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unusablebooklore's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Anonymous hook up turned boss sitch.
Scorching
Not overly complex.
forbidden attraction, some semi public seggs, budding friendship, corporate intrigue, suspenders and seggy suits.
This was a super easy and enjoyable. Even if question the safety of the MCs first interaction and Sam's desire for pain. I genuinely have no idea I put off reading it for so long. I'll be continuing with the remainder of this series ASAP.
Personal note of question:
Sam in HELLA in the closet, is this how people actually are? You can’t excel at business if you’re gay or is this book just being SUPER dramatic.
This was a super easy and enjoyable. Even if question the safety of the MCs first interaction and Sam's desire for pain. I genuinely have no idea I put off reading it for so long. I'll be continuing with the remainder of this series ASAP.
Personal note of question:
Sam in HELLA in the closet, is this how people actually are? You can’t excel at business if you’re gay or is this book just being SUPER dramatic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia and Violence
megelizabeth's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
"...the Sam of his high school and early college years was gone, replaced by someone with far more to lose. Far more to gain, too."
I absolutely loved this. I wasn't sure whether I would, with the boss/employee dynamic, but something had obviously drawn me to it and I'm so glad that it did, as that side of things is dealt with in a really healthy, nuanced way and I just completely fell in love with the characters and found myself rooting for them so hard both individually and as a couple. I'm also not generally super interested in corporate-workplace-type storylines, but I think I just connected so much to the characters and themes and the story in general that I didn't mind all the work-y stuff at all.
I will say that the BDSM stuff made me slightly uncomfortable at times, but again I thought it was dealt with thoughtfully and there was also lots of sexual and romantic tension outside of that. I'm not sure if I'll continue the series, as from what I can tell the BDSM ramps up a lot more than in this one (though I am tempted to just for more glimpses of Michael and Sam...) - but this was such a wonderfully pleasant surprise, given all the reasons I could've hated it, and I'm so, so glad that I read and loved it.
I absolutely loved this. I wasn't sure whether I would, with the boss/employee dynamic, but something had obviously drawn me to it and I'm so glad that it did, as that side of things is dealt with in a really healthy, nuanced way and I just completely fell in love with the characters and found myself rooting for them so hard both individually and as a couple. I'm also not generally super interested in corporate-workplace-type storylines, but I think I just connected so much to the characters and themes and the story in general that I didn't mind all the work-y stuff at all.
I will say that the BDSM stuff made me slightly uncomfortable at times, but again I thought it was dealt with thoughtfully and there was also lots of sexual and romantic tension outside of that. I'm not sure if I'll continue the series, as from what I can tell the BDSM ramps up a lot more than in this one (though I am tempted to just for more glimpses of Michael and Sam...) - but this was such a wonderfully pleasant surprise, given all the reasons I could've hated it, and I'm so, so glad that I read and loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Homophobia
nina_readsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
littlewishling's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Another fabulous spicy romance from Zabo. Fantastic!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia
galleytrot's review against another edition
- 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
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Alcohol, and Hate crime
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
_isabel_'s review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
5.0
Well, this was phenomenal. Easily one of my favourite reads of the year.
"Takeover" has everything I ever want in a romance, and then some. Anna Zabo is slowly becoming one of my favourite writers, and the way they write kink? Deliciously steamy, wonderfully thoughtful, with just a hint of sweetness? Unparalleled.
So yes, since I've already read and loved several of Anna Zabo's books, I was pretty sure I was going to end up enjoying this book either way. What I wasn't expecting was to become totally obsessed by it: I can't believe I put off reading this series for so long. I need to remedy that, ASAP.
"Takeover" is precisely tailored to all my romance preferences. Kink, workplace romance, a forbidden boss/employee relationship, where the big, bad workaholic CEO is the eager, inexperienced, closeted sub just begging for the deliciously domineering, employee to take control, PLUS hurt/comfort, painful pasts and a boatload of angst (and most of it is not relationship related!): all of that is now my favourite thing ever, and I desperately need to read a dozen more romances exactly like this one because otherwise my heart might give out.
I loved both leads. Michael was lovely and charming and he deserved all the happiness in the world. Sam, though, was my kind of character: broken and a lot vulnerable, even with all his money and his position, insecure and just so lovable. I loved seeing him blossom, and I loved seeing him finally fully reconcile his various sides and facets. I was so proud of him.
Even though most of the book is about Sam and Michael fighting their attraction and then ultimately giving in, each of them slowly but surely falling for the other, I really enjoyed the business subplot of the story too: technology and business are not my forte, but I still found it all very fascinating and quite gripping.
I also ADORED the writing: I can't believe this was one of Mx. Zabo's first novels because omg, it was spectacular. It made me feel so much.
I'm beyond excited to read the next book, although I'm pretty sure I'm going to be nursing a horrific book hangover for the foreseeable future. And how fitting that the other book that managed to make feel this much, was "Rookie Mistake", co-written by them and L.A. Witt.
Gah, I already want to do a re-read.
"Takeover" has everything I ever want in a romance, and then some. Anna Zabo is slowly becoming one of my favourite writers, and the way they write kink? Deliciously steamy, wonderfully thoughtful, with just a hint of sweetness? Unparalleled.
So yes, since I've already read and loved several of Anna Zabo's books, I was pretty sure I was going to end up enjoying this book either way. What I wasn't expecting was to become totally obsessed by it: I can't believe I put off reading this series for so long. I need to remedy that, ASAP.
"Takeover" is precisely tailored to all my romance preferences. Kink, workplace romance, a forbidden boss/employee relationship, where the big, bad workaholic CEO is the eager, inexperienced, closeted sub just begging for the deliciously domineering, employee to take control, PLUS hurt/comfort, painful pasts and a boatload of angst (and most of it is not relationship related!): all of that is now my favourite thing ever, and I desperately need to read a dozen more romances exactly like this one because otherwise my heart might give out.
I loved both leads. Michael was lovely and charming and he deserved all the happiness in the world. Sam, though, was my kind of character: broken and a lot vulnerable, even with all his money and his position, insecure and just so lovable. I loved seeing him blossom, and I loved seeing him finally fully reconcile his various sides and facets. I was so proud of him.
Even though most of the book is about Sam and Michael fighting their attraction and then ultimately giving in, each of them slowly but surely falling for the other, I really enjoyed the business subplot of the story too: technology and business are not my forte, but I still found it all very fascinating and quite gripping.
I also ADORED the writing: I can't believe this was one of Mx. Zabo's first novels because omg, it was spectacular. It made me feel so much.
I'm beyond excited to read the next book, although I'm pretty sure I'm going to be nursing a horrific book hangover for the foreseeable future. And how fitting that the other book that managed to make feel this much, was "Rookie Mistake", co-written by them and L.A. Witt.
Gah, I already want to do a re-read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence and Homophobia
inkiereads's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was such a good book! I loved Sam and Michael, and their struggles throughout the story were very real.
Steam: 4/5 (some very steamy open door scenes)
Steam: 4/5 (some very steamy open door scenes)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
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