Scan barcode
teenykins's review against another edition
3.0
This started out strong, but things half way through things started to repeat. Sam's musings, Michael's musings, their round about conversations and the anti-climactic end of Williams.
The thing with any story for me, either read or listened too, to get more than 3 stars has to have me salivating to get back to it no matter what.
Iggy Toma is a very good narrator I just don't like his cadence. But I do have to add that when Sam and Michael where at the convention and where taking a shower after their talk, maybe it was the writing, maybe it was how similar Iggy's voices were of the 2 MCs, I had trouble discerning who talked when.
The thing with any story for me, either read or listened too, to get more than 3 stars has to have me salivating to get back to it no matter what.
Iggy Toma is a very good narrator I just don't like his cadence. But I do have to add that when Sam and Michael where at the convention and where taking a shower after their talk, maybe it was the writing, maybe it was how similar Iggy's voices were of the 2 MCs, I had trouble discerning who talked when.
apacheco1993's review against another edition
3.0
* I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was one of those books that I had such a hard time rating. I really enjoyed some aspects of Takeover, but others not so much.
Michael meets Sam in an island in Curacao. As soon as his eyes land on Sam he knows he's going to have him that night. Their attraction to one another is instant and they can't deny the obvious sparks flying between the two. After that hot and steamy night, they don't see each other again until the company Michael works for welcomes the new CEO who happens to be Sam. They both thought that what they had was a one-night hook up with a stranger, but now that they have to work so close together, will they be able to keep their hands away from each other?
I really liked the beginning of this book. The sexual tension was great and the steamy scene was hot, but as the story progressed I started to lose interest. But then something exciting would occur and I would get sucked in once again. This roller coaster continued on throughout the book. Another problem I had with this book was that it started to become repetitive and at times boring. The business talk had me skimming parts and just not enjoying it as much as I wanted it to. Even the sex scenes between Sam and Michael started to lose some hotness points. The BDSM aspect of the story was good, but since I have read so many books featuring BDSM, it just felt like it was lacking something.
While Michael was out and proud, Sam was still in the closet. I liked the drama that those details brought to the story and I loved seeing how much Sam's character changed throughout the book and started to not care what people thought about him. These two characters have been burned because of past relationships, so it was great to see them move past that and grow as a couple.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Individuals that haven't read much BDSM or M/M will really like it and find it refreshing.
This was one of those books that I had such a hard time rating. I really enjoyed some aspects of Takeover, but others not so much.
Michael meets Sam in an island in Curacao. As soon as his eyes land on Sam he knows he's going to have him that night. Their attraction to one another is instant and they can't deny the obvious sparks flying between the two. After that hot and steamy night, they don't see each other again until the company Michael works for welcomes the new CEO who happens to be Sam. They both thought that what they had was a one-night hook up with a stranger, but now that they have to work so close together, will they be able to keep their hands away from each other?
I really liked the beginning of this book. The sexual tension was great and the steamy scene was hot, but as the story progressed I started to lose interest. But then something exciting would occur and I would get sucked in once again. This roller coaster continued on throughout the book. Another problem I had with this book was that it started to become repetitive and at times boring. The business talk had me skimming parts and just not enjoying it as much as I wanted it to. Even the sex scenes between Sam and Michael started to lose some hotness points. The BDSM aspect of the story was good, but since I have read so many books featuring BDSM, it just felt like it was lacking something.
While Michael was out and proud, Sam was still in the closet. I liked the drama that those details brought to the story and I loved seeing how much Sam's character changed throughout the book and started to not care what people thought about him. These two characters have been burned because of past relationships, so it was great to see them move past that and grow as a couple.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Individuals that haven't read much BDSM or M/M will really like it and find it refreshing.
prgchrqltma's review
4.0
I tried this because I liked the shipboard paranormal book. This one didn't have magic and did have BDSM elements and a nerdy protagonist.
ladydewinter's review
2.0
After reading and liking "Syncopation", I was curious about Anna Zabo's other books, but unfortunately I didn't enjoy this very much. I liked the characters, and the "have sex while not knowing they're going to work together" trope is one of my favourites, but the writing was mediocre and everything was too superficial. The BDSM parts also felt like a bit of a mess and were neither convincing nor did they seem healthy, relationship-wise.
haletostilinski1's review
4.0
This was a solid 4 star read for me.
So, I tagged this as "bdsm-lite" because it definitely has elements of BDSM between the two MC's, but it doesn't go that far beyond spanking/flogging, and it is really only in the bedroom that Michael and Sam take on the D/s rolls. Also, Michael says that he likes being in charge in the bedroom, he likes to top, but he didn't like being a Dom when he was in the Scene way back when. So it didn't feel like a full on BDSM novel/relationship.
And honestly, that just made me like it more, because I'm not too into BDSM myself. I see that the next book is full on BDSM, so I dunno if I'm going to read.
But anyway, for me BDSM has to be done in such a way for me to enjoy and like it, and this book accomplished that. It wasn't too much, and normally I'm not into the whole "pain with your pleasure" type deal during sex, but Michael and Sam obviously loved it so much and they were so communicative and caring. Michael always knew when to stop, to take care of Sam. Even though Sam would want more, Michael knew when it was too much for Sam's body to take.
I have to say, at first I thought this was going to be another fairly simple story with one dimensional characters - in the beginning, it felt so convenient that Michael was able to find the exact sexual partner he wanted in that random bar, and of course out of all the bars in all the world, he walks into mi-wait, that's Casablanca. Anyway, you know what I mean. It just felt too easy, that one minute Michael wanted a guy who his type, and who would love to be controlled in bed, and then BAM, there's Sam, the perfect guy for that.
But then as the book progressed, I came to really like the characters, and they had a lot more depth than I was expecting, and were more realistic than I thought they would be. They both had hang ups and fears holding them back, and it was hard for them to move forward, and I loved that because that felt so realistic to me.
I do wish there had been one small scene were we saw William get his comeuppance, but I guess since we knew he was going to get it, it didn't necessarily need to be in the story.
There wasn't anything in particular to make this a standout book or a favorite of mine, but it was solid and fairly well written.
If you want an enjoyable read with some BDSM elements to the story, then I definitely recommend this. It has just the right amount of sweetness with the (consensual) pain. I loved that. I loved the love between Michael and Sam. So definitely think this book deserves a higher overall rating than it has :)
So, I tagged this as "bdsm-lite" because it definitely has elements of BDSM between the two MC's, but it doesn't go that far beyond spanking/flogging, and it is really only in the bedroom that Michael and Sam take on the D/s rolls. Also, Michael says that he likes being in charge in the bedroom, he likes to top, but he didn't like being a Dom when he was in the Scene way back when. So it didn't feel like a full on BDSM novel/relationship.
And honestly, that just made me like it more, because I'm not too into BDSM myself. I see that the next book is full on BDSM, so I dunno if I'm going to read.
But anyway, for me BDSM has to be done in such a way for me to enjoy and like it, and this book accomplished that. It wasn't too much, and normally I'm not into the whole "pain with your pleasure" type deal during sex, but Michael and Sam obviously loved it so much and they were so communicative and caring. Michael always knew when to stop, to take care of Sam. Even though Sam would want more, Michael knew when it was too much for Sam's body to take.
I have to say, at first I thought this was going to be another fairly simple story with one dimensional characters - in the beginning, it felt so convenient that Michael was able to find the exact sexual partner he wanted in that random bar, and of course out of all the bars in all the world, he walks into mi-wait, that's Casablanca. Anyway, you know what I mean. It just felt too easy, that one minute Michael wanted a guy who his type, and who would love to be controlled in bed, and then BAM, there's Sam, the perfect guy for that.
But then as the book progressed, I came to really like the characters, and they had a lot more depth than I was expecting, and were more realistic than I thought they would be. They both had hang ups and fears holding them back, and it was hard for them to move forward, and I loved that because that felt so realistic to me.
I do wish there had been one small scene were we saw William get his comeuppance, but I guess since we knew he was going to get it, it didn't necessarily need to be in the story.
There wasn't anything in particular to make this a standout book or a favorite of mine, but it was solid and fairly well written.
If you want an enjoyable read with some BDSM elements to the story, then I definitely recommend this. It has just the right amount of sweetness with the (consensual) pain. I loved that. I loved the love between Michael and Sam. So definitely think this book deserves a higher overall rating than it has :)
charlie21's review
2.5
Is it good? No. Did I enjoy reading it? Sort of. It is clear that the author has come to love her characters by the end of the book, and that makes it strangely emotional for what it is.
violette's review
3.0
I didn’t expect much going in - I incorrectly assumed that the premise was cheesy in retrospect - but this was a surprisingly sweet romance with two alphas both of whom had some fragility to accept and move past. The sex scenes were off the charts steamy. Hoo boy! I don’t know much about the pain/pleasure side of BDSM and at first I was uncomfortable about the play the MCs engaged in - there were triggers for me re: violence/assault - but in the end it was thoughtfully explained in a way that made sense both to the MCs and to me with my outsider gaze and my own perspectives. I think this book is going to stay with me for a while. I would love to have coffee and beignets with Sam and Mike. ☕️
knrt_17's review
4.0
New to me author. I listened to the audiobook. This is a mm contemporary story set in the USA, corporate world. Main characters are Sam a mobile CEO that bails out businesses in trouble (in the closet) and Michael a secret founder of the Four Rivers company and is out. Light BDSM, lots of twists and turns in the story. Will read more from this author.
frothy's review
4.0
This book was intense! I cleverly cheated by reading the sequel first. I really liked it, and will look at more books by this author. I liked the characters, I liked the way the negotiated and communicated. I liked the way they ultimately resolved the problem. I also enjoyed the background of the tech company. I know nothing about the ins and outs of IT companies, but she certainly convinced me. I really liked reading all about it. And I loved how the MCs were really good at their jobs and demonstrated their competence and professionalism in the story, and that that was part of the plot.