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Slices of Pi #3
Single Player
Geeky meets kinky in the third novel of the sexy Slices of Pi series by RITA-nominated author Elia Winters, where the employees of a gaming company in sultry Florida work hard—and play even harder.Matthew Abrams finally has the life he’s always wanted—a promising career as a programmer at PI Games, a decent apartment in a nice neighborhood, and a thriving social life. And he’s perfectly content until he has a one-night stand with Silas Benson, a biomedical engineer with a charitable side to boot. Suddenly Matthew is doubting his life choices and worrying he might not be living up to his full potential.Silas Benson doesn’t have time for much else outside of work, and that’s how he’s always liked it. As a biomedical engineer, he’s at the cutting edge of advances in the field, and he’s not going to waste his life partying when he could be doing actual good in the world. After a one-night stand at his friend’s twenty-fifth birthday party, though, Silas feels his focus shifting toward a certain tall, dark, and handsome almost-stranger.When an emotional breakdown requires Silas to take a leave of absence from work, Matthew rushes to his aid and teaches him the merits of frivolity. Silas is an unwilling student at first, but Matthew soon has him in the groove, which makes for one steamy, wild ride. But is this a forever sort of affair, or will Silas abandon Matthew’s wanton ways in favor of a life of serious-minded solitude?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2016
8 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Elia Winters
16 books366 followersElia Winters is a fat, tattooed, polyamorous bisexual who loves petting cats and fighting the patriarchy. She holds a Master’s degree in English Literature and teaches at a small rural high school, where she also runs the drama club. In her spare time, she is equally likely to be found playing tabletop games, kneading bread, cross-stitching, or binge-watching Marie Kondo. A sex educator and kink-positive feminist, Elia reviews sex toys, speaks at kink conventions, and writes geeky, kinky, cozy erotic romance. She currently lives in western Massachusetts with her loving husband and their weird pets.
In addition to her official website, you can also find Elia on Twitter and Facebook.
In addition to her official website, you can also find Elia on Twitter and Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 24, 2016
I have enjoyed each of Elia Winter's books in this series. All of them steamy in their own right and with this one she kicks it up another notch with a yummy m/m set up.
What I love about the author is that she creates characters that are smart and are very well balanced for each other. In this story we get an extreme case of geek with the hotness factor off the charts.
Matthew and Silas meet at a bar and immediately sparks fly and so does the hot scenes. With issues abounding between the guys, mainly due to work and some fear, the friendship creaks along but the connection builds and so does the heat. The book is loaded with anticipation, sexuality, tenderness, and surprises too.
Each of the books in this series has a distinct erotic flavor and you enjoy all of the characters that work at PI Games. These can be read as a stand alone without much difficulty but you do see characters from all of the books pop in and out of each story.
Elia Winters does a bang up job with this story. Not over the top in terms of erotica but a sexy read that will warm you up.
What I love about the author is that she creates characters that are smart and are very well balanced for each other. In this story we get an extreme case of geek with the hotness factor off the charts.
Matthew and Silas meet at a bar and immediately sparks fly and so does the hot scenes. With issues abounding between the guys, mainly due to work and some fear, the friendship creaks along but the connection builds and so does the heat. The book is loaded with anticipation, sexuality, tenderness, and surprises too.
Each of the books in this series has a distinct erotic flavor and you enjoy all of the characters that work at PI Games. These can be read as a stand alone without much difficulty but you do see characters from all of the books pop in and out of each story.
Elia Winters does a bang up job with this story. Not over the top in terms of erotica but a sexy read that will warm you up.
November 9, 2016
Matthew is one of Player's Incorporated's senior programmers and pretty much defines "laid-back". He's not that committed to his job, he's not that committed to his social life and he very much looks like he's just going to coast through his life. Silas is a biomedical engineer, very slightly Asperger's, utterly driven and close to working himself into an early grave. The two come together by chance and with instant chemistry, and they may just be exactly what the other needs.
Like the others in this series this is about two very likable people coming together with a casual hookup that deepens into a relationship much beyond a sexual connection. It's as steamy as the others, albeit male/male rather than the hetero relationships in the first two. Like the first two it takes the format of a fairly normal romance book and addresses some of the serious issues that twenty-somethings face in the modern world, in this case overwork and under-commitment.
Easily as good as the rest of the series.
Like the others in this series this is about two very likable people coming together with a casual hookup that deepens into a relationship much beyond a sexual connection. It's as steamy as the others, albeit male/male rather than the hetero relationships in the first two. Like the first two it takes the format of a fairly normal romance book and addresses some of the serious issues that twenty-somethings face in the modern world, in this case overwork and under-commitment.
Easily as good as the rest of the series.
September 6, 2016
Single Player is the third in the Slices of Pi Series by Elia Winters. Matthew has been showcased as the not-so-serious programmer that is more than happy to fill his weekends with fun, flirting and a little bit of a party. But as he becomes more acquainted with Silas, the all work and no play biomedical engineer, he starts to question if he really could be doing more with his life.
In Single Player, both these men are shown the other side. One is forced to question if he should relax more while the other wonders if he could be more if he just applied himself.
I enjoyed this story of a one off, turned into a romance where opposites attract. This wasn’t as steamy as other m/m romances I tend to read – but I was pleasantly surprised by so much of this story. I loved getting a chance at seeing the prior characters in their relationships and I was shocked a bit at the top/bottom set up for this story – but it was a pleasant surprise.
This series has been my first experience with this author, but I am really enjoying the sweet and everyday romances that she has captured in this series.
In Single Player, both these men are shown the other side. One is forced to question if he should relax more while the other wonders if he could be more if he just applied himself.
I enjoyed this story of a one off, turned into a romance where opposites attract. This wasn’t as steamy as other m/m romances I tend to read – but I was pleasantly surprised by so much of this story. I loved getting a chance at seeing the prior characters in their relationships and I was shocked a bit at the top/bottom set up for this story – but it was a pleasant surprise.
This series has been my first experience with this author, but I am really enjoying the sweet and everyday romances that she has captured in this series.
July 28, 2017
This is a thoughtful sexy book. I liked it so much I bought the rest of the series.
Matthew and Elias are really different people with great chemistry. They are are also at crossroads in their lives.
The met and fall for each other. They learn to support each other and there is a kitten.
This love story has a lot of really deep bits mixed in with the erotic. Its a nicely done HEA where both heroes grow.
I was given this book for my honest review (though I accidentally bought it again later doh!) So, there you have it!
Matthew and Elias are really different people with great chemistry. They are are also at crossroads in their lives.
The met and fall for each other. They learn to support each other and there is a kitten.
This love story has a lot of really deep bits mixed in with the erotic. Its a nicely done HEA where both heroes grow.
I was given this book for my honest review (though I accidentally bought it again later doh!) So, there you have it!
November 9, 2016
3.5
Single Player is a LGBT romance that is at the same time sexy and tender. Elia Winters has the knack of creating characters that are complex and very easy to like. Matthew was a favourite already from his appearance in the two previous instalments, and here he finally gets the limelight. I couldn’t help but root for him and Silas, wondering how the author would portray their relationship.
Winters seems to add important themes to her stories too, and the focus here is not on homosexuality, but on mental illness and on one person's 'worth', which was dealt in a very positive way, without shame. In fact, this is true for all three books. Winters writes with frankness, and no shame, whether dealing with relationships (including friendships), sexy scenes AND relatively difficult subjects such as mental illness and sexual harassment.
And by the way, I do love Zuul (Keymaster around?) :O)
Single Player is a LGBT romance that is at the same time sexy and tender. Elia Winters has the knack of creating characters that are complex and very easy to like. Matthew was a favourite already from his appearance in the two previous instalments, and here he finally gets the limelight. I couldn’t help but root for him and Silas, wondering how the author would portray their relationship.
Winters seems to add important themes to her stories too, and the focus here is not on homosexuality, but on mental illness and on one person's 'worth', which was dealt in a very positive way, without shame. In fact, this is true for all three books. Winters writes with frankness, and no shame, whether dealing with relationships (including friendships), sexy scenes AND relatively difficult subjects such as mental illness and sexual harassment.
And by the way, I do love Zuul (Keymaster around?) :O)
January 23, 2021
Reviewed for
Wit and Sin
Opposites attract in the sexy and oh-so-fun Single Player . Every time I read this book I’m drawn to Matthew and Silas. They’re complicated, imperfect men who make a perfectly wonderful, seriously hot couple.
Matthew has been coasting along as PI Games, only doing what’s required and making sure he keeps his weekends free for bartending and gaming. He doesn’t feel the need to take on more responsibility even though he’s more than capable of it. He’s charming, open, flirtatious, and his personality draws you in because he’s so genuine. Silas is a genuine workaholic. His parents drilled into him from a young age that he has to use his mind and talents to work hard and do nothing else. The work he does as a biomedical engineer is important, but he’s breaking apart and can’t even see it. Silas also has mild Asperger’s and misses a lot of social cues, but when he’s at his best friend’s twenty-fifth birthday party he can’t miss the signals the smoking hot bartender is throwing his way. He and Matthew have serious chemistry and I loved their first heated encounter. But what grows from that is so much better.
I adored Matthew and Silas together. Matthew helps Silas learn to relax, which is heartbreakingly difficult for him. And Silas makes Matthew question the path he’s on. It’s not easy for Matthew and he definitely doesn’t like having to ask himself uncomfortable questions. There’s a hidden vulnerability to Matthew that’s less obvious than Silas’s and I wanted to hug both of them. As individuals, they are well-crafted, compelling characters. Together they are smoking hot and suit each other far better than you’d expect given how different they are on the surface. Their different outlooks and personalities do lead to some rocky moments, but I trusted Elia Winters to take them to a happily ever after that was satisfying and earned – and she definitely did.
Single Player is the third book in the Slices of Pi series and it can be easily read as a standalone. Fans of Even Odds and Tied Score will enjoy catching up with their favorite characters – I definitely did. It would also be remiss of me not to mention new supporting characters. Silas’s best friend, Dee, was the kind of character you wish were real so she could be your best friend too. Then there’s Zuul. Matthew’s rescue kitten threatened to steal the show with sheer adorableness but she also added to the story. I adored every book in the Slices of Pi series and Single Player is no exception. The characters are unique, the romances red hot, and the writing totally addictive.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Opposites attract in the sexy and oh-so-fun Single Player . Every time I read this book I’m drawn to Matthew and Silas. They’re complicated, imperfect men who make a perfectly wonderful, seriously hot couple.
Matthew has been coasting along as PI Games, only doing what’s required and making sure he keeps his weekends free for bartending and gaming. He doesn’t feel the need to take on more responsibility even though he’s more than capable of it. He’s charming, open, flirtatious, and his personality draws you in because he’s so genuine. Silas is a genuine workaholic. His parents drilled into him from a young age that he has to use his mind and talents to work hard and do nothing else. The work he does as a biomedical engineer is important, but he’s breaking apart and can’t even see it. Silas also has mild Asperger’s and misses a lot of social cues, but when he’s at his best friend’s twenty-fifth birthday party he can’t miss the signals the smoking hot bartender is throwing his way. He and Matthew have serious chemistry and I loved their first heated encounter. But what grows from that is so much better.
I adored Matthew and Silas together. Matthew helps Silas learn to relax, which is heartbreakingly difficult for him. And Silas makes Matthew question the path he’s on. It’s not easy for Matthew and he definitely doesn’t like having to ask himself uncomfortable questions. There’s a hidden vulnerability to Matthew that’s less obvious than Silas’s and I wanted to hug both of them. As individuals, they are well-crafted, compelling characters. Together they are smoking hot and suit each other far better than you’d expect given how different they are on the surface. Their different outlooks and personalities do lead to some rocky moments, but I trusted Elia Winters to take them to a happily ever after that was satisfying and earned – and she definitely did.
Single Player is the third book in the Slices of Pi series and it can be easily read as a standalone. Fans of Even Odds and Tied Score will enjoy catching up with their favorite characters – I definitely did. It would also be remiss of me not to mention new supporting characters. Silas’s best friend, Dee, was the kind of character you wish were real so she could be your best friend too. Then there’s Zuul. Matthew’s rescue kitten threatened to steal the show with sheer adorableness but she also added to the story. I adored every book in the Slices of Pi series and Single Player is no exception. The characters are unique, the romances red hot, and the writing totally addictive.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
September 27, 2016
My Review:
I've seriously cut down my reviews this late summer/fall because of my other obligations, but this book was an exception. I've loved this series, but honestly probably would have passed on this book if it had been an m/f. But it was an m/m and I couldn't resist my curiosity about what this author would do with two guys. OMG, I was not at all disappointed. This story was excellent.
Silas and Matthew have nothing in common. Silas is brilliant and works every day in his biomedical engineering career to make differences in people's lives. He does important work and is ALWAYS conscientious about that. As a result, he works long, long hours every single day of the week. He can't enjoy time off because that time could make a difference to a person's value of their life. That's the way his parents raised him and after they died suddenly four years ago, he's gotten even more obsessive about his work.
On the other hand is Matthew. He's a video game programmer and he spends his life kind of skating by. He does the bare minimum at work to do his job and is always the first one out of his chair at 5:00. He likes his life because it gives him the freedom to relax and party. He does bartend on the weekends, but come on...that's fun, not work.
But when Silas is dragged out for his friend's birthday to the club where Matthew works, things get hot and heavy between them. It was supposed to be a one-time thing, although they both thought it was incredibly hot. But then they run into one another and a pseudo-friendship/hookup relationship develops. It's pretty much an accidental thing, because these guys don't have much in common besides really hot sex. But when circumstances change, they both begin to see the possibilities.
I really enjoyed the book. I liked how the story developed so that the reader got to see exactly why Silas is the way he is. This poor guy, but even while he's learning to chill out a bit, he brings out a better side of Matthew, too. I like how they equalized one another and they both became better people because of the other's influence on their life. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and story.
The entire series has been good, but all the books work perfectly well as stand-alone reads.
Note: Can we take a moment to enjoy the view on that cover? Yum-mm-my. OMG, that cover is hot. LOVE it so much.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I've seriously cut down my reviews this late summer/fall because of my other obligations, but this book was an exception. I've loved this series, but honestly probably would have passed on this book if it had been an m/f. But it was an m/m and I couldn't resist my curiosity about what this author would do with two guys. OMG, I was not at all disappointed. This story was excellent.
Silas and Matthew have nothing in common. Silas is brilliant and works every day in his biomedical engineering career to make differences in people's lives. He does important work and is ALWAYS conscientious about that. As a result, he works long, long hours every single day of the week. He can't enjoy time off because that time could make a difference to a person's value of their life. That's the way his parents raised him and after they died suddenly four years ago, he's gotten even more obsessive about his work.
On the other hand is Matthew. He's a video game programmer and he spends his life kind of skating by. He does the bare minimum at work to do his job and is always the first one out of his chair at 5:00. He likes his life because it gives him the freedom to relax and party. He does bartend on the weekends, but come on...that's fun, not work.
But when Silas is dragged out for his friend's birthday to the club where Matthew works, things get hot and heavy between them. It was supposed to be a one-time thing, although they both thought it was incredibly hot. But then they run into one another and a pseudo-friendship/hookup relationship develops. It's pretty much an accidental thing, because these guys don't have much in common besides really hot sex. But when circumstances change, they both begin to see the possibilities.
I really enjoyed the book. I liked how the story developed so that the reader got to see exactly why Silas is the way he is. This poor guy, but even while he's learning to chill out a bit, he brings out a better side of Matthew, too. I like how they equalized one another and they both became better people because of the other's influence on their life. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and story.
The entire series has been good, but all the books work perfectly well as stand-alone reads.
Note: Can we take a moment to enjoy the view on that cover? Yum-mm-my. OMG, that cover is hot. LOVE it so much.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
August 22, 2020
I really enjoyed this! Elia Winters just writes such great romances. I really loved how Matthew and Silas weren't able to stay away from each other and how much Matthew enjoyed getting Silas to stop being so uptight and let go (starchy heroes for the win!). I also really appreciated the conversations about their careers and the need to balance having a challenging career with a healthy personal life. And I really loved seeing Silas go to therapy on the page and having that normalized.
Oh! And the kitten! Matthew finds an abandoned kitten with mobility issues in the parking lot at work and winds up rescuing her, and then Silas uses his biomechanical engineering background to build her a wheelchair and some ramps, and the whole thing was just so adorable!!
Rep: White gay hero with "mild Asperger syndrome" and anxiety, POC gay hero (the book describes Matthew as having "dark amber" skin as dark as Silas' best friend, who is described as Black, and he talks about whiteness in a way that implies he's definitely not, but I don't think his heritage is explicitly stated).
Oh! And the kitten! Matthew finds an abandoned kitten with mobility issues in the parking lot at work and winds up rescuing her, and then Silas uses his biomechanical engineering background to build her a wheelchair and some ramps, and the whole thing was just so adorable!!
Rep: White gay hero with "mild Asperger syndrome" and anxiety, POC gay hero (the book describes Matthew as having "dark amber" skin as dark as Silas' best friend, who is described as Black, and he talks about whiteness in a way that implies he's definitely not, but I don't think his heritage is explicitly stated).
October 4, 2016
Carmela loved the ending to a series she's loved from the very beginning! Click here for her full review over on Scandalicious Book Reviews:
http://bit.ly/2dqioAA
http://bit.ly/2dqioAA
October 14, 2016
4.5 stars...I really enjoyed this. I thought Matthew and Silas were great together. Very hot. There's nothing better than a geek.
May 30, 2017
Read as part of XOXO After Dark free reads in May.
This is probably the first M/M romance book I've read (I've previously only read slash fanfic or erotica previously). It caught my eye because I like any novel about games or gaming, and romances where the protags have "geeky" interests are always more fun for me.
Matthew and Silas are so super-sweet. I loved them both as people, though I think we may have spent too much time reading about their self conflicts (Matthew: coasting when he could be achieving more, Silas: compulsively overworking himself and never relaxing). I had a better idea of Silas' character than Matthew's...both were compelling characters, if a little one-dimensional. Nevertheless, it was nice to have a romance that had some unusual character development and creative side story (e.g., Matthew adopting a kitten with mobility issues, for which he and Silas proceed to design and create mobility solutions). And part of the story is set at a gaming convention (that appears to be fictional)! How often do you see that in a romance? Never, or not enough. The ending of the book was a little rushed for me. I wouldn't have minded seeing more of Matthew and Silas' story, though I agree it seemed to become repetitive toward the end. Perhaps a few more plots could have developed?
The portrayal of Silas's therapist session seemed realistic to me, which surprised me a bit. But bravo for that!
The synopsis of this series claims that the story will be geeky and kinky -- I didn't find it to be overly geeky (I suppose some people who have no geek interests might...there's quite a bit of talk about programming, AutoCAD, and gaming), and it was hardly kinky at all -- mainly one instance of , which is not kinky, IMO. So don't expect Story of O or anything like that.
I also found Silas' coffee obsession interesting, despite not being a coffee-drinker myself. He recommends a pretty unique coffeemaker called the Chemex to Matthew, which is something that exists in real life and looks intriguing! I had to show it to coffee-loving hubby, even though I hardly want to ENCOURAGE more coffee-drinking in this house.
I would definitely read the other books in this series (which are M/F, centered around employees who work at a game development company -- in this book, Matthew is the employee of this company), but I suspect this one that I read is the one I'd like the most.
Also, if a psychological profiling game like the one being coded in the book (Endgame? Is that what it was called?) actually exists, I would love to play it!
This is probably the first M/M romance book I've read (I've previously only read slash fanfic or erotica previously). It caught my eye because I like any novel about games or gaming, and romances where the protags have "geeky" interests are always more fun for me.
Matthew and Silas are so super-sweet. I loved them both as people, though I think we may have spent too much time reading about their self conflicts (Matthew: coasting when he could be achieving more, Silas: compulsively overworking himself and never relaxing). I had a better idea of Silas' character than Matthew's...both were compelling characters, if a little one-dimensional. Nevertheless, it was nice to have a romance that had some unusual character development and creative side story (e.g., Matthew adopting a kitten with mobility issues, for which he and Silas proceed to design and create mobility solutions). And part of the story is set at a gaming convention (that appears to be fictional)! How often do you see that in a romance? Never, or not enough. The ending of the book was a little rushed for me. I wouldn't have minded seeing more of Matthew and Silas' story, though I agree it seemed to become repetitive toward the end. Perhaps a few more plots could have developed?
The portrayal of Silas's therapist session seemed realistic to me, which surprised me a bit. But bravo for that!
The synopsis of this series claims that the story will be geeky and kinky -- I didn't find it to be overly geeky (I suppose some people who have no geek interests might...there's quite a bit of talk about programming, AutoCAD, and gaming), and it was hardly kinky at all -- mainly one instance of , which is not kinky, IMO. So don't expect Story of O or anything like that.
I also found Silas' coffee obsession interesting, despite not being a coffee-drinker myself. He recommends a pretty unique coffeemaker called the Chemex to Matthew, which is something that exists in real life and looks intriguing! I had to show it to coffee-loving hubby, even though I hardly want to ENCOURAGE more coffee-drinking in this house.
I would definitely read the other books in this series (which are M/F, centered around employees who work at a game development company -- in this book, Matthew is the employee of this company), but I suspect this one that I read is the one I'd like the most.
Also, if a psychological profiling game like the one being coded in the book (Endgame? Is that what it was called?) actually exists, I would love to play it!
May 22, 2024
A hot hookup at a club leads to something more for Silas and Matthew. It also needed more development, particularly around Matthew’s representation as a Person of Color. His race/ethnicity is never identified. Matthew and Silas never talk about being in an interracial relationship, nor is there a sense of whether Matthew being POC ever affected his schooling or job prospects or factored into him coasting at work. Plus, Matthew’s dad is a cop so that’s a whole other can of worms. The author is white and while I’m glad she didn’t make racism a central theme, there’s no reason to ignore race completely outside of mentioning his skin color a couple of times. He basically functions as a white character as a result. Similarly, I’m concerned the depiction of Silas’s neurodivergence might fall into stereotypes. I wish we had a better sense of how his workaholism connected to his neurodivergence and how his grief over his parents’ death intersected with both. I also wish This was a promising premise; it just wasn’t executed as well as I was hoping for. I did thoroughly appreciate the kitten content though.
Characters: Silas is a 27 year old neurodiverse gay white biomedical engineer. Matthew is a 29 year old gay game programmer and occasional bartender who is POC. He rescues a disabled kitten and names her Zuul. This is set in Tampa, FL.
Content notes: insomnia, anxiety, Silas is neurodiverse (use of “mild Asperger’s syndrome” as a descriptor), forced mental health leave, self-harming behaviors due to workaholism (works weekends, never takes vacation days, etc.), skipping meals and forgetting to eat, past death of Silas’s parents (car accident), rescued kitten with hip deformity, Silas’s parents gave away his kitten without his knowledge when he was a kid, past divorce (secondary character), Matthew’s dad is a cop (discussed but not seen on page), on page sex, biting, bondage, masturbation, alcohol, inebriation, past marijuana, gendered pejorative, ableist language, hyperbolic language around addiction
*Love it or Leighve it* (aka cleaning out my Kindle)
Purchased: 2019
Characters: Silas is a 27 year old neurodiverse gay white biomedical engineer. Matthew is a 29 year old gay game programmer and occasional bartender who is POC. He rescues a disabled kitten and names her Zuul. This is set in Tampa, FL.
Content notes: insomnia, anxiety, Silas is neurodiverse (use of “mild Asperger’s syndrome” as a descriptor), forced mental health leave, self-harming behaviors due to workaholism (works weekends, never takes vacation days, etc.), skipping meals and forgetting to eat, past death of Silas’s parents (car accident), rescued kitten with hip deformity, Silas’s parents gave away his kitten without his knowledge when he was a kid, past divorce (secondary character), Matthew’s dad is a cop (discussed but not seen on page), on page sex, biting, bondage, masturbation, alcohol, inebriation, past marijuana, gendered pejorative, ableist language, hyperbolic language around addiction
*Love it or Leighve it* (aka cleaning out my Kindle)
Purchased: 2019
July 6, 2020
My favorite thing about this trilogy has more to do with the individual characters created by Winters than the relationships she puts them in. The relationships are meaningful and are often the impetus, but I enjoyed the character growth that everyone goes through separate from the love stories. Winters creates a strong sense that the character growth will remain beyond the end of the story, even if the relationship doesn’t work out.
In this particular story, the relationship obviously does work out. No spoilers here, but the teased final ending set up at the beginning of the story does happen. It’s cliché enough to be entertaining but still realistic enough to be incredibly swoon-worthy. The spouse asked why I was grinning like an idiot on the couch as I finished this one.
Matthew’s growth here from coasting along through life to figuring out he wants more of a challenge was cool, but special props must be given to the delicate balance Winters creates for Silas. He is a neuro-atypical character, but that is not what causes his personal problems, nor is it something Matthew ever tries to “fix” or is frustrated with. Instead, Winters writes a delicate balance of mental health and past trauma, the healing of which is presented in a positive light by all relevant parties. (Also, there’s a cat. You can never go wrong with a cat.)
The epilogue is written to feature a sneak peek into how the other two couples from this series are doing, leaving me with a satisfying sense of this entire trilogy. Tailored for gamers, but written for anyone who enjoys a good love story.
In this particular story, the relationship obviously does work out. No spoilers here, but the teased final ending set up at the beginning of the story does happen. It’s cliché enough to be entertaining but still realistic enough to be incredibly swoon-worthy. The spouse asked why I was grinning like an idiot on the couch as I finished this one.
Matthew’s growth here from coasting along through life to figuring out he wants more of a challenge was cool, but special props must be given to the delicate balance Winters creates for Silas. He is a neuro-atypical character, but that is not what causes his personal problems, nor is it something Matthew ever tries to “fix” or is frustrated with. Instead, Winters writes a delicate balance of mental health and past trauma, the healing of which is presented in a positive light by all relevant parties. (Also, there’s a cat. You can never go wrong with a cat.)
The epilogue is written to feature a sneak peek into how the other two couples from this series are doing, leaving me with a satisfying sense of this entire trilogy. Tailored for gamers, but written for anyone who enjoys a good love story.
February 17, 2019
3,25/5
« Double étreinte » est le troisième tome de la saga « Partie à deux », où plusieurs personnages évoluent dans la société PI Games. Je me suis dirigée directement vers ce tome-ci qui est une romance M/M, à l'inverse des deux tomes précédents. Les histoires étant indépendantes, cela ne m'a absolument pas gênée.
Matthew est programmeur chez PI Games et en parallèle de son boulot, il est barman. On peut dire qu'il a une vie pépère et se contente de ce qu'il a et est parfaitement satisfait comme cela. Il va rencontrer lors d'une soirée à son bar, Silas. Il va être intrigué par cet homme si timide, légèrement coincé et étrange. Ils vont être attirés l'un par l'autre et de fil en aiguille, Silas va être son coup d'un soir. Seulement les deux hommes vont être amenés à se revoir...
Étant donné le début de l'histoire mais surtout la collection où est édité ce livre, je m'attendais à autre chose et finalement j'ai été surprise dans le bon sens !
J'ai trouvé les personnages très sympathiques. Matthew va voir sa petite vie toute tranquille chamboulée par l'arrivée de Silas. Bien que ce dernier soit étrange, il va se surprendre à aimer sa compagnie et va progressivement s'attacher à lui. Silas est un homme assez spécial, j'ai été étonnée de le voir avec cette caractéristique... dommage que l'auteur n'aille pas plus loin de ce côté-là.
La romance est bien menée, même si le comportement des personnages ne me semblaient pas crédibles à certains moments. Les scènes intimes sont très bien écrites et aussi traduites, comme tout le livre. Dommage que l'auteur ne développe pas plus de choses...
Globalement, j'ai passé un bon moment de lecture ! Matthew et Silas sont deux personnages attachants, j'ai bien aimé suivre la formation de leur petit couple.
« Double étreinte » est le troisième tome de la saga « Partie à deux », où plusieurs personnages évoluent dans la société PI Games. Je me suis dirigée directement vers ce tome-ci qui est une romance M/M, à l'inverse des deux tomes précédents. Les histoires étant indépendantes, cela ne m'a absolument pas gênée.
Matthew est programmeur chez PI Games et en parallèle de son boulot, il est barman. On peut dire qu'il a une vie pépère et se contente de ce qu'il a et est parfaitement satisfait comme cela. Il va rencontrer lors d'une soirée à son bar, Silas. Il va être intrigué par cet homme si timide, légèrement coincé et étrange. Ils vont être attirés l'un par l'autre et de fil en aiguille, Silas va être son coup d'un soir. Seulement les deux hommes vont être amenés à se revoir...
Étant donné le début de l'histoire mais surtout la collection où est édité ce livre, je m'attendais à autre chose et finalement j'ai été surprise dans le bon sens !
J'ai trouvé les personnages très sympathiques. Matthew va voir sa petite vie toute tranquille chamboulée par l'arrivée de Silas. Bien que ce dernier soit étrange, il va se surprendre à aimer sa compagnie et va progressivement s'attacher à lui. Silas est un homme assez spécial, j'ai été étonnée de le voir avec cette caractéristique... dommage que l'auteur n'aille pas plus loin de ce côté-là.
La romance est bien menée, même si le comportement des personnages ne me semblaient pas crédibles à certains moments. Les scènes intimes sont très bien écrites et aussi traduites, comme tout le livre. Dommage que l'auteur ne développe pas plus de choses...
Globalement, j'ai passé un bon moment de lecture ! Matthew et Silas sont deux personnages attachants, j'ai bien aimé suivre la formation de leur petit couple.
September 8, 2018
Une lecture en demi-teinte. Pour commencer, j'avoue que je m'attendais à un livre accès sur le sexe vu le résumé et l'éditeur et ce ne fut pas le cas. On a au contraire une histoire basée sur le caractère, la personnalité des personnages et je trouve cela agréable comparé à d’autres livres. Matthew & Silas sont complètement à l’opposé l’un de l’autre et ils apprennent à composer avec. Ajouté à cela les problèmes de Silas (léger trouble d’autisme, difficultés relationnelles, troubles obsessionnels), rien n'est gagné concernant ce couple. Si le sujet est plutôt bien mené, les réactions des personnages plutôt justes, le tout manque de rythme et certaines choses auraient pu être plus approfondies.
October 10, 2016
I absolutely loved Silas and Matthew! So perfect together--throw in Ruul (Matthew's special needs kitten, yep, name comes from the original Ghostbusters movie) and you've got an unbeatable combination...adorable, geeky, and able to get things done, all in one. These two actually make me think that a quick hookup in a bar might actually lead to something.
Okay, maybe not. This is fiction. But still, it seemed believable--and nobody was hoping for it here more than me :)
Silas and Matthew somehow managed to take the opposites attract troupe and make it work for both of them--and then some! Silas needed to find a life outside of work (and realize that he's not actually allergic to having fun, LOL) and Matthew needed a kick in the pants to make his work not only something he enjoyed but something that challenged him once again. They might have gone into their realizations kicking and screaming (not literally, since neither one of them is that kind of guy--biting and tying up, though, sure ;)) but once they figured things out for themselves? So satisfying. Add in Silas's full-body blushing (which Matthew takes full advantage of) and his slight social awkwardness, and you've got a story with just the right blend of sexy-sweet-geekiness.
Single Player is the third in the series, but worked fine as a standalone. Matthew apparently played a part in one of the other couple's getting together, though ( Even Odds --and they're in this one a bit too) so I was prompted to add that one to my TBR pile...and while I'm at it, why not book two ( Tied Score ) too? ;)
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, maybe not. This is fiction. But still, it seemed believable--and nobody was hoping for it here more than me :)
Silas and Matthew somehow managed to take the opposites attract troupe and make it work for both of them--and then some! Silas needed to find a life outside of work (and realize that he's not actually allergic to having fun, LOL) and Matthew needed a kick in the pants to make his work not only something he enjoyed but something that challenged him once again. They might have gone into their realizations kicking and screaming (not literally, since neither one of them is that kind of guy--biting and tying up, though, sure ;)) but once they figured things out for themselves? So satisfying. Add in Silas's full-body blushing (which Matthew takes full advantage of) and his slight social awkwardness, and you've got a story with just the right blend of sexy-sweet-geekiness.
Single Player is the third in the series, but worked fine as a standalone. Matthew apparently played a part in one of the other couple's getting together, though ( Even Odds --and they're in this one a bit too) so I was prompted to add that one to my TBR pile...and while I'm at it, why not book two ( Tied Score ) too? ;)
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2018
easy read
February 13, 2019
Une romance M/M tout en douceur
January 4, 2023
i saw myself in silas so much, it's a bit crazy. which is probably why i am rounding up. 2,5/5.
October 6, 2016
The humorous banter between Matthew and Silas is one of the main reasons I love this book. Who says romance has to be serious? Anyone who's been in a relationship for more than two decades knows that some of the most romantic moments happen while giggling in bed, sharing a laugh over a meal or exchanging witty banter across the dinner table or via text.
Some great lines in this book: “Are you coming?” Matthew took his hand. “Not yet, but I hope we’re headed that way.” Silas rolled his eyes. “That’s a terrible joke.” “I know. You’ll have to punish me for it.”
“Maybe you should give up the coffee.” Silas pulled the cup in closer to his chest. “You’re kidding, right? I would be unable to function.”
It doesn't hurt that Silas is a huge coffeeholic, a man after my own heart!
Some great lines in this book: “Are you coming?” Matthew took his hand. “Not yet, but I hope we’re headed that way.” Silas rolled his eyes. “That’s a terrible joke.” “I know. You’ll have to punish me for it.”
“Maybe you should give up the coffee.” Silas pulled the cup in closer to his chest. “You’re kidding, right? I would be unable to function.”
It doesn't hurt that Silas is a huge coffeeholic, a man after my own heart!
September 23, 2016
Single player is the third book in the intelligent, sexy series by Ella Winters. Matthew is a programmer at PI Games, and he bartends at a trendy club, Gigi’s, on the weekends. He enjoys a pretty active social life as well. This is where he meets Silas who is the exact opposite of Matthew. He’s introverted and is a biomedical engineer. He only came to the club with his best friend, Dee, for her birthday. But, Matthew intrigues him, and Matthew is pretty attracted to Silas. By the end of the night, the two share an unforgettable encounter. They can’t stop thinking about one another, but will this be more than a quick fling?
Silas and Matthew will have a bumpy road to their HEA. They are both have strong personalities and opinions about life in general. Matthew is an extrovert and carefree whereas Silas is introverted and very much work driven…he’s obsessed with succeeding in his job. He spends almost every minute at work until he’s forced to take some time by his employers for the sake of his sanity and the project he’s working on. Matthew becomes a source of support and tries to show him how to enjoy life. The two bring out the best in one another and bring balance to each other’s lives. As always, the writer knows how to put the “sex” in sexy, especially in the bedroom.
As with the other two books in the series, it is very well-written. Winters does a great job of continually building her characters throughout the series. I love catching up with the characters in earlier novels. I feel like I’ve become a part of their close group of friends. Some memorable secondary characters are introduced in this book, and one of them is a disabled cat! Yes, Zuul, the cat is a character in his own right. I fell in love with Dee who is the best friend of Silas. This girl is a firecracker! I’m hoping she will somehow get her own book in the future. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
***Reviewed on behalf of Once Upon an Alpha***
***Copy provided by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review***
Silas and Matthew will have a bumpy road to their HEA. They are both have strong personalities and opinions about life in general. Matthew is an extrovert and carefree whereas Silas is introverted and very much work driven…he’s obsessed with succeeding in his job. He spends almost every minute at work until he’s forced to take some time by his employers for the sake of his sanity and the project he’s working on. Matthew becomes a source of support and tries to show him how to enjoy life. The two bring out the best in one another and bring balance to each other’s lives. As always, the writer knows how to put the “sex” in sexy, especially in the bedroom.
As with the other two books in the series, it is very well-written. Winters does a great job of continually building her characters throughout the series. I love catching up with the characters in earlier novels. I feel like I’ve become a part of their close group of friends. Some memorable secondary characters are introduced in this book, and one of them is a disabled cat! Yes, Zuul, the cat is a character in his own right. I fell in love with Dee who is the best friend of Silas. This girl is a firecracker! I’m hoping she will somehow get her own book in the future. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
***Reviewed on behalf of Once Upon an Alpha***
***Copy provided by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review***
October 29, 2016
This is book 3 in the Slice of Pi Series. You do not need to have read the other 2 to be able to keep up with the characters in book 3. Although I plan to go back; read the first 2. I enjoyed the authors way of writing; she was able to create a story that will have you turning the pages to see how it will end for Silas and Matthew. Yes this is a MM romance but written in such a way that you feel as thought it is two people learning how to navigator a new relationship.
Silas Benson does not do much but work. He is a biomedical engineer that has a work ethic that will make most cringe. There is no time for fun, relaxing or non sense. Silas was raised to believe that if you were not doing your best then you were lacking. So Silas puts 110% into working; even on the weekends.
Matthew Abrams has a great job; gaming programmer; that he enjoys. He has a second job bartending; giving him a chance to meet new people. He knows how to just relax and enjoy life. He has never really wanted more out of life but sometimes when you are in a position too long; you do desire for more.
A chance encounter at Matthew's second allows him to meet Silas. At first, the attraction between the two is instant but Silas does not do things like this. After a couple of drinks, Silas loosens up and takes a chance on a beautiful stranger. When things between Matthew and Silas head up at the bar, there is only one thing that can happen, they will need to explore more of each other or will Silas keep running and not really living?
When Silas is put on leave from work; he turns to Matthew. Silas has no idea how to do nothing with his time. Matthew will show him the way but as things heat up between the two; words will fly that will cause them both to rethink how they feel about each other and themselves.
Will Silas and Matthew be able to work out their differences to see that they are a match for each other? Or will they allow words in the heat of the moment end their game before it has truly started?
Silas Benson does not do much but work. He is a biomedical engineer that has a work ethic that will make most cringe. There is no time for fun, relaxing or non sense. Silas was raised to believe that if you were not doing your best then you were lacking. So Silas puts 110% into working; even on the weekends.
Matthew Abrams has a great job; gaming programmer; that he enjoys. He has a second job bartending; giving him a chance to meet new people. He knows how to just relax and enjoy life. He has never really wanted more out of life but sometimes when you are in a position too long; you do desire for more.
A chance encounter at Matthew's second allows him to meet Silas. At first, the attraction between the two is instant but Silas does not do things like this. After a couple of drinks, Silas loosens up and takes a chance on a beautiful stranger. When things between Matthew and Silas head up at the bar, there is only one thing that can happen, they will need to explore more of each other or will Silas keep running and not really living?
When Silas is put on leave from work; he turns to Matthew. Silas has no idea how to do nothing with his time. Matthew will show him the way but as things heat up between the two; words will fly that will cause them both to rethink how they feel about each other and themselves.
Will Silas and Matthew be able to work out their differences to see that they are a match for each other? Or will they allow words in the heat of the moment end their game before it has truly started?
September 18, 2016
Single Player is the third book in the Slices of Pi series, but as with the others, can be read as a standalone. The characters from the previous stories do make appearances so it's fun to see them again too.
Matthew is a video game programmer who doesn't take himself to seriously and enjoys letting lose and having fun. Silas is a biomedical engineer and an extreme workaholic. He has Asperger's Syndrome which causes him to not be able to understand social situations. He pushes himself past his limits to the point that he doesn't believe he should have free time or let loose because it gets in the way of his work progress. After working himself to hard and not resting enough he starts to burn himself out and his boss takes notice, putting him on a mandatory leave of absence. When Matthew offers to show him ways to unwind, Silas doesn't like the idea but as time goes on he starts to see how it is improving his life.
These two had amazing chemistry together. Silas was adorably awkward, even if he did get on my nerves with insulting Matthew repeatedly about his job, saying that it wasn't a real job. That drove me a little crazy to be honest, so I had to knock off a star. Matthew had a lot of patience with Silas' little quirks, and I thought he handled the job insult better than I would have. I was definitely happy when Silas came around at the end. I ended up enjoying this one even more than the second one the series! I still haven't read the first one but I added it to my never-ending TBR list so, one day... I hope! lol!
** I received an ARC of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **
Matthew is a video game programmer who doesn't take himself to seriously and enjoys letting lose and having fun. Silas is a biomedical engineer and an extreme workaholic. He has Asperger's Syndrome which causes him to not be able to understand social situations. He pushes himself past his limits to the point that he doesn't believe he should have free time or let loose because it gets in the way of his work progress. After working himself to hard and not resting enough he starts to burn himself out and his boss takes notice, putting him on a mandatory leave of absence. When Matthew offers to show him ways to unwind, Silas doesn't like the idea but as time goes on he starts to see how it is improving his life.
These two had amazing chemistry together. Silas was adorably awkward, even if he did get on my nerves with insulting Matthew repeatedly about his job, saying that it wasn't a real job. That drove me a little crazy to be honest, so I had to knock off a star. Matthew had a lot of patience with Silas' little quirks, and I thought he handled the job insult better than I would have. I was definitely happy when Silas came around at the end. I ended up enjoying this one even more than the second one the series! I still haven't read the first one but I added it to my never-ending TBR list so, one day... I hope! lol!
** I received an ARC of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **
October 9, 2016
***ARC PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW***
‘Single Player’ by Ella Winters is the 3rd book in the series, Slices of Pi. This is a m/m love story which was my first. Ella Winter popped by cherry with this book and I am so happy she did.
Silas is a work hard, don't make or have time for anything else type of guy. Focused and driven to the core, he rarely lets his guard down.
Matthew is a party till you drop, make time for everything type of guy who feels lucky he finally has all he wants.
After a steamy night together, Silas and Matthew they both start to believe that what they have isn't everything.
This was a steady paced, well written story that kept my attention. Even though it is part of a series, I was able to read this book and fully understand everything without reading the other 2 books, but after reading this book and loving it, I will be going back and reading those first 2.
4.5 stars
Reviewed by Jennifer A.
‘Single Player’ by Ella Winters is the 3rd book in the series, Slices of Pi. This is a m/m love story which was my first. Ella Winter popped by cherry with this book and I am so happy she did.
Silas is a work hard, don't make or have time for anything else type of guy. Focused and driven to the core, he rarely lets his guard down.
Matthew is a party till you drop, make time for everything type of guy who feels lucky he finally has all he wants.
After a steamy night together, Silas and Matthew they both start to believe that what they have isn't everything.
This was a steady paced, well written story that kept my attention. Even though it is part of a series, I was able to read this book and fully understand everything without reading the other 2 books, but after reading this book and loving it, I will be going back and reading those first 2.
4.5 stars
Reviewed by Jennifer A.
September 22, 2016
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Single Player by Elia Winters was a pretty good read. This is the third book in her Slices of Pi series. In this book you get Matthew’s story. Matthew is happy with the way his life is. Programmer during the week and bartender on the weekends. Then he meets Silas. Silas is smart and a workaholic. The two make an unlikely pair but that saying opposites attract holds true.
This book took awhile for me to get into. It was slow going at the beginning. I also had a hard time warming up to Silas. His robotic response and nature was a miss for me. That being said, all in all I did enjoy this book. It picked up towards the second half and I ended up enjoying it. LOVED the kitten’s name! I look forward to reading more in this series. I give this 4 stars.
**Review on behalf of Once Upon An Alpha**
Single Player by Elia Winters was a pretty good read. This is the third book in her Slices of Pi series. In this book you get Matthew’s story. Matthew is happy with the way his life is. Programmer during the week and bartender on the weekends. Then he meets Silas. Silas is smart and a workaholic. The two make an unlikely pair but that saying opposites attract holds true.
This book took awhile for me to get into. It was slow going at the beginning. I also had a hard time warming up to Silas. His robotic response and nature was a miss for me. That being said, all in all I did enjoy this book. It picked up towards the second half and I ended up enjoying it. LOVED the kitten’s name! I look forward to reading more in this series. I give this 4 stars.
**Review on behalf of Once Upon An Alpha**
September 3, 2016
via netgalley
loved it. perfect couple, ying/yang
loved it. perfect couple, ying/yang
October 4, 2016
What a lovely way to finish a truly enjoyable series. My thoughts at Scandalicious Book Reviews:
http://www.scandaliciousbookreviews.c...
http://www.scandaliciousbookreviews.c...
June 9, 2025
Ordinary, but still pleasing to read, refreshing and all in positivism. Sexy too, of course. No mention of homophobia, which isn't common enough in my opinion.
did-not-finished
October 21, 2018DNF 54 %
Maybe I will pick it up. It's not bad.. I don't particularly like both guys, I like that they are different from each other. I get their connection.. I'm just bored, I started skimming, waiting for something to happen and I hate drama, I hate suspense or when bad things happen in books and here I am waiting for it. So it's time to stop.
Maybe I will pick it up. It's not bad.. I don't particularly like both guys, I like that they are different from each other. I get their connection.. I'm just bored, I started skimming, waiting for something to happen and I hate drama, I hate suspense or when bad things happen in books and here I am waiting for it. So it's time to stop.
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