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Firsts and Forever #2
All In
This is an Alternate Cover Edition - ISBN 13: 9781310853074
Even though he's not really over his ex-boyfriend Jamie, twenty-three-year-old former football player Charlie finds himself drawn to Dante Dombruso, the gorgeous, highly dangerous leader of a mafia crime family. Dante is the perfect rebound fling, six feet, four inches of raw sex and hard Italian muscle, wrapped in an expensive suit.
The confident, sexy crime boss is way out of Charlie’s comfort zone. But Charlie already lost everything once by giving in to his fear, and he's not willing to make the same mistake again. If he’s going to do this, Charlie knows he can’t hold back. He can't date this man a little, he can't trust him a little, he can't go to bed with him a little. If he's going to get involved with Dante Dombruso, Charlie has to be All In.
Please note: This book is a lighthearted m/m romance. It contains explicit language, just a bit of BDSM to spice things up, and plenty of steamy sex between two hot guys. ADULT CONTENT.
Even though he's not really over his ex-boyfriend Jamie, twenty-three-year-old former football player Charlie finds himself drawn to Dante Dombruso, the gorgeous, highly dangerous leader of a mafia crime family. Dante is the perfect rebound fling, six feet, four inches of raw sex and hard Italian muscle, wrapped in an expensive suit.
The confident, sexy crime boss is way out of Charlie’s comfort zone. But Charlie already lost everything once by giving in to his fear, and he's not willing to make the same mistake again. If he’s going to do this, Charlie knows he can’t hold back. He can't date this man a little, he can't trust him a little, he can't go to bed with him a little. If he's going to get involved with Dante Dombruso, Charlie has to be All In.
Please note: This book is a lighthearted m/m romance. It contains explicit language, just a bit of BDSM to spice things up, and plenty of steamy sex between two hot guys. ADULT CONTENT.
243 pages, ebook
First published February 14, 2013
92 people are currently reading
536 people want to read
About the author
Alexa Land
57 books786 followersIndependent MM romance author. For more information, please visit Alexa's blog: http://alexalandwrites.blogspot.com/
Please note: the author does not check messages on this site. The best way to contact them is through Facebook.
Please note: the author does not check messages on this site. The best way to contact them is through Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
February 27, 2015
What on earth did I just read? Did someone slip me drugs? Do kids' books have m/m BDSM in them now? What was that? I don't . . . words . . . none . . .wha?
***
OK, so after some reflection, I still don't know what I just read. Who is the target market for this book? I'm quite bamboozled.
In the spoilers I'll discuss broad plot events, but not spoiler the end of the story. It's not possible to spoiler the end of the story. Everyone over two years of age knows how the story will end as soon as they read past page 3.
So, clearly, there's some ranting going on here. I'll need to revise this.
**with secret super special handcuffs that have no key and can't be physcially broken, but need a special "trick" (never specifed) to open them.
I also recommend K's review. It has gifs.
***
OK, so after some reflection, I still don't know what I just read. Who is the target market for this book? I'm quite bamboozled.
In the spoilers I'll discuss broad plot events, but not spoiler the end of the story. It's not possible to spoiler the end of the story. Everyone over two years of age knows how the story will end as soon as they read past page 3.
So, clearly, there's some ranting going on here. I'll need to revise this.
**with secret super special handcuffs that have no key and can't be physcially broken, but need a special "trick" (never specifed) to open them.
I also recommend K's review. It has gifs.
February 24, 2013
Since Emma has already pointed out all the ridiculous things about this book, I'll do a more pretentious dissection instead. Behold!
Theme : The ability of love to overcome, in no particular order, a career in crime, personal hangups, a happy ex, a deranged grandmother, multiple faghags from the fag hag cloning factory (every woman in this and Book 1 talks exactly the same, no matter their age or background), breaking and entering, a disinterest in football, ex-whores, and sadistic tendencies.
Plot: ???
Conflict: Due to childhood trauma, D can only have sex if he beats the shit out of people. He does not want to have sex with C. C insists that he likes having sex with D. D refuses. C insists. D refuses. C stalks D and demands that D has frequent sex with C.
Cue angst of
Solution: D handcuffs C to his ex-whore
Solution #2: and then wastes a long distance call to confess his love before slinking into the darkness.
Resolution:
- D finally comes home, and as per Dmitri's antics, promptly quits his life in crime so that he can become a kinky plot device as a Dangerous Man Who Isn't Really Dangerous.
- Charlie gets what he wanted
- They plan a wedding, have more vanilla sex that makes the cover a lie, and live HEA.
Conclusion: A thoroughly fascinating example of romantic fiction, with a stress on the underlying conflict of unrequited lust and the actions of a contemporary gay man in the light of 21st century morals.
Conclusion #2: Read this just to exercise your incredulity. I mean, when you read the line 'Over my slit' and get a sense of displacement and had to stop and remind yourself that it isn't a het romance, you know you've got a winner.
And you know you want to read this.
Theme : The ability of love to overcome, in no particular order, a career in crime, personal hangups, a happy ex, a deranged grandmother, multiple faghags from the fag hag cloning factory (every woman in this and Book 1 talks exactly the same, no matter their age or background), breaking and entering, a disinterest in football, ex-whores, and sadistic tendencies.
Plot: ???
Conflict: Due to childhood trauma, D can only have sex if he beats the shit out of people. He does not want to have sex with C. C insists that he likes having sex with D. D refuses. C insists. D refuses. C stalks D and demands that D has frequent sex with C.
Cue angst of
Solution: D handcuffs C to his ex-whore
Solution #2: and then wastes a long distance call to confess his love before slinking into the darkness.
Resolution:
- D finally comes home, and as per Dmitri's antics, promptly quits his life in crime so that he can become a kinky plot device as a Dangerous Man Who Isn't Really Dangerous.
- Charlie gets what he wanted
- They plan a wedding, have more vanilla sex that makes the cover a lie, and live HEA.
Conclusion: A thoroughly fascinating example of romantic fiction, with a stress on the underlying conflict of unrequited lust and the actions of a contemporary gay man in the light of 21st century morals.
Conclusion #2: Read this just to exercise your incredulity. I mean, when you read the line 'Over my slit' and get a sense of displacement and had to stop and remind yourself that it isn't a het romance, you know you've got a winner.
And you know you want to read this.
March 18, 2017
3.5 stars. Not quite as good as the first but still enjoyable. There were some really cheesy moments and I'm a girl that likes the cheese. So for me to say that, you KNOW it was cheesy. But I'm definitely continuing this series as I love all of the characters and how we get to catch up with all of them in each book as they're friends.
March 7, 2016
3.25 stars
Totally ridiculous.
We met Charlie in the previous book where he was kind of an ass. It was almost like he was a whole different person in this. He was sweet, shy and very innocent.
He starts dating Dante, who is in the mafia (why does no one in the mafia care that Dante is gay???).
Charlie really starts caring for Dante when Dante suddenly breaks up with him. Dante tells him he can only get off on whipping and beating someone and he doesn’t want to hurt Charlie.
To prove Charlie Dante is indeed depraved, he cuffs Austin, a rent boy to Charlie. Dante has to leave for a couple of days, but Austin should tell Charlie how it is being the sexual partner of Dante.
I actually liked the scenes where Charlie and Austin (turns out his name is really Christopher Robin) were cuffed together. It was fun and I could feel the bond of friendship forming between the two. Of course I did laugh my sox off when Charlie exclaims Christopher Robin is his best friend after only 48 hours.
The whole BDSM thing was weird and when Dante once again says he simply CANNOT get off another way, I wanted to slap him. Come on, dude, you seriously can’t get it up any other way, and you can’t just ease Charlie into the whole whipping thing? It has to be all or nothing?
But you just have to go with the crazy to enjoy this book, so I did. It was fun, totally unrealistic and overall ridiculous. Of course I will read the next book. And the next. And probably the next..
Totally ridiculous.
We met Charlie in the previous book where he was kind of an ass. It was almost like he was a whole different person in this. He was sweet, shy and very innocent.
He starts dating Dante, who is in the mafia (why does no one in the mafia care that Dante is gay???).
Charlie really starts caring for Dante when Dante suddenly breaks up with him. Dante tells him he can only get off on whipping and beating someone and he doesn’t want to hurt Charlie.
To prove Charlie Dante is indeed depraved, he cuffs Austin, a rent boy to Charlie. Dante has to leave for a couple of days, but Austin should tell Charlie how it is being the sexual partner of Dante.
I actually liked the scenes where Charlie and Austin (turns out his name is really Christopher Robin) were cuffed together. It was fun and I could feel the bond of friendship forming between the two. Of course I did laugh my sox off when Charlie exclaims Christopher Robin is his best friend after only 48 hours.
The whole BDSM thing was weird and when Dante once again says he simply CANNOT get off another way, I wanted to slap him. Come on, dude, you seriously can’t get it up any other way, and you can’t just ease Charlie into the whole whipping thing? It has to be all or nothing?
But you just have to go with the crazy to enjoy this book, so I did. It was fun, totally unrealistic and overall ridiculous. Of course I will read the next book. And the next. And probably the next..
March 9, 2016
That's some whackadoodledoo stuff right there. This story is utterly and completely ridiculous.
That doesn't mean it wasn't entertaining as hell...'cause it was - it's over the top, funny, heartwarming, sexy and ridiculous. These stories are like crack and Alexa Land is like my connection. I need more. I want more Christopher Robin, I want more Hunter, and I want more Nana!
Recommended.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
That doesn't mean it wasn't entertaining as hell...'cause it was - it's over the top, funny, heartwarming, sexy and ridiculous. These stories are like crack and Alexa Land is like my connection. I need more. I want more Christopher Robin, I want more Hunter, and I want more Nana!
Recommended.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
February 17, 2016
All In is the second part of the Firsts and Forever series of Alexa Land. The first part of the series Way Off Plan was one of the frist m/m romances I ever read and I remember that I really liked it. I was very curious to read this second installment and once again Alexa Land is in good form.
I enjoy the funny way she is able to handle all her characters and to connect their stories with each other. Of course, not all of it is very credible, but it's still entertaining to read.
Charlie, the ex-boyfiend from Jamie of book 1, is one of the two main characters of this series. He is working in Jamie's restaurant and he still regrets how their story turned out; he still has feeling for his ex and it's hurting him to see Dmitri and Jamie so happy. In order to get Jamie out of his head, he has decided to go to a date with hot, sexy and extremely dangerous Dante Dombruso.
In Alexa Land style, they are falling quickly for each other. The pace of the story and the BDSM relationship elements weren't credible at all, but I still liked reading about Dante and Charlie. I will definitly continue reading this series.
3 stars!
I enjoy the funny way she is able to handle all her characters and to connect their stories with each other. Of course, not all of it is very credible, but it's still entertaining to read.
Charlie, the ex-boyfiend from Jamie of book 1, is one of the two main characters of this series. He is working in Jamie's restaurant and he still regrets how their story turned out; he still has feeling for his ex and it's hurting him to see Dmitri and Jamie so happy. In order to get Jamie out of his head, he has decided to go to a date with hot, sexy and extremely dangerous Dante Dombruso.
In Alexa Land style, they are falling quickly for each other. The pace of the story and the BDSM relationship elements weren't credible at all, but I still liked reading about Dante and Charlie. I will definitly continue reading this series.
3 stars!
March 6, 2016
So...after reading the first book, I decided to jump right into the second one.
This one is about Charlie, who's Jamie's ex (book 1) and Dante, Sicilian mobster dude (also book 1). Don't go expecting a dangerous wiseguy hero...because you won't find him here.
Charlie has recently come out to his parents, about being gay and was kicked out right after that. He now lives in Jamie's old appartment and he also works in Jamie's bar. This is not sitting very well with him, because he is still hurting over the fact that he fucked everything up with Jamie.
Then he meets Dante, Dmitri's (book 1) mobster friend. They have an instant spark between and they start to date...which was actually really funny. They start to fall for each other, but a problem arises. You see Dante, he has to have sex a certain way...This is were de BDSM comes into play. He actually had a freaking playroom !!!
They don't use the room though. He spanks Charlie a couple of times, which ofcourse leaves some bruising and then he freakes out, breaking up with Jamie, because he doesn't want to hurt him. He tries to prove to Jamie that he's no good for him...in a very weird way. This was all so freaking ridiculous, but also so very funny...I laughed my ass off, more than I did in book 1.
Anyway, Charlie is in love with Dante and he doesn't want to let him go without a fight...
We also get introduced to the next book character. Christopher/Austin. I liked him, it was all weird..but he was a nice guy ;)
Then there is also Dante's grandmother. I already knew she was a hoot, because I've read book 6, were she also plays a role. I loved how she called Dante her gay homosexual grandson :)))
I liked this one better then the first book. I thought it was funnier and eventhough the bdsm was a bit ridiculous, and I'm also not a big fan of it, this book wasn't as unbelievable as the first. It was still a bit cheesy and sugary. There are a shitton of I love you's and it's still very much an insta-love :)
3,5 stars and ofcourse I'm gonna read more :)
This one is about Charlie, who's Jamie's ex (book 1) and Dante, Sicilian mobster dude (also book 1). Don't go expecting a dangerous wiseguy hero...because you won't find him here.
Charlie has recently come out to his parents, about being gay and was kicked out right after that. He now lives in Jamie's old appartment and he also works in Jamie's bar. This is not sitting very well with him, because he is still hurting over the fact that he fucked everything up with Jamie.
Then he meets Dante, Dmitri's (book 1) mobster friend. They have an instant spark between and they start to date...which was actually really funny. They start to fall for each other, but a problem arises. You see Dante, he has to have sex a certain way...This is were de BDSM comes into play. He actually had a freaking playroom !!!
They don't use the room though. He spanks Charlie a couple of times, which ofcourse leaves some bruising and then he freakes out, breaking up with Jamie, because he doesn't want to hurt him. He tries to prove to Jamie that he's no good for him...in a very weird way. This was all so freaking ridiculous, but also so very funny...I laughed my ass off, more than I did in book 1.
Anyway, Charlie is in love with Dante and he doesn't want to let him go without a fight...
We also get introduced to the next book character. Christopher/Austin. I liked him, it was all weird..but he was a nice guy ;)
Then there is also Dante's grandmother. I already knew she was a hoot, because I've read book 6, were she also plays a role. I loved how she called Dante her gay homosexual grandson :)))
I liked this one better then the first book. I thought it was funnier and eventhough the bdsm was a bit ridiculous, and I'm also not a big fan of it, this book wasn't as unbelievable as the first. It was still a bit cheesy and sugary. There are a shitton of I love you's and it's still very much an insta-love :)
3,5 stars and ofcourse I'm gonna read more :)
March 21, 2021
4 "gay-homosexual" stars
I love this series and these guys. I've been reading it out of order (starting on book 9 a couple of years ago) and it works but I totally think it's an even better reading experience reading it in order. To fully enjoy this, you have to suspend ALL of your disbelief. If you go into this in any other way, it won't work.
I've been intrigued by Dante and Charlie in the books I've read earlier and I'm so glad that it didn't disappoint. I can see how this author's writing has improved during the series.
I love this series and these guys. I've been reading it out of order (starting on book 9 a couple of years ago) and it works but I totally think it's an even better reading experience reading it in order. To fully enjoy this, you have to suspend ALL of your disbelief. If you go into this in any other way, it won't work.
I've been intrigued by Dante and Charlie in the books I've read earlier and I'm so glad that it didn't disappoint. I can see how this author's writing has improved during the series.
Read
January 10, 2017Ok, I read some spoilers, but I was going to try to keep going. But then when I found out that Dante was LITERALLY a Christian Grey for the M/M world, complete with the abuse and the money, and having to beat the guys he fucks down before he fucks them, pushing the guy away because he's too "pure" and innocent, not to mention said innocent *VIRGIN* guy barely even blinking, but begging him to let him just try and see if he could take it, and yeah, that was it. I'm glad I figured tis out before I took the train any further into crazy town, because from what I can see, it gets MUCH worse!
Guess I'll have to find myself another gangster/criminal type to read, this just isn't for me. Not rating because I quit before the halfway point, but I'm pretty sure if would have been a 1 star if I'd made it through.
Guess I'll have to find myself another gangster/criminal type to read, this just isn't for me. Not rating because I quit before the halfway point, but I'm pretty sure if would have been a 1 star if I'd made it through.
June 10, 2014
All of the books in Alexa Land's Firsts and Forever Series are smart, smart-assed, fun, funny, romantic, contain problematic situations and have actual interesting stories instead of the typical M/M romance standard, trite plots which aren't actual plots at all. One of the reasons I enjoy these stories so much is that they all involve gay romance with mafia guys who fall in love with men who are outside of the "family" and include an 80-something year-old grandmother mafiosi whose "boys" make sure whatever she wants she gets and if that's not enough she's got her own pistol so that she can make sure all her grandchildren and all her "gay homosexual" boys get their romantic happily ever afters.
The order of reading the books is important. Here are the books in the series in order: Way Off Plan, All In, In Pieces, Gathering Storm and Salvation.
"I rated the other books in the series with 6 stars but this one only has only 5 because it involves some BDSM (nothing too bad) and I dislike any sort of BDSM in a gay romance, except you can't help loving the fresh wide-eyed , open-hearted love bursting from both MCs in this book. The lovers are willing to do anything and everything for each other and that made me happy for them even if their style of lovemaking is not something I enjoy—well at least not the part with the whip. Their other standard issue loving making is of course something I've enjoyed ever since my first lover but that's not subject to review >grin<.”
April 23, 2014
I'd say the story itself was a 3-star read but it was funny as hell and the secondary characters were fantastic. I did have one major sticking point with this one and that was The sexual relationship just seemed so one sided most of the time because of this. Not to mention the fact that a quickie or a back alley blowjob were just not going to happen for Dante. I found this so fucking sad. That being said...the zombie dog, Hello Kitty lockpicks, escapee grandma, they all made this story so entertaining.
August 28, 2014
Can I tell you how I wanted it to go?
But alas, this is not what happened and I guess I am ok with it. Obviously I am not a big fan of pain but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. I struggled to believe in Way Off Plan that after eight years Charlie and Jamie never got farther than they did. This one made it even harder to believe with how open and willing Charlie became with Dante instantly. But I think that was how it was supposed to go and it kinda worked, you know, this being all about firsts after all. I really liked Dante and Charlie a lot. Charlie was just funny, I didn't get that from the first book but this one really gave us a great personality. And Dante and his phone! He googled everything and I just loved it! I found them both very funny and very sweet. I know I smiled a lot. Overall the read was a good time. I cannot wait to get Christopher Robin’s story because that boy has stolen my heart. So, because it was fun and I really loved everyone, oh and Nana!!!, I am gonna give it a good ol’ 4★ review.
Read.
But alas, this is not what happened and I guess I am ok with it. Obviously I am not a big fan of pain but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. I struggled to believe in Way Off Plan that after eight years Charlie and Jamie never got farther than they did. This one made it even harder to believe with how open and willing Charlie became with Dante instantly. But I think that was how it was supposed to go and it kinda worked, you know, this being all about firsts after all. I really liked Dante and Charlie a lot. Charlie was just funny, I didn't get that from the first book but this one really gave us a great personality. And Dante and his phone! He googled everything and I just loved it! I found them both very funny and very sweet. I know I smiled a lot. Overall the read was a good time. I cannot wait to get Christopher Robin’s story because that boy has stolen my heart. So, because it was fun and I really loved everyone, oh and Nana!!!, I am gonna give it a good ol’ 4★ review.
Read.
June 5, 2015
I love, love, LOVE this book!
Warning bits:
- The ZOMBIE tag is not a mistake. There is actually a zombie dog, who is not a zombie, but pretty damn close, the way it acts.
- BDSM is very demure, mostly it's just the talk, but there is some spanking, some bondage and some ass whipping present in a couple of (short) scenes. Mostly tho, it's the talk.
Meh bits:
- It's imperfect, it drags at times, it's unrealistic, it's saccharine and dorky...
Good bits:
...BUT it's also very tender-sweet and funny and adorable and impossible to put down.
~'~'~'~
The break-in in the beginning is epic. The break out in the middle is very close to epic. The handcuffs! OMG, the handcuffs! And Peaches? Be afraid, be very very afraid, it's a zombie affenpinscher ape dog with an under bite!
And, of course, Dante!!! Dear man, you're so much fun! Even when you break hearts.
----------------
I am planning on starting Christopher's story soon. I hope he finds himself a big mean mafia machine. I hope they find the Sandwich Man and they feed him Peaches's gluten-infused poop (have to read the book, peeps!) ;)
*
Krissy, thank you so much for picking it for me in a challenge and then lending it to me to read! ♥
Warning bits:
- The ZOMBIE tag is not a mistake. There is actually a zombie dog, who is not a zombie, but pretty damn close, the way it acts.
- BDSM is very demure, mostly it's just the talk, but there is some spanking, some bondage and some ass whipping present in a couple of (short) scenes. Mostly tho, it's the talk.
Meh bits:
- It's imperfect, it drags at times, it's unrealistic, it's saccharine and dorky...
Good bits:
...BUT it's also very tender-sweet and funny and adorable and impossible to put down.
~'~'~'~
The break-in in the beginning is epic. The break out in the middle is very close to epic. The handcuffs! OMG, the handcuffs! And Peaches? Be afraid, be very very afraid, it's a zombie affenpinscher ape dog with an under bite!
And, of course, Dante!!! Dear man, you're so much fun! Even when you break hearts.
----------------
I am planning on starting Christopher's story soon. I hope he finds himself a big mean mafia machine. I hope they find the Sandwich Man and they feed him Peaches's gluten-infused poop (have to read the book, peeps!) ;)
*
Krissy, thank you so much for picking it for me in a challenge and then lending it to me to read! ♥
December 19, 2013
3 star's. This one didn't do it for me like the. 1 st one. I loved Dante and his nana. And I loved when he called Charlie Angel. But the your my best friend we've known each other 3 days. And Charlie couldn't get past a blow job after 8 yrs with Jamie but now he needs Bdsm type sex. Yea NO!
September 1, 2016
Alexa's novels are like m/m fairy tales- they always have the 'Happily Ever After" endings.
August 24, 2015
3.5 stars
This was good, not great and didn't pull the same gooey emotions from me as the first book and yet I read it in a day so, that says something about the entertainment value.
I think,
I get that this series is completely over the top - it could rival the most dramatic telenovela - full of major insta love with repeated use of endearments that I usually find sweet but got to be a bit much with this one. I do love Dante and Charlie and their whirlwind romance was pretty intense and had the best first date ever, but when I take a moment and look back a the book, I start to see more faults than not and that's not a good thing.
Does it mean I am stopping this series?
How could I stop when I just met the Nana! Good lord she is entertaining and has a deep and loyal love to her gay homosexual grandson and all his gay homosexual friends because everyone in this story is gorgeous, gay and gagging for the dick. Just stating the obvious here.
I will gladly admit that this series is crack and I am wiling to open a vein and bleed to keep reading it. I think I found the formula for it too: MC meets his soul mate, then gets a spanking new BFF and shiny new BFF is the new book? Maybe? I mean, Jamie had Charlie, we get Charlie as the MC. Charlie got the sweet, sad and starving Christopher Robin, we get his book and now that I am currently reading book three and know who Christopher Robin's BFF is? Yup, I see a pattern and formula and I'm down, baby. I'm so down.
This was good, not great and didn't pull the same gooey emotions from me as the first book and yet I read it in a day so, that says something about the entertainment value.
I think,
I get that this series is completely over the top - it could rival the most dramatic telenovela - full of major insta love with repeated use of endearments that I usually find sweet but got to be a bit much with this one. I do love Dante and Charlie and their whirlwind romance was pretty intense and had the best first date ever, but when I take a moment and look back a the book, I start to see more faults than not and that's not a good thing.
Does it mean I am stopping this series?
How could I stop when I just met the Nana! Good lord she is entertaining and has a deep and loyal love to her gay homosexual grandson and all his gay homosexual friends because everyone in this story is gorgeous, gay and gagging for the dick. Just stating the obvious here.
I will gladly admit that this series is crack and I am wiling to open a vein and bleed to keep reading it. I think I found the formula for it too: MC meets his soul mate, then gets a spanking new BFF and shiny new BFF is the new book? Maybe? I mean, Jamie had Charlie, we get Charlie as the MC. Charlie got the sweet, sad and starving Christopher Robin, we get his book and now that I am currently reading book three and know who Christopher Robin's BFF is? Yup, I see a pattern and formula and I'm down, baby. I'm so down.
February 16, 2014
I'm picky - I admit that. I can get really agitated over details that just don't fit in a book (like when a professional ice skater trains on a frozen natural lake, all alone, because it had snowed too much to drive to the skating rink and trains jumps...as if it hadn't snowed on the lake, too, and that would be highly dangerous). Okay...I digressed a bit. Now back to the fact that I'm picky. Buuuut - that is if a book tries to be realistic. This series clearly has no aspiration to even be a little bit realistic. This is for fun, nothing else. Nobody in his right mind will take this whole series serious. So I have absolutely no problem with the fact that it is full of unbelievable characters, developments and action.
This is so very obviously just written for the fun of pairing up very fictional characters (the ones we only dare to dream of because no real person is like them) with loooots of funny banter, some action and some steamy sex. Actually, the sex isn't even that important for me in this series, it's nice to have but mostly I enjoy the dialogues.
If you want fun and entertainment and don't mind that these stories are in no way realistic - you'll enjoy them.
This is so very obviously just written for the fun of pairing up very fictional characters (the ones we only dare to dream of because no real person is like them) with loooots of funny banter, some action and some steamy sex. Actually, the sex isn't even that important for me in this series, it's nice to have but mostly I enjoy the dialogues.
If you want fun and entertainment and don't mind that these stories are in no way realistic - you'll enjoy them.
February 23, 2013
I liked this one a whole lot. Very good, very sweet, and very funny. And lots of hotness. I did feel like the separation lasted a bit too long but everything that happened during that time was important, so I understand. I did not particularly like Dante having so much prior experience, but that's a preference thing. I always want MCs to only ever be with each other, which is totally unrealistic of me, but it is what it is. As long as they stay monogamous after they get together, then I'm a happy girl. I really like Charlie and Dante together. I think they really work. The kink didn't bother me at all. I liked it even. I like that the differences between Charlie and Christopher's preferences were made known. I think it was important to distinguish that it was okay when it was the person's need or preference. I know I'm being vague, but I don't want to give too much away.
I can't wait for the next in the story! Yay for Christopher Robin!
Overall thoughts: I think I found another author to list with my favorites.4.5 stars. LOVED this book.
I can't wait for the next in the story! Yay for Christopher Robin!
Overall thoughts: I think I found another author to list with my favorites.4.5 stars. LOVED this book.
February 27, 2013
I have to say I enjoyed this one just as much as the first one even if I have trouble believing that the head of a Mob family would behave as Dante did. This is just a sweet and fun read that had me laughing a lot more than I probably should have.
I couldn't help loving the characters and Dante's grandmother was by far my favorite. The fact that she called Dante a "gay homosexual" cracked me up almost every time. Austin/Christopher Robin was also a very endearing character and I can not wait for his upcoming book.
I couldn't help loving the characters and Dante's grandmother was by far my favorite. The fact that she called Dante a "gay homosexual" cracked me up almost every time. Austin/Christopher Robin was also a very endearing character and I can not wait for his upcoming book.
September 22, 2015
Fun and fluffy book overall with characters who are easy to like. I would have rated it higher but the sex scenes were pretty cringe worthy. I really could have done without the BDSM aspect as it just never seemed to feel genuine to me.
March 12, 2017
4.5 stars
Alexa Land's writing definitely has improved in this story as opposed to how it read in Way Off ( book #1 ).
There is a smaller number of characters and she managed to make them more 3-dimensional. I could tell the difference between Dante, Charlie and Christopher Robin ( I swear I just might have to read the Winnie The Pooh book, because references from there have been haunting me ever more frequently).
Although, I still think Alexa L. stills needs to work on how she portrays her dominant leads ( Dante in this case). I think pairing up with another author better at it would produce great results, but there are like 12 books in the series already, so it's kind of too late now.
I really liked how this romance evolved with the two MCs being apart for most of the novel. I realised it only at around 65%. For me that was something new, maybe Heidi Cullinan tried something similar in Love Lessons Book #2.
I also liked that there was some more humor in this story, at least at the beginning , Charlie and Dante doing some flirting. It was really good.
The BDSM elements were kept to a low level. Which was a good idea. The author got to spice up her main couple, without letting the story appeal to only a niche audience. Then again MM romance isn't a documentary genre. So I thought it was more than fine.
Via Austin/ Christopher Robin a new lead got introduced. He seemed like a really nice character, but he also comes with lots of baggage. I hope this isn't the author's way of starting to explore abuse-based angst. Being angst-free is what this series had going for it, from my point of view.
I understand Nana, Dante's grandmother is another character to stay. The wild, free-spirited and foul mouthed granny is always a good thing to have around in an MM romance novel. They allow the author to say anything and still not sound crass. Grannies have no weaknesses and score endless points of fun.
Really looking forward to Christopher Robin's story now.
Alexa Land's writing definitely has improved in this story as opposed to how it read in Way Off ( book #1 ).
There is a smaller number of characters and she managed to make them more 3-dimensional. I could tell the difference between Dante, Charlie and Christopher Robin ( I swear I just might have to read the Winnie The Pooh book, because references from there have been haunting me ever more frequently).
Although, I still think Alexa L. stills needs to work on how she portrays her dominant leads ( Dante in this case). I think pairing up with another author better at it would produce great results, but there are like 12 books in the series already, so it's kind of too late now.
I really liked how this romance evolved with the two MCs being apart for most of the novel. I realised it only at around 65%. For me that was something new, maybe Heidi Cullinan tried something similar in Love Lessons Book #2.
I also liked that there was some more humor in this story, at least at the beginning , Charlie and Dante doing some flirting. It was really good.
The BDSM elements were kept to a low level. Which was a good idea. The author got to spice up her main couple, without letting the story appeal to only a niche audience. Then again MM romance isn't a documentary genre. So I thought it was more than fine.
Via Austin/ Christopher Robin a new lead got introduced. He seemed like a really nice character, but he also comes with lots of baggage. I hope this isn't the author's way of starting to explore abuse-based angst. Being angst-free is what this series had going for it, from my point of view.
I understand Nana, Dante's grandmother is another character to stay. The wild, free-spirited and foul mouthed granny is always a good thing to have around in an MM romance novel. They allow the author to say anything and still not sound crass. Grannies have no weaknesses and score endless points of fun.
Really looking forward to Christopher Robin's story now.
January 7, 2018
This one is good to read for the secondary characters. I never really warmed to Charlie but did feel the heat between him and Dante.
I like them much more as the series goes on. I didn't read this series in order so I was happy when I got to the story of this couple.
Like the first book, it is a fun book but the writing flattens it in places.
However, as a part of the whole series. it is a must read.
I like them much more as the series goes on. I didn't read this series in order so I was happy when I got to the story of this couple.
Like the first book, it is a fun book but the writing flattens it in places.
However, as a part of the whole series. it is a must read.
May 31, 2015
4.5 Heart Review by Dan
Welcome to the second book in the Firsts and Forever Series. As I’ve probably mentioned previously, this isn’t my first time through the first four books, but more a coming home to one of my favorite series, and by far one of my favorite characters in this genre, but we’ll talk about that person later in the review. I want to start out by making one comment that I think is crucial to reading this series. Lighten up. Alexa Land loves to take you on a light hearted m/m whirlwind romance with humor, fairly short timelines, and fairly improbable characters. Who cares? I love them! And I think you will as well.
Jaime and Dmitri have taken over the restaurant that used to be Flannigan’s and turned it into Nolan’s. Dmitri, as you recall if you’re following along, turned his Russian Mafia operations over to Dante Dombruso, a Sicilian Mafia boss, who is also the head of his family “business” in San Francisco.
Jaime’s ex-boyfriend, Charlie Connolly is a mess. He didn’t realize until it was too late how much he was in love with Jaime. Rather than come out to his parents, he hid in the closet, got engaged to a girl, and threw Jaime away. Now Charlie has come out to his parents, and it went as badly as he expected. They threw him out and told him to never return.
When the book opens, Charlie has gone to work at Nolan’s, has moved into Jaime’s old apartment (with no furniture) and is waiting to go on a date with Dante Dombruso, the same Dante Dombruso that took over Dmitri’s operations when Dmitri got out of the business. Dante is much more of a crime lord than Dmitri ever was, and both Jaime and Dmitri think Charlie is making a huge mistake dating him.
When Charlie drags Dante along on a “breaking and entering” at his parent’s house to get his clothes and other stuff, where they try to pick the lock with a “Hello Kitty” lock pic set that Charlie got off E-bay, the tone of the story is set!
The world sees Dante as a huge hard ass mafia boss. Charlie sees him as a really nice guy. Who is right? When Dante handcuffs Charlie to a prostitute called Austin things become a little strange for both of them. Will they get out of the cuffs before Dante gets back from his trip to Italy? Will Austin, whose real name is Christopher Robin, convince Charlie that Dante is as bad for him as Dante instructed?
Somewhere about there in the story we are introduced to my favorite character of this series, and maybe one of my favorite characters in this genre as I mentioned above. Charlie’s phone rings and the woman identifies herself as Stana Dombruso, Dante’s grandmother. Oh my god, I love this woman. A five foot nothing, tiny little 80ish Italian woman. I could picture myself hanging with that woman, and having a great time! Of course she tells both Charlie and Christopher Robin to call her Nana…but not until after she forces them at gunpoint to help her escape from the hospital. The gun is actually Woody’s gun from Toy Story, left in the room by one of her very young family members, but hey, a girl has to do what a girl has to do to escape from the doctors! And it looks real enough to fool Charlie and Christopher Robin!
Will Charlie and Dante work out their differences? What happens to Christopher Robin? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
I very highly recommend this installment in the series. Lots of actions, lots of humor, lots of well written characters. If you’re ready for a light hearted romp, with a series of books that is highly entertaining, follow along, I’ll be reviewing the next book in the series, “In Pieces”, next week!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
Welcome to the second book in the Firsts and Forever Series. As I’ve probably mentioned previously, this isn’t my first time through the first four books, but more a coming home to one of my favorite series, and by far one of my favorite characters in this genre, but we’ll talk about that person later in the review. I want to start out by making one comment that I think is crucial to reading this series. Lighten up. Alexa Land loves to take you on a light hearted m/m whirlwind romance with humor, fairly short timelines, and fairly improbable characters. Who cares? I love them! And I think you will as well.
Jaime and Dmitri have taken over the restaurant that used to be Flannigan’s and turned it into Nolan’s. Dmitri, as you recall if you’re following along, turned his Russian Mafia operations over to Dante Dombruso, a Sicilian Mafia boss, who is also the head of his family “business” in San Francisco.
Jaime’s ex-boyfriend, Charlie Connolly is a mess. He didn’t realize until it was too late how much he was in love with Jaime. Rather than come out to his parents, he hid in the closet, got engaged to a girl, and threw Jaime away. Now Charlie has come out to his parents, and it went as badly as he expected. They threw him out and told him to never return.
When the book opens, Charlie has gone to work at Nolan’s, has moved into Jaime’s old apartment (with no furniture) and is waiting to go on a date with Dante Dombruso, the same Dante Dombruso that took over Dmitri’s operations when Dmitri got out of the business. Dante is much more of a crime lord than Dmitri ever was, and both Jaime and Dmitri think Charlie is making a huge mistake dating him.
When Charlie drags Dante along on a “breaking and entering” at his parent’s house to get his clothes and other stuff, where they try to pick the lock with a “Hello Kitty” lock pic set that Charlie got off E-bay, the tone of the story is set!
The world sees Dante as a huge hard ass mafia boss. Charlie sees him as a really nice guy. Who is right? When Dante handcuffs Charlie to a prostitute called Austin things become a little strange for both of them. Will they get out of the cuffs before Dante gets back from his trip to Italy? Will Austin, whose real name is Christopher Robin, convince Charlie that Dante is as bad for him as Dante instructed?
Somewhere about there in the story we are introduced to my favorite character of this series, and maybe one of my favorite characters in this genre as I mentioned above. Charlie’s phone rings and the woman identifies herself as Stana Dombruso, Dante’s grandmother. Oh my god, I love this woman. A five foot nothing, tiny little 80ish Italian woman. I could picture myself hanging with that woman, and having a great time! Of course she tells both Charlie and Christopher Robin to call her Nana…but not until after she forces them at gunpoint to help her escape from the hospital. The gun is actually Woody’s gun from Toy Story, left in the room by one of her very young family members, but hey, a girl has to do what a girl has to do to escape from the doctors! And it looks real enough to fool Charlie and Christopher Robin!
Will Charlie and Dante work out their differences? What happens to Christopher Robin? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
I very highly recommend this installment in the series. Lots of actions, lots of humor, lots of well written characters. If you’re ready for a light hearted romp, with a series of books that is highly entertaining, follow along, I’ll be reviewing the next book in the series, “In Pieces”, next week!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
January 3, 2016
Now this one I didn't quite get unlike the first book. It was also contrived like the first book but less charming. The BDSM stuff also doesn't make sense to me - Dante freaks me out a little and their weird ass arrangement at the end was like freakazoid overload. It was just all too much for me >_<
We met Charlie and Dante in the first book. Charlie was closeted, cocky and yeah – just on the pathetic side. Dante’s openly gay alright, a Mafia leader and loves BDSM. I’ve read the rest of the series from the first book up to the latest this year and this one remains to be my least favorite.
First, I didn’t get the BDSM side of Dante. I honestly cannot fathom any reasoning. I mean, If that’s what float his boat I guess it’s fine but I just cannot make sense of it or I'm just not really into it.
Overall, this was still an okay read especially since we get to meet the rambunctious Nana and the prostitute Christopher Robin going into the next book!
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
We met Charlie and Dante in the first book. Charlie was closeted, cocky and yeah – just on the pathetic side. Dante’s openly gay alright, a Mafia leader and loves BDSM. I’ve read the rest of the series from the first book up to the latest this year and this one remains to be my least favorite.
First, I didn’t get the BDSM side of Dante. I honestly cannot fathom any reasoning. I mean, If that’s what float his boat I guess it’s fine but I just cannot make sense of it or I'm just not really into it.
Overall, this was still an okay read especially since we get to meet the rambunctious Nana and the prostitute Christopher Robin going into the next book!
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
July 23, 2015
Doesn't matter how many times I re-read this series, I always come to the same conclusion-it's AWESOME!!
I love the characters, the sweet love stories, the man on man action. All of it.
This one, with Charlie and Dante, is definitely one of my faves though. I didn't think there was any possible way to redeem Charlie from being a total douche, but the author does it, and with style. Charlie turns out to be fun, sweet, and adorable, as well as being a perfect match for Dante. Now to go dive into Christopher Robin's story-I can't wait!!
I love the characters, the sweet love stories, the man on man action. All of it.
This one, with Charlie and Dante, is definitely one of my faves though. I didn't think there was any possible way to redeem Charlie from being a total douche, but the author does it, and with style. Charlie turns out to be fun, sweet, and adorable, as well as being a perfect match for Dante. Now to go dive into Christopher Robin's story-I can't wait!!
June 26, 2017
I loved this book it was so good. I'm so glad that Charlie got his own story I loved him and Dante was just so perfect for him and was so sweet. I loved Dante's Nana she was too funny and you did not mess with her. I also fell in love with Christopher I'm so glad he's getting his own story.I just wanted to hug him. I have to say I love the whole mobster that falls in love. So sorry the book ended and so ready for the next book already ;-)
December 28, 2016
Even more of a reality reach than the first one. Something is wrong with me because I enjoyed it anyway. It was a let down because the BDSM never appeared. I loved Austin.
He was so far out of my comfort zone that I couldn’t even see my comfort zone from there. But somehow, it didn’t matter. When I got close to him, my libido took over and I was able to just go with it.
He was so far out of my comfort zone that I couldn’t even see my comfort zone from there. But somehow, it didn’t matter. When I got close to him, my libido took over and I was able to just go with it.
February 8, 2014
This book had a way, way over the top Days of Our Lives-esque melodramatic vibe to it, but between the gooey insta-love that this author seems to favour and the curiously PG-rated BDSM scenes, the whole thing fell kinda flat for me.
August 11, 2017
Loved watching Charlie finally moved on and find true love with Dante. The only thing I didn't care for was that there really wasn't much BDSM. A little bit of spanking does not a BDSM book make.
June 11, 2018
Alexa Land
3.75 stars
My second foray into the M/M genre and I found this book much better written and actually had a even flowing plot line. I enjoyed the humor in it, as well as the caring shown by both MCs. Charlie was the needy one, always afraid to do something different, while Dante was "Mr. Confident" and willing to take Charlie's hand and guide him into new adventures. And Christopher, who Charlie met at Dante's home, turned out to be a really great friend for Charlie. (And that's all he was - a good friend. No sexual action between them.)
Overall, I would say if all of Ms. Lands' books were this good, I would happily read the entire series and expect to find the same great writing in each book.
3.75 stars
My second foray into the M/M genre and I found this book much better written and actually had a even flowing plot line. I enjoyed the humor in it, as well as the caring shown by both MCs. Charlie was the needy one, always afraid to do something different, while Dante was "Mr. Confident" and willing to take Charlie's hand and guide him into new adventures. And Christopher, who Charlie met at Dante's home, turned out to be a really great friend for Charlie. (And that's all he was - a good friend. No sexual action between them.)
Overall, I would say if all of Ms. Lands' books were this good, I would happily read the entire series and expect to find the same great writing in each book.
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