Scan barcode
galleytrot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
READ: May 2023
FORMAT: Audio
BRIEF SUMMARY:
In this contemporary romance, Justin lands a job as Sam’s assistant in his new consulting firm, but the CFO always seems to either be disapproving or antagonistic towards Justin. Eli can’t help but act on the subtle and not-so-subtle submissive cues that Justin keeps sending his way, and their attraction to one another keeps ramping up in a way they cannot ignore for long. Once their tastes are all but confirmed, all bets are off and the sparks are electrifying, but they both have demons from their pasts to face before they can give themselves up entirely.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 4 / 5⭐
Oh boy, and also: wow.
If the first book in the Takeover series felt like a barely-serious romp with a passable attempt at plot and an underwhelming wrap-up, this one sure takes a wild turn in tone from what we started with. This book leans far heavier into angst and complications from past tragedies, and their affect on an already-complex relationship dynamic. This one also has an extensive foreplay before it explodes with the spice, where the first book just dives right into it head first. I was not adequately prepared for what I was getting into here.
Oh boy, and also: wow.
If the first book in the Takeover series felt like a barely-serious romp with a passable attempt at plot and an underwhelming wrap-up, this one sure takes a wild turn in tone from what we started with. This book leans far heavier into angst and complications from past tragedies, and their affect on an already-complex relationship dynamic. This one also has an extensive foreplay before it explodes with the spice, where the first book just dives right into it head first. I was not adequately prepared for what I was getting into here.
Eli is a dom in the scene with a reputation for being rather intense. He has survivor’s guilt from an accident in his teens, an event which was also the catalyst for losing the love and support of his parents. The struggle of both his damaged leg and his mental health is ongoing but being managed. Justin has uprooted from his old life and left the scene behind after losing control to someone with bad intentions, and is diligently working towards getting things back on track. Eli’s attentions are igniting Justin’s fires again, and he feels ready to begin exploring the Pittsburgh scene – on the same night Eli happens to be there, looking to blow off some steam.
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 3.25 / 5⭐
Right off the top, I felt like the length of this book was disproportionate to the content of it, which is a fancy way of saying: I think this book was longer than it needed to be, and I think that the conflict was dragged out for longer than it should have been. The first book was a 7 hour listen to this book’s 10 hours, and I’m thinking the opposite would have been more appropriate in both cases. This one didn’t even have the excuse of a business plot – all business-related story goes completely out the window the moment our men bone down.
I have a fairly complex relationship with angst in romance books. If it feels properly earned, I can sit in on a lengthy healing process for our main characters and wait for them to reach their destination over a reasonable span of time. That being said, I took issue with how much time was spent on Justin’s spiral, and then again with how long it took to start repairing things after they went terribly wrong. I liked Justin’s character decently well, right up until every other thought was a constant flux between: “Eli’s just like the rest of them.”/ “Eli’s different from the rest of them.” From that point on, I was impatient and ready for him to be done with his arc. Unfortunately for me, it went on for much too long.
FINAL THOUGHTS - OVERALL: 3.75 / 5⭐
Boy, I did not expect this turn in the series from what the first book established. This one felt far more like one of my typical reads than the previous one did. It also shows me that I ought to give it more than one chance for an author to wow me – book one kept me biased away from trying another Zabo work, and I see now that was unfair of me.
This book has representation for gays. A couple of characters experience physical impairments and chronic pain from traumatic incidents. A large number of side-characters are given ethnically diverse names, and one of our leads was raised Jewish and is largely respectful/accepting of his faith, despite the hurt it has caused him.
The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia, Outing, Cursing, Sexual violence, Ableism, Car accident, Grief, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Emotional abuse, Confinement, Toxic relationship, and War
penguinsquack's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
More...