing is so skillful and snappy, keeping it from being just another story about two guys getting it on. I loved all the side characters, the running jokes, and Parker’s sweet and funny internal dialog.
For brilliant writing, sexy laughs, and a whole bag of d’awwwww, this gets 10 fountain pens (and a guaranteed repeat reader).
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“What we need to do is get you wet.”
“Pardon?” Parker squawked.
“Yeah. Aside from that video Seth posted, my most popular pics are the ones at the beach or in a pool,” Lane explained.
There’s a shocker, Parker thought.
“I smelled chlorine in the lobby. I’m assuming there’s a pool in your building?” the other man continued.
“Yeah, there is, but…”
“Perfect.” Lane hopped up and slid his phone into his back pocket, giving Parker both the means and opportunity to ogle. And ogle, he did.
Until he realized Lane meant to take pictures of him in a bathing suit, and all ogling ground to a screeching halt. Oh, hell no
“I’m not sure if it’s such a good idea,” was what he actually said.
“What’s not a good idea?” With perfect timing, Seth strolled into the living room and handed them both a beer.
“Me posing in a pool.” Parker searched for a reason that wasn’t I don’t want to pop a boner near Lane that I can’t hide in a bathing suit.
“Maybe being in the pool will relax you,” Lane added. “Because I don’t think the beer is doing the trick.”
Parker knew the gorgeous man was trying to be helpful. Reluctantly, he nodded. “Fine. Can I grab my trunks first?”
“Unless you’d prefer to be naked.” Lane winked and Parker felt his kneecaps liquefy.
He knew Lane hadn’t intended to come across as flirtatious. Unfortunately, his brain was having a tough time comprehending that. Pull yourself together, you drooling idiot. This guy is doing you a favor. The least you can do is behave like a sane, rational adult.
Too bad his id was projecting horny, teenage boy.
Pushing aside his inappropriate and misplaced lust, Parker headed into his bedroom and quickly changed his clothes, swapping out boxer briefs for swim trunks. He could do this.
As he headed back into the living room, he grabbed the security swipe card off the key rack by the door. “Okay, let’s get it over with.”
Lane and Seth followed behind Parker and kept up a constant chatter as the three of them rode the elevator to the lobby. Parker waved a quick hello to a neighbor as they exited and made their way toward the pool. When he heard voices coming from the direction of their final destination, however, he started to have second (and possibly third and fourth) thoughts.
“There’s people in there.” He faltered outside the glass doors that led to the pool. “Maybe this isn’t such a good—”
“Nope.” Seth grabbed the swipe card from Parker. “You’re not bailing on this.”
“M’not bailing. Just … can we do it when there’s nobody around?” He was prepared to start begging when the two older gentlemen who had been swimming laps, climbed out of the pool and started gathering up their belongings.
Seth had already unlocked the door and was holding it open for Parker and Lane to join him on the deck of the now-empty pool. “C’mon, stud. Let’s take some pictures.”
“Oh God.” Parker cringed at Seth’s choice of words. As they made their way around the perimeter of the pool, he looked to Lane, who had his phone out and looked keen to get started.
“Should I just…”
“Strip, baby.” Lane’s eyes crinkled in mirth as his mouth curved into a wicked grin.
“I hate you both,” Parker muttered as he fumbled with the buttons on his shirt.
L.D. Blakeley is a pragmatist with a romantic soul & a dirty mind. She loves horror movies, hot sex, and happily ever afters. She’s easily distracted by shiny things, and is a slightly neurotic, highly ambitious dreamer who enjoys dabbling in photography & pretending she can carry a tune.
In another life, L.D. was a newspaper reporter, an entertainment & music writer, travel writer, website content editor, and a marketing shill. Now she prefers to spend her time writing hot, steamy fiction (with a healthy dose of romance) about intriguing, sexy men. Although she dreams of living some place isolated with an endless supply of wine and an infinite number of titles on her eReader, she currently lives in downtown Toronto with her husband and their rock star cat.
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