Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Takeover by Anna Zabo

1 review

galleytrot's review against another edition

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  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

FIRST READ: Aug 2022 (originally reviewed as 2.5 ⭐)
SECOND READ: May 2023 
FORMAT: Audio 

BRIEF SUMMARY: 
In this contemporary romance, Michael is wrapping up his vacation in Curacao and looking to spend his last night with a fling, just about desperate enough to settle for anyone when Sam, his perfect man down to the final detail, finally enters the bar at the last minute. One unforgettable hookup later, and he’s back to work – and to both of their surprise, Sam and Mike are now CEO and employee. Mike has a vested interest in the success of his company despite a disastrous rollout that has put them on the brink of failure, and he has no time for a closeted suit whose job is to turn the company around and sell it off to the highest bidder, despite Sam’s assurance that he’s not like other suits. 

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 3 / 5⭐
Michael was a part of a trio of friends who founded their company together, but he lost out when things took a turn he never would have accounted for. Once-bitten by his ex-lover and ex-best-friend, nothing ought to be more off-limits than the company’s closeted and very temporary CEO with self-interested goals and a penchant for uprooting to new cities with each company he rehabilitates. But Sam submits so beautifully, takes everything Michael is willing to dish out, begs for more, and stokes Mike’s fire stronger than any man he’s ever encountered. Their attraction is too powerful to ignore.  

Originally rated at 2.5, I don’t think I was being entirely fair to this book. I read it around the very beginning of my foray into audiobooks (looking back at my spreadsheet, this was the very first legitimately-published MM romance that I’d ever read, no less), and I think I was jostled by how hard it goes right off the bat. Having leaned hard into the genre (and into reading as my primary form of entertainment) since that point, I thought it might be prudent of me to go back and revisit some of the books from the start of my adventure and give them their due. With a day of projects around the house lined up, it was the perfect time for me to reread this book and see if I couldn’t find out why it didn’t connect. 

My first time through, the story came across as more of an erotica with the excuse of a plot just sort of shoehorned in there, trying its damnedest to make it work. I might have decided early into it that I simply didn’t like the book, and dismissed the rest of it as trashy. On my second read through, I could allow that even though the idea of two future-colleagues hooking up on their unrelated vacations is quite farfetched, there actually was some effort and care put into the plot beyond that. I wouldn’t say that it was more interesting or engaging the second time through, but I was willing to listen more mindfully and acknowledge the work that was put in. 

TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 3.75 / 5⭐ 
So as mentioned, there is clearly a level of care and detail put into the plot portion of this book’s story. Unfortunately for me, business and corporate talk go right over my head and I cannot absorb any of it. I can’t really say whether or not the things that go down in this book are well-researched, realistic, or factual. I will say that the resolution is a pleasant one, if not a little underwhelming. I’m grateful that things could be worked out through some good ol’ fashioned communication, instead of letting things fester into a conflict-addled mess of angst. I don’t love the whole forced-into-the-closet narrative, but I can see the logic behind it well enough. 

This audiobook was my first introduction to Iggy Toma, and I remember not being the biggest fan of his narration at the time. He has since grown on me thanks to his prevalence in the queer fiction that I gravitate towards, but even in this re-listen I’m not terribly fond of the voice he uses for Mike. 

FINAL THOUGHTS - OVERALL: 3.5 / 5⭐ 
This book is a great read if you’re looking for some spicy business-themed BDSM action with emphasis on the SM. Is it the healthiest portrayal of a kinky relationship I’ve ever read? Maybe not, but I also don’t find it problematic, either. I think the story would benefit from some stronger scenes of aftercare, if nothing else. But that being said, there is a good deal of communication between our leads, who are willing to talk their problems out like adults, which is always refreshing. 

This book has representation for gays. A large number of side-characters are given ethnically diverse names. 

The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.
This book contains: alcohol use; institutional homophobia; a past hate crime/assault driven by homophobia; and, a blackmail attempt.
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