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Guys #1
Guys On Top
Doug Crandall’s perfect suburban life imploded after his boyfriend’s betrayal and a subsequent lawsuit left him personally and financially devastated. A year later, with a new place in the city and a fresh outlook, he’s back on his feet and ready to start over. Eager to lose his cynicism and heal his battered heart, he immerses himself in the local social scene, which includes a pair of charismatic men engaged in an open relationship. As Doug finds himself becoming emotionally and sexually entangled in their lives, he’s forced to reevaluate his views on fidelity, betrayal, love, and the often calamitous price of happiness.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2014
16 people are currently reading
443 people want to read
About the author
Darien Cox
26 books345 followersAuthor Darien Cox lives in New England and enjoys using romantic fiction to explore the intensity, insanity, humor, and chaos that accompanies cupid’s arrow.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
May 15, 2021
3.75 these people are fucked up stars
I had so much fun reading this because I couldn't believe how much I liked and disliked these characters.
Normal was in the eye of the beholder, and sometimes the path to happiness involved bushwhacking and slicing and carving it until it yielded to individual desires.
Darien has delivered a solid not your usual mm story here. I loved it. The writing is solid and the story flowed so well.
This is one of those books that you either like or not. Told in the POV of Doug, who is on a mission to start over after a nasty break-up, what follows is the weirdest and interesting journey of Doug, Stewart and Corey. It is not MMM, it is just that Stewart and Corey are in an open relationship. Being in Doug's head was very entertaining.
Doug gets tangled up in all the mess that is Corey and Stewart. I liked all the characters and at the same time loathed them. These people are horrible and selfish. They lie, they party, they backstab and they have freaking hot sex.
Not your usual mm story and I don't think I can clasify this as romance. The relationship was definately interesting and hot.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
I had so much fun reading this because I couldn't believe how much I liked and disliked these characters.
Normal was in the eye of the beholder, and sometimes the path to happiness involved bushwhacking and slicing and carving it until it yielded to individual desires.
Darien has delivered a solid not your usual mm story here. I loved it. The writing is solid and the story flowed so well.
This is one of those books that you either like or not. Told in the POV of Doug, who is on a mission to start over after a nasty break-up, what follows is the weirdest and interesting journey of Doug, Stewart and Corey. It is not MMM, it is just that Stewart and Corey are in an open relationship. Being in Doug's head was very entertaining.
Doug gets tangled up in all the mess that is Corey and Stewart. I liked all the characters and at the same time loathed them. These people are horrible and selfish. They lie, they party, they backstab and they have freaking hot sex.
Not your usual mm story and I don't think I can clasify this as romance. The relationship was definately interesting and hot.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
September 1, 2016
3.5 stars
Not what I expected. AT ALL.
Once again I'm torn between rating based on FEELINGS vs. OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS. But fuck it, there's no such thing as "objective," is there? We always judge based on our perceptions, don't we?
Bottom line:
There's no menage here, but there's cheating (gray-area cheating, but cheating nonetheless). Stewart and Corey are in an "open relationship" (which means Corey fucks pretty boys indiscriminately, while Stewart chases the thrill of being infatuated with larger-than-life Corey) when Doug falls for Stewart. The feelings appear to be mutual, but Stewart is not exactly available.
Be warned that through most of the book, the MCs are with other people.
The book is filtered through Doug's POV, and Cox is a stellar writer. No typos here, but plenty of humor with angst sprinkled in.
What bothered ME (and it may not bother you) is the lack of a solid relationship between Doug and Stewart. Even toward the end, Doug is very passive and detached. There's no HEA, just a tenuous HFN.
I can't fault Cox for doing something different. This is edgy, not your mama's romance novel. That's all good, but it left me bereft.
Not what I expected. AT ALL.
Once again I'm torn between rating based on FEELINGS vs. OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS. But fuck it, there's no such thing as "objective," is there? We always judge based on our perceptions, don't we?
Bottom line:
There's no menage here, but there's cheating (gray-area cheating, but cheating nonetheless). Stewart and Corey are in an "open relationship" (which means Corey fucks pretty boys indiscriminately, while Stewart chases the thrill of being infatuated with larger-than-life Corey) when Doug falls for Stewart. The feelings appear to be mutual, but Stewart is not exactly available.
Be warned that through most of the book, the MCs are with other people.
The book is filtered through Doug's POV, and Cox is a stellar writer. No typos here, but plenty of humor with angst sprinkled in.
What bothered ME (and it may not bother you) is the lack of a solid relationship between Doug and Stewart. Even toward the end, Doug is very passive and detached. There's no HEA, just a tenuous HFN.
I can't fault Cox for doing something different. This is edgy, not your mama's romance novel. That's all good, but it left me bereft.
March 5, 2014
4--Very Crafty Title--Stars!!
Warning: HOT Cover Alert
So this one was kind of/sort of a love triangle....maybe....not really...but yeah. And I was kind of thinking there might be some MMM action but
Dammit!
Still another great Darien Cox read.
Doug has experienced a bad break-up....kind of a life altering break-up. He's starting over. Moving in to a new place. While out with his friend Jairo, Doug meets Stewart. In the meantime, Jairo hooks up with a guy named Corey.
Jairo goes home with Corey and Stewart goes home with Doug. You with me here? Turns out Doug's house is also Stewart's house. Stewart and his boyfriend Corey are the guys on top and Doug is the guy on the bottom.
Corey and Stewart have an open relationship.
Doug don't like them apples. Corey and Stewart are okay with each other sleeping with other people, but only just once as to not make things weird.
Let's face it, things are weird and Doug's now "the meat in that nasty boy sandwich".
Corey is all kinds of
And gah...I really didn't want to like him but he made me laugh.
Corey and Stewart were already kind of having problems. And Doug doesn't want to be that guy. Doug tries to forget Stewart and date around.
Kelly....that was just
IDK, there wasn't much to this story outside of the love triangle infested waters, Corey's crazy healing powers and a whole lot of hot man lovin'.
It was an easy, quick read. I guess it was kind of insta-lovey too....but it didn't really bother me too much. Definitely a high steam factor which me likey!
Overall a pretty good little read if I do say so myself.
Warning: HOT Cover Alert
So this one was kind of/sort of a love triangle....maybe....not really...but yeah. And I was kind of thinking there might be some MMM action but
Dammit!
Still another great Darien Cox read.
Doug has experienced a bad break-up....kind of a life altering break-up. He's starting over. Moving in to a new place. While out with his friend Jairo, Doug meets Stewart. In the meantime, Jairo hooks up with a guy named Corey.
Jairo goes home with Corey and Stewart goes home with Doug. You with me here? Turns out Doug's house is also Stewart's house. Stewart and his boyfriend Corey are the guys on top and Doug is the guy on the bottom.
Corey and Stewart have an open relationship.
Doug don't like them apples. Corey and Stewart are okay with each other sleeping with other people, but only just once as to not make things weird.
Let's face it, things are weird and Doug's now "the meat in that nasty boy sandwich".
Corey is all kinds of
And gah...I really didn't want to like him but he made me laugh.
Corey and Stewart were already kind of having problems. And Doug doesn't want to be that guy. Doug tries to forget Stewart and date around.
Kelly....that was just
IDK, there wasn't much to this story outside of the love triangle infested waters, Corey's crazy healing powers and a whole lot of hot man lovin'.
It was an easy, quick read. I guess it was kind of insta-lovey too....but it didn't really bother me too much. Definitely a high steam factor which me likey!
Overall a pretty good little read if I do say so myself.
October 21, 2015
"LOVE. YOU VICIOUS BITCH OF A PUPPET MASTER."
I fell in love with Darien Cox’s exciting storytelling with Criminal Pleasures, a truly brilliant book! Darien’s writing style is amazing and Guys on Top is definitely another winner, I loved it… and the clever title, by the way. If you are wondering (I did), there’s no ménage in this story.
When Doug Crandall moves into a house with two guys living on the top floor he isn’t prepared for the impact those two will have on his life. All he wants is to leave the betrayal of his boyfriend and a subsequent lawsuit behind and start all over again. What he gets can’t be more different. His new neighbours Stewart and Corey are unconventional, the charismatic men are engaged in an open relationship. Loud parties and even louder bedroom noises are daily fare. His complaint leads to a lovely note on his door, a note that gets the ball rolling…
“Dear new guy downstairs,
Truly sorry about the noise, we’ll try to keep it down in the future. However, we’d like to ask that in the future, you would be so kind as to come to us directly if you have a problem. You know, like a grownup. and we’d really appreciate it if you would not call the fucking landlord. There’s no need to go all Pussy McTattletale.
Much love,
The guys on top”
Eager to preserve the peace and heal his battered heart Doug is determined to get along with those guys on top. He plunges into activities in the local social scene and, whether he wants it or not, gets entangled in the lives of Stewart and Corey…
I just adored charming, witty and self-mocking Doug, despite his background and his problems he had to live with he’s determined to move on with life. All he wants is to start over in a new environment. Little does he know the trouble the guys on top will bring him. His journey is quite realistic and really captivating, I loved every aspect of it, even the frustrating moments.
Stewart is a hunky plumber, mouth wateringly hot and even though Doug is immediately enamoured with him I couldn’t really connect with Stewart. I wanted to get to know him better, wanted a glimpse into his background, his former life. Why did he even consider an open relationship with his boyfriend when he rather wants a monogamous life? He is aware of all of the unaddressed problems between him and Corey, so why did he choose to live that way?
Corey is an entirely different story. He is intriguing in his own way, he seems to be nothing more than an eccentric, self-centred, ‘golden god’. When he shows up you never know what to expect. Is he the asshat Corey? Or the spiritual Corey, the healer? Or is he just in the right mood to screw anything with a heartbeat? At the beginning Doug is unable to grasp what is with this guy that everyone is drooling over. The words he picks to describe Corey made me nearly scream with laughter.
“I told Jairo you had a boyfriend because he was going on and on about your magic hands and your golden cock and how sparkly butterflies come out your ass when you take a dump.”
I didn’t fall easy for Corey but over the course of the book he managed to creep into my heart. In retrospect he’s the most interesting character of the story. He is the one who keeps Doug, Stewart and all the others on their toes. And what I real loved about him, is he gives as good as he gets.
“I’m a nice guy, Doug. Everybody likes me. I’m not used to people yelling in my ear. But it’s funny. Yesterday I get a call from the landlord, Anna. She’s bitching at me because I’m disturbing Doug. I say who the fuck is Doug? She says the guy downstairs.”
“Then today, I get a call from Jairo. He’s bitching at me because of something Doug said. So I say who the fuck is Doug? He says the guy that lives downstairs.”
“So then I’m having breakfast with my boyfriend, Stewart.” Doug went still. “Nothing ever affects Stewart’s good mood. He’s my laidback, corn-fed country boy. But suddenly he’s acting all anxious and twitchy and weird. So I ask what’s up. And he tells me he spent the night with Doug. Can you guess what I said?”
Doug sighed. “I’m guessing...who the fuck is Doug?”
Doug and Stewart are just sexy together. Their kisses alone made me tingle all over. I really adored them together, and loved the dynamic’s of the relationship between them.The romance was good and the sex scenes were hot without being over the top. I felt the heated emotions and the sexual tension that ignited a passion that hooked me to both the story and the characters. Guys on Top is one of those books you read in a day or you end up pulling an all-nighter because you have to get it finished. I really enjoyed it, didn’t put it down once - who needs sleep anyways? I’m intrigued with Darien’s writing style and he will definitely be on my watch list.
Thank you Darien, for creating such wonderful stories. Guys on the Top left me pleasantly intrigued. I would love (and I’m sure I’m not the only one) to read a follow-up story. I’d like to watch Corey and Zach together and meet Doug and Stewart again, even as secondary characters. Just saying… :)
July 31, 2017
I don’t know how I’m doing this but lately, I’m only running into stories that have soap-opera drama… This doesn’t mean I didn’t like what I just read, but it definitely isn’t my favorite read of the year. I enjoyed and giggled a lot with some of the crazy stuff I read here. What else can I do if I find myself incapable of running into better books?
Doug is trying to start all over again after a really bad breakup, so he moves to a new place and tries to get his social life back so one night out with his new friend Jairo, he meets Stewart while Jairo goes home with Corey.
What does all that has to be with anything, right? Well, it turns out that Stewart and Corey are boyfriends but they are in an open relationship… and they are his annoying neighbors that didn’t let him sleep his first night because they were partying 5 days in a row and having non-stop sex that Doug was capable of listening to through his radiator… Doug has a patient of a saint; I would have destroyed the radiator already or something less unconventional…
Stewart and Corey are pretty cool about sleeping with other people as long as they don’t repeat it so they avoid getting attach emotionally…
Doug was like a lost puppy who didn’t know what to do with his life at first and when he meets Stewart it appears he won’t be able to have a normal life because he literally gets in between Corey and Stewart’s relationship and that brings all kind of drama to the mix. I thought it was going to be an MMM story but thanks God it didn’t because I barely felt any chemistry between Steward and Doug.
I didn’t find Steward as mesmerizing as Doug thinks he is, he just another hot guy that speeds Doug’s heart by some inexplicable reason to me. However, Corey, he did let a mark on me and I get what Steward said about ‘how Corey is always winning everyone over.’ #Guilty
Corey was annoying at first, but his eccentric personality made it impossible for me to hate him. He was funny, hot-blooded, smart and great person, albeit he was a side character, he just caught my attention more than Stewart. Though, the one who really annoyed me was Doug’s brother…. I hate meddling people!
To be honest, Steward and Doug’s didn’t have the most solid relationship and that may be an issue to some. Ok, I actually get that an ‘open-relationship’ isn’t cheating but… somehow, Corey and Steward did cheat on each other because
Mostly, the story didn’t wow me, was easily predictable and a bit irritating but it was good, something different and I dare to say quite realistic, at least with the relationship/feelings part.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Doug is trying to start all over again after a really bad breakup, so he moves to a new place and tries to get his social life back so one night out with his new friend Jairo, he meets Stewart while Jairo goes home with Corey.
What does all that has to be with anything, right? Well, it turns out that Stewart and Corey are boyfriends but they are in an open relationship… and they are his annoying neighbors that didn’t let him sleep his first night because they were partying 5 days in a row and having non-stop sex that Doug was capable of listening to through his radiator… Doug has a patient of a saint; I would have destroyed the radiator already or something less unconventional…
Stewart and Corey are pretty cool about sleeping with other people as long as they don’t repeat it so they avoid getting attach emotionally…
Doug was like a lost puppy who didn’t know what to do with his life at first and when he meets Stewart it appears he won’t be able to have a normal life because he literally gets in between Corey and Stewart’s relationship and that brings all kind of drama to the mix. I thought it was going to be an MMM story but thanks God it didn’t because I barely felt any chemistry between Steward and Doug.
I didn’t find Steward as mesmerizing as Doug thinks he is, he just another hot guy that speeds Doug’s heart by some inexplicable reason to me. However, Corey, he did let a mark on me and I get what Steward said about ‘how Corey is always winning everyone over.’ #Guilty
Corey was annoying at first, but his eccentric personality made it impossible for me to hate him. He was funny, hot-blooded, smart and great person, albeit he was a side character, he just caught my attention more than Stewart. Though, the one who really annoyed me was Doug’s brother…. I hate meddling people!
To be honest, Steward and Doug’s didn’t have the most solid relationship and that may be an issue to some. Ok, I actually get that an ‘open-relationship’ isn’t cheating but… somehow, Corey and Steward did cheat on each other because
Mostly, the story didn’t wow me, was easily predictable and a bit irritating but it was good, something different and I dare to say quite realistic, at least with the relationship/feelings part.
3.5 stars rounded up.
May 20, 2021
This was so much fun, full of quirky crazy selfish gorgeous characters, and I loved them all. I think my favourite was Corey, with his magnetism and healing powers, and I’m excited to read his book next.
Doug’s life fell apart when his boyfriend cheated on him. He had to start over from scratch, and a year later he is still bitter. And he hates cheaters. Ironically, when he meets the guy of his dreams, Stewart, said guy is in a relationship with someone else, gorgeous magnetic crazy Corey. An open relationship, but one of the rules is to never sleep with the same guy twice.
But rules are meant to be broken, right? Stewart and Doug are unable to resist each other. Again. And again. All while Doug is also developing a friendship with Corey.
Assholes. All of them. Corey included. But all is fair in love and war. No scruples allowed here. Enjoy the ride!
Normal was in the eye of the beholder, and sometimes the path to happiness involved bushwhacking and slicing and carving it until it yielded to individual desires. It wasn’t simple, and there was no getting through it unscathed from the bleeding prick of thorns along the way.
Doug’s life fell apart when his boyfriend cheated on him. He had to start over from scratch, and a year later he is still bitter. And he hates cheaters. Ironically, when he meets the guy of his dreams, Stewart, said guy is in a relationship with someone else, gorgeous magnetic crazy Corey. An open relationship, but one of the rules is to never sleep with the same guy twice.
But rules are meant to be broken, right? Stewart and Doug are unable to resist each other. Again. And again. All while Doug is also developing a friendship with Corey.
Assholes. All of them. Corey included. But all is fair in love and war. No scruples allowed here. Enjoy the ride!
Normal was in the eye of the beholder, and sometimes the path to happiness involved bushwhacking and slicing and carving it until it yielded to individual desires. It wasn’t simple, and there was no getting through it unscathed from the bleeding prick of thorns along the way.
July 24, 2015
3.5 - I did not feel any real solid connection with Doug & Stewart and that made the ending unsatisfying. I wanted more angst from Doug & Stewart's especially. I did enjoy this though and Darien writes amazing sex scenes! :)
March 3, 2014
♥ `•.¸.•´ ♥ º ☆.¸¸.•´¯`♥ Super Satisfying!! ♥ `•.¸.•´ ♥ º ☆.¸¸.•´¯`♥
Mmm what can I say? I was completely enthralled by these guys. Boy did I enjoy the shit out of this :) Usually I don't really create an image of what the story could be like before digging in, but here I did and boy was I wrong. Honestly Guys on Top was not what I had imagined but so much better. Darien Cox created something wonderful here. Doug's journey was quite realistic, a bit angsty at times and just really captivating. I loved every aspect of it, even the frustrating moments. And what a clever title, by the way :)
Doug's really cool. I adore him quite a lot. Very likeable, charming and laid back kinda guy. All he wanted was a new start in a new city, new house. Little did he know the trouble this house would bring him...
From the moment we meet Stewart I was as smitten as Doug. Gods, what a man. I thought Stewart was quite funny and charming and somewhat mysterious in an open kinda way. I guess it doesn't make sense but there was just something about him that was sexy as hell and addicting (even to me as a reader). I wanted more Stewart. All the time.
And Dougy boy felt the same way. Sigh. It was crucial at times, and I was wary, second guessing everything and everyone until the end. I guess I was expecting "things" to happen, the bomb to drop, and I don't know somehow complicate things further or even have a very unhappy ending because there was also Corey. And no matter how bitchy and crazy Corey was, I somehow couldn't hate him. Enough to want him gone though, yes I think so.
Corey just didn't do it for me. Don't get me all wrong, he is intruiging in his own way, but he's not my kinda guy I wanna get naked with ;) Or Stewart for that matter.(And he reminds me of that twirling dude =D Drama baby, drama!) And yeah I wanted him gone...because Stewart and Doug were just so dammned sexy together.
Those kisses alone had my stomach in knots. Their moments together made me tingle all over. Every line was so exciting. So H.O.T.
I adored them together. Absolutely sizzling. And then there was that incredibly palpable sexual tension. Oh god shoot me now. I LOVED it like hell.
Mmmm! It was an interesting and enthralling journey. I really enjoyed it. I mean, I didn't put the book down once - who needs sleep anyways? :)
I fell in love with Darien Cox exciting storytelling with Criminal Pleasures and Seducing Professor Coyle. They're both incredibly awesome stories. Diving right in with Guys on Top was a total MUST and it's just as much of a fun ride ♥
Thank you for creating such wonderful characters and stories ♥
-----
Mmm what can I say? I was completely enthralled by these guys. Boy did I enjoy the shit out of this :) Usually I don't really create an image of what the story could be like before digging in, but here I did and boy was I wrong. Honestly Guys on Top was not what I had imagined but so much better. Darien Cox created something wonderful here. Doug's journey was quite realistic, a bit angsty at times and just really captivating. I loved every aspect of it, even the frustrating moments. And what a clever title, by the way :)
"Love. You vicious bitch of a puppet master."
Doug's really cool. I adore him quite a lot. Very likeable, charming and laid back kinda guy. All he wanted was a new start in a new city, new house. Little did he know the trouble this house would bring him...
From the moment we meet Stewart I was as smitten as Doug. Gods, what a man. I thought Stewart was quite funny and charming and somewhat mysterious in an open kinda way. I guess it doesn't make sense but there was just something about him that was sexy as hell and addicting (even to me as a reader). I wanted more Stewart. All the time.
“He’s for you, that longing said. Take him.”
And Dougy boy felt the same way. Sigh. It was crucial at times, and I was wary, second guessing everything and everyone until the end. I guess I was expecting "things" to happen, the bomb to drop, and I don't know somehow complicate things further or even have a very unhappy ending because there was also Corey. And no matter how bitchy and crazy Corey was, I somehow couldn't hate him. Enough to want him gone though, yes I think so.
Corey just didn't do it for me. Don't get me all wrong, he is intruiging in his own way, but he's not my kinda guy I wanna get naked with ;) Or Stewart for that matter.(And he reminds me of that twirling dude =D Drama baby, drama!) And yeah I wanted him gone...because Stewart and Doug were just so dammned sexy together.
Those kisses alone had my stomach in knots. Their moments together made me tingle all over. Every line was so exciting. So H.O.T.
I adored them together. Absolutely sizzling. And then there was that incredibly palpable sexual tension. Oh god shoot me now. I LOVED it like hell.
"I can’t go back to the table right now,” Doug said. Stewart’s brow furrowed. “Why?”
Doug shrugged. “Because you’re still standing here. And I couldn’t walk away from you if I tried.”
Stewart let out a breath. He held Doug’s eyes. “So stop trying."
Mmmm! It was an interesting and enthralling journey. I really enjoyed it. I mean, I didn't put the book down once - who needs sleep anyways? :)
I fell in love with Darien Cox exciting storytelling with Criminal Pleasures and Seducing Professor Coyle. They're both incredibly awesome stories. Diving right in with Guys on Top was a total MUST and it's just as much of a fun ride ♥
Thank you for creating such wonderful characters and stories ♥
-----
“Am I drunk?” Stewart leaned his shoulder against the bar, thick arms crossed in front of his chest. “Why do you ask?”
“Because you’re sounding a bit...British tonight.”
“I am a bit British. But I’m not drunk. Not yet, anyway.”
March 1, 2014
Clever..clever title. An appealingly-realistic testosterone-angst love triangle of tantalizing possibilities.
But this just has to be some kind of cunning calm before the storm. Because this has all the classic signs and symptoms of a delicious dysfunctional disaster coming down the pipes in a 2nd book with a spiced-up ripe ménage à trois for the picking.
And if not..Mr. Cox..spin that up pronto.
There's Stewart, the mellow corn-fed former resident Roto-Rooter beefcake that somehow makes plumbing erotic. And then there's Corey. The golden-God-spun, ego-sorbed character..and quintessential snake-oil-salesman..you can't help but buy whatever he's selling.
Dougie..hmmm..Dougie. Jury's still out on that one. But he's doable.
One thing's for certain..Mr. Cox never skimps on cock in his stories..and isn't shy about the words that come with it..and as a reader that favors prolific cock-speak and the like..there's much to be appreciated.
Favorite Hallmark Greeting Card Moments:
But this just has to be some kind of cunning calm before the storm. Because this has all the classic signs and symptoms of a delicious dysfunctional disaster coming down the pipes in a 2nd book with a spiced-up ripe ménage à trois for the picking.
And if not..Mr. Cox..spin that up pronto.
There's Stewart, the mellow corn-fed former resident Roto-Rooter beefcake that somehow makes plumbing erotic. And then there's Corey. The golden-God-spun, ego-sorbed character..and quintessential snake-oil-salesman..you can't help but buy whatever he's selling.
Dougie..hmmm..Dougie. Jury's still out on that one. But he's doable.
One thing's for certain..Mr. Cox never skimps on cock in his stories..and isn't shy about the words that come with it..and as a reader that favors prolific cock-speak and the like..there's much to be appreciated.
Favorite Hallmark Greeting Card Moments:
August 25, 2022
*3.5 stars*
I liked this more this second time around. It's just...something is missing. Maybe I needed Stewart's POV too because last aside, the connection mostly came from Doug's part.
I liked this more this second time around. It's just...something is missing. Maybe I needed Stewart's POV too because last aside, the connection mostly came from Doug's part.
March 5, 2014
First things first - if you are looking for a ménage book, this is not for you. In fact, this is the story about one guy meeting two guys, his new neighbors, living in an open relationship. He falls for one of them and thus forces the couple to face some unpleasant realities. Some people will take this whole book as cheating between the MCs.
Nevertheless, I liked the story. I liked Doug very much, his background, his problems he had to live with and his moving on with life. I liked Stewart, although it remains a mystery what both saw in each other besides good looks. The guy I couldn't get a grip on was Corey. As the whole story is told from Doug's POV we learn about the relationship between Corey and Stewart from the outside, we only learn what Doug observed or was told.
What was missing for me was either Corey's or Stewart's POV to really get to know what went on between both of them.
Then end was optimistic, all men had found their place and where obviously happy.
Nevertheless, I liked the story. I liked Doug very much, his background, his problems he had to live with and his moving on with life. I liked Stewart, although it remains a mystery what both saw in each other besides good looks. The guy I couldn't get a grip on was Corey. As the whole story is told from Doug's POV we learn about the relationship between Corey and Stewart from the outside, we only learn what Doug observed or was told.
What was missing for me was either Corey's or Stewart's POV to really get to know what went on between both of them.
Then end was optimistic, all men had found their place and where obviously happy.
November 11, 2015
BR, November 10th with Momo and Julie.
*3,5 stars*
Interesting enough, didn't bother me too much.
But somehow I expected a bit more angst between Stewart and Dough because of that matter.
I still liked Victim of Love the best!!
Will be reading Corey's story (Guys on the Side) soonish. He was an ass in this book but he clearly has some issues!
March 21, 2017
3.5*
This is a bit of a dilemma book for me as I'm not a fan of cheating, although here the characters are in an open relationship, so it's not cheating as such.
Still, for a lot of the time, one of the MCs is with someone else, although they are never shown to be particularly loving, and the other one is pining, which brings in an uncertain note I wasn't keen on.
However, on the flip side, it's clear the two MCs are meant for each other, they're hot as hell together and they have some amazing smexy times.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and I even ended up feeling sorry for the 'other' guy, the one our MC was in his open relationship with, who had started out as a bit of a douche.
This is a bit of a dilemma book for me as I'm not a fan of cheating, although here the characters are in an open relationship, so it's not cheating as such.
Still, for a lot of the time, one of the MCs is with someone else, although they are never shown to be particularly loving, and the other one is pining, which brings in an uncertain note I wasn't keen on.
However, on the flip side, it's clear the two MCs are meant for each other, they're hot as hell together and they have some amazing smexy times.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and I even ended up feeling sorry for the 'other' guy, the one our MC was in his open relationship with, who had started out as a bit of a douche.
August 5, 2017
3.5 for this one - not sure how I felt about it .... weird because I kept thinking Stewart wasn't right and somehow Corey was the final destination!
May 12, 2014
Messy.
That pretty much sums up the relationships in this story. It has a very real life, not romance, feel to the telling of Doug's quest to love again. To be honest, for a good portion of the story I really thought Corey and Stewart were that kind of couple that stirs drama into their lives to bind themselves together and Doug was going to be the unfortunate, unwitting participant.
I liked all the characters and the resolutions and the nuances that shade each action, but made no one a villain. Sure, there's bad judgment and dishonesty. This story is a whole lot of gray area, so if you're a black and white personality and see things fundamentally as either right or wrong this book will irritate you so take that for what it's worth.
Corey's a egotistical manipulator and while a lot of his attributes revile me, he also has a earnest drive to help in his own way--which for a good portion of the book I was looking at with a squinty-eye, side glare.
Stewart is the strong quiet type and frankly his actions pull Doug into the mess in the first place--not that Doug isn't a big boy and can't make these decisions himself. But, to be fair, he gets tagged into the game by Stewart. Repeatedly.
Doug is the like a fledgling phoenix attempting to shed the last of his shell and test his wings after the nightmare crash and burn that was his life. Gotta say his tenacity really appealed to me. I have no idea how he had the guts to willingly walk into the circus of Stewart and Corey with his history.
Where this story ends is not surprising, but how it gets there is.
Favorite quote:
That pretty much sums up the relationships in this story. It has a very real life, not romance, feel to the telling of Doug's quest to love again. To be honest, for a good portion of the story I really thought Corey and Stewart were that kind of couple that stirs drama into their lives to bind themselves together and Doug was going to be the unfortunate, unwitting participant.
I liked all the characters and the resolutions and the nuances that shade each action, but made no one a villain. Sure, there's bad judgment and dishonesty. This story is a whole lot of gray area, so if you're a black and white personality and see things fundamentally as either right or wrong this book will irritate you so take that for what it's worth.
Corey's a egotistical manipulator and while a lot of his attributes revile me, he also has a earnest drive to help in his own way--which for a good portion of the book I was looking at with a squinty-eye, side glare.
Stewart is the strong quiet type and frankly his actions pull Doug into the mess in the first place--not that Doug isn't a big boy and can't make these decisions himself. But, to be fair, he gets tagged into the game by Stewart. Repeatedly.
Doug is the like a fledgling phoenix attempting to shed the last of his shell and test his wings after the nightmare crash and burn that was his life. Gotta say his tenacity really appealed to me. I have no idea how he had the guts to willingly walk into the circus of Stewart and Corey with his history.
Where this story ends is not surprising, but how it gets there is.
Favorite quote:
“You don’t really want to be the meat in that nasty boy sandwich, do you?”
May 27, 2014
This book is more complicated than I thought. It is messy and complicated like life. It speaks about relationships, the healthy and unhealthy ones. It talks about connections and friendships, and the things we endure to keep people in our lives even when they become hurtful or destructive. It speaks about when it's time to recognize that it's over -that you have to let it go.
There were so many things that I liked about this book. It's funny and charming. It's emotional and hurtful, and at times destructive, but more than anything it was highly entertaining. I was not one single moment bored. I inhaled every word, every page and every single funny, witty remark made by these characters. I wanted them to be my friends. I wanted to party with them. And that included Corey who I thought was a self-centered, manipulative, cruel diva who left a path of destruction without any compulsion or need for reparation. At the end, there was more to Corey than that, and oh how would I love to dwell in that psyche of his. That's my only regret in this story. I would have loved to know more about Corey. He's a fascinating character, one that deserves his own story...
There were so many things that I liked about this book. It's funny and charming. It's emotional and hurtful, and at times destructive, but more than anything it was highly entertaining. I was not one single moment bored. I inhaled every word, every page and every single funny, witty remark made by these characters. I wanted them to be my friends. I wanted to party with them. And that included Corey who I thought was a self-centered, manipulative, cruel diva who left a path of destruction without any compulsion or need for reparation. At the end, there was more to Corey than that, and oh how would I love to dwell in that psyche of his. That's my only regret in this story. I would have loved to know more about Corey. He's a fascinating character, one that deserves his own story...
March 21, 2018
*** 3.5 Stars ***
I was more intrigued by the ins and outs of Corey and Stewart's open relationship and comparing that to my own life experiences/thoughts/feelings on the concept of open relationships than I was invested in the romance between Stewart and Doug.
I was more intrigued by the ins and outs of Corey and Stewart's open relationship and comparing that to my own life experiences/thoughts/feelings on the concept of open relationships than I was invested in the romance between Stewart and Doug.
February 27, 2014
A smart, quirky, sexy, character-driven read; Guys on Top is another Darien Cox winner. I adored it.
(I also might have a crush on Corey because I'm weird.)
(I also might have a crush on Corey because I'm weird.)
March 23, 2014
Love Darien Cox, love this book... Love, love, love!!!
January 6, 2018
34% and didn’t feel for it anymore — DNF, Did not finish.
February 11, 2015
1st Read (3/7/14): This was a FANTASTIC story!! Straight to my favorites and one of the best books I've read so far this year.
2nd Read (2/11/15): Damn, this was just as fantastic the second time around. LOVE the plot, characters and all the relationship drama. Soooo good!
2nd Read (2/11/15): Damn, this was just as fantastic the second time around. LOVE the plot, characters and all the relationship drama. Soooo good!
March 25, 2014
Not too angsty, nice m/m romance. Easy reading 4 solid stars.
August 10, 2014
Originally posted at http://fictionvixen.com/amy-jen-guys-...
“Love. You vicious bitch of a puppet master.”
When it comes to m/m book recommends, Jen and I are kind of the yin to each other’s yang. On numerous occasions, in the run of a week, one of us emails the other with a new,potential m/m romance book to consider adding to our endless TBR shelf. Gasps, yums, visions of dual peens and simultaneous one clicks are potentially exchanged and then we go about our day. Jen knows that I have recently been glomming author Darien Cox and as a result insisted she read Criminal Pleasures to which she eagerly complied. Now, we both have finished his new release, Guys on Top and once again Cox gave us plenty to talk about.
Dear new guy downstairs,
Truly sorry about the noise, we’ll try to keep it down in the future. However, we’d like to ask that in the future, you would be so kind as to come to us directly if you have a problem. You know, like a grownup. and we’d really appreciate it if you would not call the fucking landlord. There’s no need to go all Pussy McTattletale.
Much love,
The guys on top
Doug Crandall’s life is in reboot mode. After an extremely messy break-up with his former lover, Doug is starting over with a new job, new apartment and a new outlook now that the nightmare of his ex is over. Thankfully Doug has good family support from his brother, Wyatt, and is settling into his new home in Massachusetts despite his noisy neighbors living above him. Wyatt’s attempt at matchmaking Doug with his work colleague, Jairo, fails to arouse an attraction between either one but Doug and Jairo agree to go the friends route and grab a beer together at Bernie’s Pub. At the pub, Jairo eyes and drools over “blonde god” Corey and Doug’s desire lands on gorgeous, blue-eyed Stewart. Introductions and intentions are made between both couples. Jairo leaves with Corey, Stewart leaves with Doug and all end up at the same apartment house. Then the truth comes to light. Corey and Stewart both live in the apartment above Doug and are partners in a open relationship and Doug is “Pussy McTattletale.”
“He’s…Corey’s boyfriend. Man, quite the operation they’ve got going, huh? They’re like…team slut. They’re like cock hustlers.”
Amy: After the book blurb, I assumed this would be a menage story but I should have known to expect the unexpected because Darien Cox is clever… in that respect. In the end I was grateful it was not a menage because given all three of the character’s personalities, the result would have been a seriously dysfunctional threesome. Instead, we witness a dysfunctional love triangle with an engineer, a plumber and a healer. What a combo!
Jen: I think that has to be a joke somewhere. An engineer, a plumber and a healer walk into a bar….. Anyway, I was glad to find it wasn’t a menage. I approach those with great caution and having an already established couple adding a third is a dicey thing, in my opinion. Of course, I am not sure this situation or established couple was solid to begin with.
Amy: Can we both agree that Kelly, Doug’s attempt to move on from Stewart, was just all kinds of ewww?!! I mean, I gagged through that whole uncomfortable scene and kept thinking that Doug needed to get the hell out of that hotel room! Thankfully, Kelly did not reappear again.
Jen: That part was pretty disturbing especially when Doug’s one recollection of the event was that of Kelly’s penis poking in his eye. In one respect I was glad Doug was getting away from Stewart. I don’t think whatever was going on with Stewart/Corey/Doug was a very healthy situation. But maybe he should have taken a little more time and put a little more thought behind his next choice of bed partners?
Amy: Where Criminal Pleasures had a more suspenseful, edgy plot, Guys on Top is more relationship oriented with a good balance of humor from one eccentric “healer” in particular. Corey.
“It’s like a massage, for the most part,” Corey said, moving to sit on the sofa. “I start at your head, then work my way down…” He gave Doug a sour face. “Why do you already look freaked out? I’m not gonna bad-touch you. Very few people carry negative energy in their cock, Doug. And contrary to the opinions of some in this room, I’m not a prostitute. No happy endings, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
Jen: Corey was one strange dude. In a sense he was kind of the ‘bad guy’ but I still liked him. At times he was flat out weird but in a likable way. I ping-ponged all over the place with these characters. I was irritated with Doug for his interference, even though Corey and Stewart had an open relationship. I was put off by Corey and his lack of seriousness about anything. I was not cool with Stewart and how he seemed to string Doug along. But I still enjoyed all of the characters. They made me think and feel things. They made me want to rearrange their lives. lol
Amy: The story is told from Doug’s POV and while we learn a great deal about Doug and Corey, I feel like I still did not know that much about Stewart in the end. Stewart was fun, sexy but I kept questioning Doug’s attraction to him other than their physical and sexual chemistry. I wanted more of Stewart’s background, a glimpse into his former relationships (Had he been in any open partner relationships prior to Corey.) and what made him tick. More than anything I wanted to know what made Stewart consider an open relationship for so many years when there were obviously unaddressed problems. Corey gave a small insight into Stewart’s past but I questioned how much of that was true or embellished fabrication on Corey’s part. That was one thing I felt was missing that could have enhanced the overall story.
Jen: Stewart….sigh. Probably my least favorite of the men because of what you just mentioned. I felt disconnected from him. I felt like it was always Doug doing the chasing and Stewart just hung back and let him do all the work. I think I wanted a grand gesture from Stewart that would show me how much he loved and really wanted Doug.
Amy: A pattern I’ve observed with Cox’s writing style is that initial love/hate encounter he sparks between his couples. You feel the heated emotion, clash of personalities and sexual tension the characters experience throughout the dialogue and it ignites a chemistry and passion that builds and hooks the reader to the story and characters. The angst is not overstated but allows enough realism to the plot keeping the reader fully engaged. Pair that with a male author who writes steamy, hot m/m love scenes and well you understand my glom for Darien Cox and his work. Final Grade: B
Favorite Quote:
“Hey, Corey,” Jairo said. “How’s the jackhammer?” Corey laughed, and Rod’s mouth fell open as he looked at Jairo.
“Don’t worry,” Doug said to Rod. “He’s not talking about his cock.”
Jen: I really enjoy Cox’s writing style. It has a flow that is smooth and enjoyable. His characters come across as real and believable and the sex scenes are quite yummy. He has a way of building up to that ultimate moment that makes the reader just as anxious as the characters. This is the second book of his I have read on your recommendation and it definitely won’t be my last. Final Grade: B-
Favorite Quote (cause I like a British accent) :)
“Am I drunk?” Stewart leaned his shoulder against the bar, thick arms crossed in front of his chest. “Why do you ask?”
“Because you’re sounding a bit…British tonight.”
“I am a bit British. But I’m not drunk. Not yet, anyway.”
May 2, 2018
Uhhhhh....I don't know what to say about this.
Open relationships aren't really my jam, so I was not really feeling that.
I liked Doug, but...I wanted to tell him to run fast and far.
I liked Stewart okay, but I felt that he needed a little more ownership of his life
Uh. Corey, well you know how I feel about him. I know that Darien Cox is a very talented author and I have zero doubt that I may love the shit out of corey in the future, but I gotta be honest, I have NO interest in reading about him. At least not at this point
I liked the side characters as well
Zach...Zach needs professional help.
Open relationships aren't really my jam, so I was not really feeling that.
I liked Doug, but...I wanted to tell him to run fast and far.
I liked Stewart okay, but I felt that he needed a little more ownership of his life
Uh. Corey, well you know how I feel about him. I know that Darien Cox is a very talented author and I have zero doubt that I may love the shit out of corey in the future, but I gotta be honest, I have NO interest in reading about him. At least not at this point
I liked the side characters as well
Zach...Zach needs professional help.
August 8, 2017
3 stars, and yet another story which has been languishing on the kindle for 3 years. Not that keen on stories which contain an 'open' relationship to be perfectly honest. One or other of the protagonists is usually unhappy at the term 'open' [but agrees to it at the time cos that's the only way they can get into the other's pants] and ends up being jealous, pissed off, falling out of love or just really hurt by what's been happening.
Now that the Stewart/Corey partnership has collapsed, maybe Corey can pull his big boy pants up and start behaving like an adult, although from what I've seen of book 2 Guys on the Side, it wouldn't appear that poor Zach has succeeded in stopping Corey from straying [such a slut]...and really, a guy like Corey is such high maintenance, he needs several good smacks and should be dropped asap.
Didn't really pick up much in the way of a connection between Doug and Stewart either, so yeah, ultimately this story didn't work too well for me but I already have book 2 in the Q, so we'll see.
Now that the Stewart/Corey partnership has collapsed, maybe Corey can pull his big boy pants up and start behaving like an adult, although from what I've seen of book 2 Guys on the Side, it wouldn't appear that poor Zach has succeeded in stopping Corey from straying [such a slut]...and really, a guy like Corey is such high maintenance, he needs several good smacks and should be dropped asap.
Didn't really pick up much in the way of a connection between Doug and Stewart either, so yeah, ultimately this story didn't work too well for me but I already have book 2 in the Q, so we'll see.
March 2, 2014
Yes,yes,yes. Thank you.
I adored this book. Doug is now one of my favorite characters. The other characters in this book were great as well don't get me wrong but the story is from Doug's POV and I loved everything about him. I don't want to beg but...man I would really love it if there were another book with these characters. So, please, please, please!!! For now I'm just going to find every book by Darien Cox that I can.
I adored this book. Doug is now one of my favorite characters. The other characters in this book were great as well don't get me wrong but the story is from Doug's POV and I loved everything about him. I don't want to beg but...man I would really love it if there were another book with these characters. So, please, please, please!!! For now I'm just going to find every book by Darien Cox that I can.
September 13, 2017
Doug is recovering from the bad ending of his last relationship. Emotionally and financially down, he's lived with his brother for some time and is now moving into a new home. This new life is soon tangled up with his new neighbors, Stewart and Corey, who're living upstairs, engaged in an open relationship.
Kind of different from most of my romance books, but in a good way. A lot of confused feelings, anger and hurt, but also fun!
The characters felt so real. Loved it!
4,5 stars
Kind of different from most of my romance books, but in a good way. A lot of confused feelings, anger and hurt, but also fun!
The characters felt so real. Loved it!
4,5 stars
September 30, 2020
I couldn't put it down and I wouldn't mind reading again, very soon. Don't miss out on this one!
March 1, 2016
*3.5*
December 22, 2022
I enjoyed this book a lot! It’s one perfect example of the author’s aim “to explore the intensity, insanity, humor, and chaos that accompanies cupid’s arrow.”
It’s exactly this, indeed, a rollercoaster fuelled by infatuation, lust and a little bit of crazy, featuring that special brand of complex, complicated characters I can’t resist.
On to Guys on the Side, I guess.
It’s exactly this, indeed, a rollercoaster fuelled by infatuation, lust and a little bit of crazy, featuring that special brand of complex, complicated characters I can’t resist.
On to Guys on the Side, I guess.
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