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Priceless (Riptide Rentboys: The 2012 Collection)

by Cat Grant (Goodreads Author)

3.52 of 5 stars 3.52 · rating details · 222 ratings · 60 reviews

"When love's for sale, who really pays?"

Connor Morrison is a 3-D optics pioneer, the star of the UC Berkeley physics department, and a socially inept workaholic. And with his dear friend and business partner, Steve Campbell, handling their investors, he's content to remain in the shadows. That is, until he meets the gorgeous and starry-eyed physics student Wes Martin.

Wes i...more

ebook, 81 pages

Published May 14th 2012 by Riptide Publishing

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Aug 08, 2012 Alina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sweet and touching story, quick and fun read :)
Maybe the villian was a little stereotypic, but that didn't prevent me from enjoying the book and Wes and Connor's relationship. Despite being short this story feels fully finished with the very satisfying ending. Also loved the age difference )))

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Jul 09, 2012 Samington rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: abusive-pasts, age-gap, college-students, just-really-not-good, irritating, questionable-power-dynamics, rentboys-porn-stars, ridiculousness, stupid-choices, contemporary

The dynamic between the two main characters was passable, if not incendiary, but I couldn't get past the shoddy research regarding UC Berkeley and the Berkeley area, particularly since I'm very familiar with both the school and the city. There were a lot of places where it seemed the author just didn't bother to look into how things worked, even when it would have taken three seconds of Googling to check facts or to clarify details. It was a shame, and distracted me from Wes and Connor's story,...more The dynamic between the two main characters was passable, if not incendiary, but I couldn't get past the shoddy research regarding UC Berkeley and the Berkeley area, particularly since I'm very familiar with both the school and the city. There were a lot of places where it seemed the author just didn't bother to look into how things worked, even when it would have taken three seconds of Googling to check facts or to clarify details. It was a shame, and distracted me from Wes and Connor's story, which was already struggling to hold my attention.

Beyond that, I found the character of Tom (the violent john Wes ends up basically being a slave for) so unrealistic it went straight into ridiculous: (view spoiler)

Finally, I had little patience with Wes himself; his blind stubbornness and his inability to see that the situation he was getting into was extremely dangerous were trying. He was ostensibly brilliant, but couldn't rescue himself from Tom and (view spoiler)

All in all, whatever potential this story might have had failed to be realized, and the result is only disappointing.(less)

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Mar 07, 2013 Alyssa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great story. So good I wish it could have been longer, though it certainly packed a punch for its length.

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Jul 16, 2012 JustJen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm, ebook, riptide-pub

This story grabbed me right away. It was well written, and I had no trouble connecting with the characters. Connor is such a sweetheart, all work and no play, and I just adored poor sweet Wes. Steve seems like a bit of a jerk, but we don't really learn too much about his background to understand him that well. I was afraid the nerdy scholastic jargon and information would be too much, but it ended up being just enough to understand, and not so much that it distracted from the story.

This moves a...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Kimiko Kotani rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Make no mistake about it, this IS not a novel, but what it doesn't have in word count, it certainly makes up for in in quality. I actually read this before I read Priceless and it made complete sense on its own, though while reading Priceless, it did give me an almost unnerving insight to what was actually going on with Steve while his friend Connor went on to have his grand romance . Both the novel and this short should be read together though, regardless of which order you choose to do it in.

S...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Top 2 Bottom Reviews Interviews and More rated it 5 of 5 stars

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For anyone who isn’t aware, this title is part of Riptide’s Rentboy collection. It’s my first one in fact and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. Once I learned where Cat came up with the idea for the story itself, it meant more to me, it allowed me to connect with the characters on a deeper level of understanding.

This is a story about a young man, Wes Martin who is doing all he can to put himself through college, this is a young man full of will and d...more http://top2bottomreviews.wordpress.co...

For anyone who isn’t aware, this title is part of Riptide’s Rentboy collection. It’s my first one in fact and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. Once I learned where Cat came up with the idea for the story itself, it meant more to me, it allowed me to connect with the characters on a deeper level of understanding.

This is a story about a young man, Wes Martin who is doing all he can to put himself through college, this is a young man full of will and determination and he’s willing to do what it takes to stay in school and while he’s there he gets the most of it. He’s not there to fool around like so many of our college students are these days. Partying and drinking until he passes out isn’t his idea of a good time. As we all know, an average job working at a burger joint doesn’t pay enough to cover an electric bill, never mind school tuition, food, gas for his car, clothes and the like. His parents died when he was very young and was raised by an aunt and uncle who had their own kids to put through college. So, really Wes is on his own and putting his self through college.

Our next character is Connor Morrison, a professor at the same college Wes attends. In fact, Wes appears at all of Connor’s presentations, lectures and tries to learn all he can from the older man. Connor is a single gay man, living in the dorms I do believe, among the same minded students as himself. He’s a physics professor and has come upon something new and exciting that he and his best friend Steve Campbell are trying to get investors involved in helping them see this come to life. However, because Connor is focused on his work and such, he rarely if ever goes out to socialize.

Well one evening there is a surprise birthday party for Connor that Steve arranges for him, and Connor is less than thrilled. He argues that they could have just done the dinner thing like they do every year and Steven won’t have it. So, during that party, Connor escapes to a balcony where he could be by himself. Crowds and all that don’t sit well with him and I totally get that. Suddenly there with his is a stunning younger man and he’s polite, charming, talkative and before Connor realizes what in the hell is going on, he’s being kissed by the younger man.

This at first went very well with Connor but all too soon he comes to his senses and shoves the younger man away, he can’t do this and a rejected Wes just disappears from the party. Now, oddly enough Wes has a room just a few doors down from Connor at the campus, and they sort of avoid one another until a big conference comes up where Connor is the guest speaker, again, trying to sell his idea and Steven, who just won’t give up offers an aide for Connor, because quite frankly, Connor is a frazzled mess. Who does Steven offer up? Wes of course.

Yes, Wes is super as Connor’s aide and then so much more as they end up in bed together and come morning, Wes, who is so full of guilt for some odd reason (you’ll find out when you read it.) takes off before Connor even wakes up. Now Connor is lost and just shrugs it off. He goes back to work, and again, sees Wes on occasion but they go about their business. Now Wes still has bills to pay so this is when we find out how he makes his money. And boy-oh-boy. The shit he goes through and don’t think Connor doesn’t notice the changes in Wes because he does. He sees bruises and such on the younger man and bless the man, he comes to Wes’s rescue.

Overall it’s a good story, just the right amount of angst, sex, and a great plot. I call it great because you would not believe the amount of kids who do exactly this to get through college. I mean even girls do it. They are that determined to make something of their lives and if that means dong things they don’t exactly like, they do it because they have a goal and that goal is to climb above and go for the gold.

Reviewed By: Michele(less)

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May 13, 2012 Guilty Pleasures rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: guiltypleasures-kclu, publishersent

KcLu's review posted on Guilty Pleasures

Priceless is my first book by Cat Grant, and I have to say I am now a big fan!! This is a beautiful story about two really great people!! Connor is the star of UC Berkley’s physics department, and Wes is a brilliant student that has had to make a tough choice in order to stay in school.

Connor is a loner. He is more comfortable with his research then with large groups of people. He is downright cute in his shyness. His best friend Steve has decided he needs...more KcLu's review posted on Guilty Pleasures

Priceless is my first book by Cat Grant, and I have to say I am now a big fan!! This is a beautiful story about two really great people!! Connor is the star of UC Berkley’s physics department, and Wes is a brilliant student that has had to make a tough choice in order to stay in school.

Connor is a loner. He is more comfortable with his research then with large groups of people. He is downright cute in his shyness. His best friend Steve has decided he needs a big thirty-fifth birthday surprise party, which he is none too happy about. He hides out on the balcony of Steve’s apartment, which is where he meets the gorgeous physics student Wes. They don’t quite hit it off until the next weekend at a lecture. Wes is standing in as Connor’s assistant, and Connor gets to see how truly brilliant he is. He also can’t fight the physical attraction anymore. Only problem is the next morning he wakes to find Wes gone.

Wes lost his scholarship last year due to the bad economy, and he is doing the only thing he things he can to pay for school… hooking via a website. He fell for Connor his freshman year when he first heard him lecture. Never did he think that he would be paid by Connor’s best friend to sleep with him. He tries to tell him no, but obviously Steve can be very convincing. Unfortunately when things are said and done, he has to get out of there while Connor is still sleeping, because he hates lying to him. The last thing he wants is for Connor to find out the truth. Only problem is that Connor lives three doors down from his new apartment, and he does find out because he has to rescue him from a very sadistic John.

I absolutely LOVED this book!!! It is a very quick read, but it is wonderfully written. The story progresses beautifully!! You never fill like it has been rushed to keep it short. I loved reading about Wes’s feelings and about how Connor comes to terms with the truth about why they hooked up in the first place. I hope y’all love this book as much as I do!!!(less)

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May 10, 2012 Nicci rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-romance

Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel?

Reading Priceless, I didn’t know what to expect as many Rentboys stories I have read have this “urgency of survival” driving the narrative. The characters are in desperate situations and they need money like now so they can eat, live, acquire the basic needs some people take for granted.

Wes Martin isn’t desperate in the same sense.

What I remembered while reading Priceless, we aren’t dealing with the boys next door, paranormal characters, cowboys, or...more

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May 07, 2012 Jenre rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, m-m, romance

I find rent boy books almost irresistible, so I dived headlong into this story. It tells of scientist Connor who is one of the leading Optics researchers. He basically lives for his work and so has little time for socialising - plus his introverted nature means he doesn't like social situations. He's thrown a surprise birthday party by his best friend and colleague, Steve, where he meets and is propositioned by College senior, Wes. Connor turns him down but when he later meets Wes at a conferenc...more I find rent boy books almost irresistible, so I dived headlong into this story. It tells of scientist Connor who is one of the leading Optics researchers. He basically lives for his work and so has little time for socialising - plus his introverted nature means he doesn't like social situations. He's thrown a surprise birthday party by his best friend and colleague, Steve, where he meets and is propositioned by College senior, Wes. Connor turns him down but when he later meets Wes at a conference, they have a one night stand. What Connor doesn't know is that Wes is paying for his College tuition through selling his body and that he was paid to sleep with Connor as a birthday gift.

There's something about Cat Grant's writing that's just so easy on the eye. Her prose flows and draws you quickly into the story, the characters and situation kept me reading and before I knew it, I had finished the book in almost one sitting. Connor was an easy character to like. He's dedicated to his work, but has a gentle nature with an underlying kindness. I liked the way that he stands up for himself in the book, showing that he's not a doormat. Wes is another admirable character, who is making the best of a bad situation. The way he gets further and further into trouble and the effect this has on him, made me feel very sorry for him. Having said that, he's also rather naive for a rent boy and I got a little annoyed that he couldn't find a way out his problems, given that Connor manages to help him so easily. When Connor swoops in and rescues Wes, I thought 'why didn't Wes do that in the first place' and it made Wes look rather weak and ineffectual.

What did work for me though was the romance between Wes and Connor who fill a need in each other. Wes has a serious case of hero-worship at first which Connor finds flattering. Their first sex scene is used to show a little of Connor's lack of experience with relationships and I thought it realistic that he should start to have feelings for Wes after sex. During the latter part of the book the pair spend time in a hurt/comfort situation and I would have liked to have seen some more of that time when they get to know each other. The end was a little abrupt as the reader has to make a mental shift from them just being friends to them making a commitment, and again a little further into their HEA would have made this seem a little more fluid. In particular I would have liked to have seen Wes and Connor meeting up with Steve, as I could see that would be an awkward moment for their future. Despite these niggles, I still liked them as a couple and thought they complimented one another in terms of intelligence.

As I said earlier this was a swift read for me. There are a few disturbing scenes of physical and sexual abuse which some readers may find upsetting, but I also thought the author had done a good job of sympathetically showing the after affects of abuse, without being sensationalist about it. I liked that the story is so focused on the main characters because it gave an intensity to the romance which worked for me. Overall, this was a book which I liked and would probably read again when I had a hankering for the theme and a story containing a fairly light amount of angst. I would recommend it to those looking for a quick and engaging read.(less)

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May 17, 2012 Jody rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cat Grant again brings us a highly emotional read that's over before you know it. In Priceless, a young man with his whole future in turmoil starts selling himself to men who care nothing for his heart and soul until he spends the night with overly studious Connor who shows Wes his first real taste of affection. After a brief time apart it's Connor to the rescue when Wes' life goes spiraling out of control.

This was a quick read that packed a big punch. With its likable characters and realistic s...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Tami rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 23, 2012 DarienMoya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, my-m-m-lovin, m-m-short-stories, spicy-shorts, serious-stuff, release-2012, pants-off-reviews

3.5

I am having a seriously hard time with this story, I feel like it should have been perfect but I am missing the details that would have made it excellent. Conner is smart; he’s on his way o do great things, and causing a sensation in science. Socially Conner is lacking so his friend brings in the invertors and he dazzles with his smarts. His life is his work, and he has no time for romance or even a one-night stand. When he meets Wes at a party thrown by his social butterfly friend Steve, he...more 3.5

I am having a seriously hard time with this story, I feel like it should have been perfect but I am missing the details that would have made it excellent. Conner is smart; he’s on his way o do great things, and causing a sensation in science. Socially Conner is lacking so his friend brings in the invertors and he dazzles with his smarts. His life is his work, and he has no time for romance or even a one-night stand. When he meets Wes at a party thrown by his social butterfly friend Steve, he is instantly attracted to the young student but turns away from his advances. Well Wes is about to step back into his life when he becomes Connor’s aid at a conference, and they end finally sleeping together and it sweet and sparks are flying.

What Connor doesn’t know is that Wes was a paid body, and he gets paid to sleep with men in order to pay for his tuition *I feel like I read this one before =_= * Let’s just say Wes walks away from Connor because he is getting attached, and is starting to have feelings for the man. When Wes takes on a new client, his john becomes every rent boy’s nightmare. He’s abusive, and a just plain sadistic bastard and Wes gets caught in his sticky trap and can’t get out.

I think this is where the story sort of lost me. I just can’t wrap my mind around Wes’s stupidity naiveté, I felt like he should have been able to get out of that situation, and that his life was worth less than being found out to be a prostitute ‘all I’m saying is that you can come back from a reputation spoil, but you can’t come back from death’. I'm also confused about this website, I’m guessing it’s just for advertisement purposes and not an escort site, which just makes it all types of dangerous, and just one above being a streetwalker. It’s Connor who comes to his rescue and takes him away from the clutches of the abuser. That left me thinking ‘Wes you should have taken that job at McDonalds’ because dude you could have don’t that yourself!

Even with all the things I didn’t like, the story really kept me interested a feat a few books haven’t been able to do these past few days. I really enjoy Cat’s writing; it flows so well. I liked Connor because he is my perfect nerd with the glasses and all. Wes I’m feeling a little lost about you, I just could not believe in you as a character and so I am left feeling *Meh*. Overall, it was a sweet read, with the right amount of entertainment, and a great way to past the time.

More of my reviews and ramblings at PANTS OFF REVIEWS
(less)

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Nov 04, 2012 Mandie *Foxylutely* rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: angst, emotional, geeks, hardcore, insecurities, m-m, review-to-post, violent, wtf-shoutouts, rent-boys, ginger-love, student-teacher-kinda, age-gap

Priceless is the first book I have read of Cat Grant. I was greatly surprised at how engrossed I became in the story almost from the start. In fact I read it in one sitting as it is a relatively short read but no less enthralling if it had been a full length book.

The MCs are Wes and Connor who are thrown together after Wes is paid to seduce Connor by Steve, Connor’s best friend and business partner. Wes has been worshiping Connor from afar and can’t believe he has been paid to do what he would...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Christi Snow rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a quick read so I am going to do a quick review of it. I liked this book. Wes is in a situation and is pretty much trapped. He isn't willing to let go of his dreams and is willing to make some sacrifices to get them. Unfortunately, that plan goes awry and he ends up in a bad place.

Enter Connor, the professor that Wes could have loved...if he hadn't been secretly hired and paid to seduce him. They have so much in common and are so good together. When Connor realizes what is happening to...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Becky Mrs Condit Reads Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a plot-driven story that moves quickly with plenty of drama, trauma, and tension. Conner tries to take it slow in his approach to Wes but when Wes is in mortal danger Conner has to pick up the pace and their HEA comes hastily, leaving a thread untucked and the story not quite finished. Does Conner see Wes as someone to protect or someone to love? It’s hard to say, given the short length of the story, but I would love to read another story about the two men and find out how things are goi...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Cecile rated it 5 of 5 stars

For those of you that know me... and those that don't this is my little statement about short books.... I do not judge short stories on the rush of their relationships, because they are just that - short stories. So, yes the relationships always could have been drawn out more, yea it seems like they fall in love to fast and of course the story could have been made longer... but it is a short story. So with that said.... here is my review...

Also, I will leave you with the warning that this is a m...more For those of you that know me... and those that don't this is my little statement about short books.... I do not judge short stories on the rush of their relationships, because they are just that - short stories. So, yes the relationships always could have been drawn out more, yea it seems like they fall in love to fast and of course the story could have been made longer... but it is a short story. So with that said.... here is my review...

Also, I will leave you with the warning that this is a m/m book/review. If m/m is not your cup of tea... or if you are not sure this fits in your comfort zone, you will not offend me if you if you just stop by to say Hi!

Oh gosh.... Where do I start! I loved this story! I am a fan of Ms. Cat's work but this time... She teased me, she tempted me, she made me mad, she made me fall in love... and she definitely surprised me! Ms. Cat has a way with her words and a way with her characters. She writes them with such detail that you know you are going to fall in love with them.

This is a short tale, so you know there won't be much given away of what the book is about... Just a whole 'lotta teasing because I know what it is about and I want you to go get it! Connor reminds me of the geek of geek professors, lol. He does... But you love him so much that you just want him happy. But being happy in his dorm room like apartment is not where you want him to be - at least not alone. You know he wants to have that special someone to share his life with... But finding that person is very hard. Until his best friend tries to give him the best 35th birthday present ever....

Wes is an amazingly strong guy. You might not agree with what he has to do to survive but then again, you have to walk a mile in his shoes to understand why and how.... He knows what has to be done to eat and live and put himself through school. Is he happy with his way of life... of course not but what else is he to do.... Then he gets to get close to the man he has been drooling over... and he secretly hoped things would change... But one thing does not change... Rent and tuition are still due.

Connor is kinda tired of being lonely but always buried up to his eyes in his work - there simply is no room nor time to find someone with the same personality as himself. But one night changed his mind.... Or did it. Faced with facing Wes every day - or at least he was hoping since Wes moved in his apartment complex... Connor was hoping to get to know Wes a whole lot better... But coming to Wes' rescue in order to save his life was something Connor was not sure he was ready for. But giving his heart over to Wes was something he was not sure he was ready to do.... But love always finds a way into situations - no matter what you want or don't want!

I dare you to pick up this story and not fall in love with Wes and Connor's story. (less)

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May 10, 2012 Ami rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-rentboy-hustlers-strippers, mm-romance-or-erotica

The plot of this story reminds me a bit of Rena Butler's Office Hours, where the student is "forced" to work as rent-boy in order to pay tuition. It does make me wonder, how many students in America actually work in sex-industry to pay for their education ... Is it the only way possible?

Anyway, the story is written from both men's perspective. The words flow nicely, and I find Wes as wonderfully vulnerable. Connor, on the other hand, I don't really care about.

There is a hurt/comfort plot in the...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Elizabetta rated it 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars

I am a fan of Cat Grant. I loved her books, Allegro Vivace and Sonata Appassionata but Priceless can’t compare to those and not just because it’s a very short story.

None of the characters in Priceless clicked for me -- I didn’t believe the connections between them. There was just too much deception all around. Would a good friend do what Steve did to Connor? Would Connor be able to put aside so easily what Wes did to him? So many improbabilities in this, and a two-dimensional, ca...more

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May 31, 2012 Josie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book and will be reading more from Cat Grant in the future.

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Jul 18, 2012 L-D rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: rent-boys-hookers, recommended-to-me, m-m, series, novella

This was an interesting story, albeit a bit too short for my tastes. I liked Wes and Connor as characters for the most part. I think I tried to sympathize with Wes' character as a prostitute who was working for tuition money, but ultimately I couldn't really wrap my head around some of his decisions and it made it hard for me to connect with him.

A nice story, but I would have liked a little more development for plot and character. I think the author did a nice job developing the relationship of...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Casey (KcLu) added it

Shelves: reviewed-for-guilty-pleasures-book

Review @ www.guiltypleasuresbookreviews.com ...

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Feb 25, 2013 Kaetrin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, ebook, m-m-romance, netgalley

3.5 stars, rounded up (Part of Riptide Rentboys Collection)

Why I read it: I received an ARC via NetGalley.

What it's about: (from Goodreads) "When love's for sale, who really pays?"

Connor Morrison is a 3-D optics pioneer, the star of the UC Berkeley physics department, and a socially inept workaholic. And with his dear friend and business partner, Steve Campbell, handling their investors, he's content to remain in the shadows. That is, until he meets the gorgeous and starry-eyed physics student...more 3.5 stars, rounded up (Part of Riptide Rentboys Collection)

Why I read it: I received an ARC via NetGalley.

What it's about: (from Goodreads) "When love's for sale, who really pays?"

Connor Morrison is a 3-D optics pioneer, the star of the UC Berkeley physics department, and a socially inept workaholic. And with his dear friend and business partner, Steve Campbell, handling their investors, he's content to remain in the shadows. That is, until he meets the gorgeous and starry-eyed physics student Wes Martin.

Wes is brilliant but broke. Ever since his scholarship fell victim to the financial crisis, he's had no choice but to sell his body to stay in school. Already half in love with Connor, Wes initially resists Steve's offer to be Connor's thirty-fifth birthday present. But in the end, Wes is too broke--and too smitten--to say no.

Connor has no idea Steve bought Wes's attentions, and he quickly falls under the young man's spell. Yet after one night together, Wes disappears. He can't bear to hook with a man he could so easily grow to love, but he also can't bear to tell him the truth. Besides, if he sleeps with Connor again, there'd be no way to hide the bruises one of his regular johns loves to inflict. Only one thing to do: let Connor go. Walking away is painful, but not nearly as much as building a relationship on lies.

Warning: Some non consensual sexual activity - by a client of Wes's (not Connor).

What worked for me (and what didn't): This story was part of Riptide Rentboys: The 2012 Collection. I had only read the Anne Brook novella, Where You Hurt The Most but went back and pulled this one up after reading the blurb for Fearless.

I really enjoyed this story and right up until the end, it was heading into B+ territory. Unfortunately, the end and the mutual exchange of "I love you" was so abrupt that, for me, it took a bit of the shine off. I saw Wes and Connor's deep attraction, I felt for Wes as he got stuck in a bad situation with an abusive client. I liked how Connor took care of Wes after. I thought the moving in and use of the L word was just too quick though. The author did such a good job of setting up potential issues between these two men but for me, much of that went unresolved. How would Wes feel about being essentially "kept"? Sure he'd find work, but his contribution would hardly be equal. What dynamic would that bring? If the end section had have had the same kind of pacing as the beginning, I would have been very happy. As it was, I liked the characters very much and wanted to spend more time getting to know them.

Grade: B-

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Dec 11, 2012 Shirley Frances rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: aldiko-app, mm-series, read-2-review, 2012, mm-read

Priceless is a story of lessons learned, self-acceptance and new found connections.

Connor is a workaholic who prefers living in a dorm building than venturing out into the world. He doesn't like to draw attention to himself, so when his best friend and business partner, Steve, throws him a surprise birthday party, he retreats outside for a smoke. It is there that he first encounters Wes. He is young and handsome and their chemistry is hot. Wes has had a hard time the last few moths and has had t...more Priceless is a story of lessons learned, self-acceptance and new found connections.

Connor is a workaholic who prefers living in a dorm building than venturing out into the world. He doesn't like to draw attention to himself, so when his best friend and business partner, Steve, throws him a surprise birthday party, he retreats outside for a smoke. It is there that he first encounters Wes. He is young and handsome and their chemistry is hot. Wes has had a hard time the last few moths and has had to resort to selling himself to pay for his education. He has admired Connor ever since he was a freshman and is halfway in love with the man, but when Steve first approaches him to be Connor's birthday present he hesitates. In the end he accepts, but Connor rejects his advances.

Although that night nothing between them came to be, Connor cannot get Wes out of his mind, so when the opportunity presents itself to be with him again, he goes for it. Only to be walked out on and never hearing from Wes again. Wes continues with his 'hook-ups' even if he is still thinking about Connor and that one night. During this time apart, Wes comes across an opportunity to maintain a steady income. He is hesitant at first, but he needs the money and goes full out.

And this is where the story really picks up steam. It is here that the author brings to the surface a whole set of emotions and events that made Wes even more dear to me. What he goes through during this time is horrible. He is alone, feeling very low on himself and struggling with his studies. In a turn of events that made the story interesting and showed a different side of both characters, Connor and Wes are reunited again.

I liked that this wasn't an insta-love scenario, I wouldn't have liked if it was. The approach the author took and the events she brought to the story made their connection deeper and more believable to me. I loved to see how Wes grew throughout the story and how he and Connor adjusted to each other.

The writing was good, even if the end felt a bit rushed. I would have loved to see more interaction between them as friends and even more interaction between them as lovers. I knew there was another book that explored their relationship further, so I could overlook it in regards to my rating. Both characters were adorable, even if I feel I connected more to Wes than Connor. I enjoyed their dialog and their chemistry. Steve didn't register much from me, but I guess he added to the story, so that's okay. I really liked how the Wes struggles were presented, not the part about having to sell himself. Geez, he never heard of Stafford Loans? But this being fiction and the events that shaped him because of his experience as an 'escort' were enough for me to overlook it.

All in all, a great read with interesting characters and great chemistry. (less)

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Oct 15, 2012 Jess Candela rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: bingo-challenge, read-in-2012, m-m

I usually like Cat Grant books. I usually like rent boy stories. I usually enjoy books set in Berkeley, my hometown. I expected to love this book. I was disappointed.

I went into this story with enthusiasm but also curious skepticism, because I really couldn't imagine why an intelligent, young, healthy man would need to hook to finish college. I completed college in the Bay Area without ever hooking, or even considering it. I've known many, many other people of whom that's also true. So I couldn'...more I usually like Cat Grant books. I usually like rent boy stories. I usually enjoy books set in Berkeley, my hometown. I expected to love this book. I was disappointed.

I went into this story with enthusiasm but also curious skepticism, because I really couldn't imagine why an intelligent, young, healthy man would need to hook to finish college. I completed college in the Bay Area without ever hooking, or even considering it. I've known many, many other people of whom that's also true. So I couldn't imagine why hooking would be necessary.

I never did figure it out. No explanation was given, except that Wes seemed to think that was his only way to complete college before he was 40. Of course, this is the same kid so severely lacking critical thinking skills that he believes he needs a car (in Berkeley!), if for no other reason than most of his clients are in San Francisco and he doesn't want to wait for BART or bus in the dark. But if he weren't prostituting himself in SF he wouldn't need to be taking BART or bus home after dark. Not to mention the illogic of feeling safer alone with a john than at a bus or BART stop.

There were other logical or factual errors related to UC Berkeley tuition, how much money a student realistically needs to live on in Berkeley, the weather, etc. Each of which was bad enough, but then Wes says he wants to get counseling but is afraid they'll call the cops, and Connor almost reassures him by explaining patient confidentiality but then doesn't. Why not? Because "forcing him to seek help before he was ready wouldn't do him a damn bit of good." Except that he just said he wants the help but is afraid to get it because of the expected repercussions. I know brilliance in physics doesn't necessarily translate to brilliance with people, but that seems like basic Listening 101.

I'm assuming there was a story in there but I missed it because of my distraction with the trees. Nothing Wes did made any sense to me, and Connor only made sense if I squinted. I never really liked or cared about either character, or understood what they saw in each other beyond a common interest in physics and men. Maybe that's enough, but it would have been nice to be able to believe it.

But I think I was a fool to expect believability from this story in any way. The villain was so OTT odious and evil, I could only laugh at him. That Wes fell into his evil web just convinced me that Wes was TSTL, something I'd been suspecting all along. Despite all that, I was still caught by surprise at the end when they suddenly - completely out of the blue - declare themselves and everything is magically perfect. By then I was just glad it was finally over. (less)

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Oct 16, 2012 Nikyta rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: riptide-publishing, age-gap, bingo-challenge-r5, angst, cruelty-abuse, contemporary, injury-recovery, deception-betrayal-lies-omissions, ginger-lovin, m-m, unrequited-yearning, neighbors, professionals, series-serial, teacher-student, school, sex-outside-main-couple

3.5

Books with rent boys in them aren't a theme I generally like. I'm irrational when it comes to characters having sex with anyone but the other MC. I can't help it, I just don't like it and it usually dims my enjoyment of the story.

With that said, I liked this one. It's a bit divided in that the beginning you get it from Connor's POV and his interactions with Wes. The middle you get from Wes' POV but it's mostly of him with a regular client, which I wasn't too fond of. The end is a mix of both...more

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May 18, 2012 Susan65 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Crikey this was a difficult one to read. I struggle with non-con to begin with but when it's someone so young it makes it that much harder for me. Even with those scenes, I still loved Wes and was rooting for him to find a way out of the mess he put himself into. Poor Connor, such a nice guy, and to find out your best did what he did, with and to the guy he was crushing on...I ached for him. I wish he would have broken his nose.

May/December and non-con don't usually rank high on my to-read list...more

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May 09, 2012 Cole Riann rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, m-m-contemporary, m-m-sex-industry, m-m-abuse-physical-sexual

Overall an enjoyable story, though I did wonder just why it was necessary to become a rent boy to pay for tuition... couldn't he just get loans? I mean, when it's that dire of a situation? I also felt like some of the second half was rushed. The pacing changed quite a bit from the beginning, the part that concerned them first getting to know each other.

I did like the characters, all except for one (well, two, if you consider the (view spoiler)). Connor's friend and...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Ayanna rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, hahahaha-no, lul-wut

Kind of nice for a quick read. It's not exactly deep or profound, but it's good for one of those mind-numbing, pseudo-meditation things.

As Samington said, though, there were some really weird points that just didn't make sense. Of course, when I first read it, I assumed it was some little school in the middle of nowhere. One of those fluke schools that have an awesomely amazingly brilliant professor who hates rote designer academia. It wasn't until I read that review, then backtracked to the sum...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Zach Sweets rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: character-gay, continuously-series, genre-contemporary, genre-romance, length-novella, pairing-man-to-man, theme-hurt-comfort, warning-graphic-rape

The most raw emotions I'd have to read. I was connected to the characters entirely. The book was given to me by Cat Grant so I can review a sequel to Priceless (Fearless). To read the part were Wes was violently abused was hard. I was glad Connor was there to save his life. This book is also part of Riptide's Rentboy collections. Highly recommended.

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May 16, 2012 Brien Michaels rated it 5 of 5 stars

What can I say about Priceless? I've been reading Cat for a couple years now, and when I found out she was writing another Rentboy book, I was excited. And I wasn't disappointed.

Conner and Wes are two of the most compelling characters in a long while and I would totally read another book with these two as the heroes. I won't spoil the book, but if anyone has asthma, I would advise having your inhaler handy when you read it.

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About Cat Grant

If you're looking for epic sci-fi, fantasy, or historicals, that's not me. Contemporary all the way, baby!

However, if you're looking for down to earth, complicated characters dealing with real-world problems (and the occasional comfort read!), I might just fit the bill. :)

My Books:

Courtland Chronicles (m/m & m/m/f)
By Chance
Strictly Business
Complications
The Arrangement
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Priceless (Riptide Rentboys: The 2012 Collection)

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