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Conning Colin
"Whatever else is or isn’t true, I just lost my cherry to the hottest man in the world."
Colin O'Neill has been in a rut for some time now. Whether it's his acting career or his newly-discovered identity as a gay man, he can't seem to get any traction in his job or his love life. What he needs is a change. What he needs is a shock to his system. What he needs is Hamilton.
"Your first time... You ready for it?"
Hamilton. Dillinger. Harrison. He goes by different names to fulfill a world of different fantasies, but he's most popular as Hamilton, the escort who acts and dresses like he's worth a million bucks. Few people know the man behind the character, Henry Davis. He's yet another New Yorker living on the financial edge, cobbling together jobs in the sex industry to make a living. Henry wants nothing more than to drop the facade, to live in cargo shorts and an old Mets t-shirt, working as a screenwriter, to be free from playing the part of the high class lover. But first, he's got to write the perfect screenplay...
"I had a breakthrough recently. Being with you has been… life-changing. I realized one day that I didn’t have to be me, you know?"
As "Hamilton" guides Colin into becoming a confident gay man, Henry is inspired by Colin's journey to write his screenplay. Meanwhile, Colin's transformation makes him more confident as an actor, landing him bigger and bigger parts. Then a Hollywood studio wants Colin for a lead role, and magically, the part seems like it was written just for him...
Now Colin and Henry are on a collision course. What will Colin think when he finds out that Hamilton is really ordinary Henry, the struggling artist? Will Colin feel conned when he finds that the perfect Hollywood part contains all the secrets that Colin confided in "Hamilton"?
For a limited time, this book contains the bonus novel, "The Road Home"!
Colin O'Neill has been in a rut for some time now. Whether it's his acting career or his newly-discovered identity as a gay man, he can't seem to get any traction in his job or his love life. What he needs is a change. What he needs is a shock to his system. What he needs is Hamilton.
"Your first time... You ready for it?"
Hamilton. Dillinger. Harrison. He goes by different names to fulfill a world of different fantasies, but he's most popular as Hamilton, the escort who acts and dresses like he's worth a million bucks. Few people know the man behind the character, Henry Davis. He's yet another New Yorker living on the financial edge, cobbling together jobs in the sex industry to make a living. Henry wants nothing more than to drop the facade, to live in cargo shorts and an old Mets t-shirt, working as a screenwriter, to be free from playing the part of the high class lover. But first, he's got to write the perfect screenplay...
"I had a breakthrough recently. Being with you has been… life-changing. I realized one day that I didn’t have to be me, you know?"
As "Hamilton" guides Colin into becoming a confident gay man, Henry is inspired by Colin's journey to write his screenplay. Meanwhile, Colin's transformation makes him more confident as an actor, landing him bigger and bigger parts. Then a Hollywood studio wants Colin for a lead role, and magically, the part seems like it was written just for him...
Now Colin and Henry are on a collision course. What will Colin think when he finds out that Hamilton is really ordinary Henry, the struggling artist? Will Colin feel conned when he finds that the perfect Hollywood part contains all the secrets that Colin confided in "Hamilton"?
For a limited time, this book contains the bonus novel, "The Road Home"!
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2017
59 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Brad Vance
61 books244 followersBrad Vance is the author of over twenty books. He's hard at work on the sequel to Stabitha. Keep up with Brad at BradVanceAuthor.com, or email him at BradVanceAuthor@gmail.com.
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Blurb:
"Whatever else is or isn’t true, I just lost my cherry to the hottest man in the world."
Colin O'Neill has been in a rut for some time now. Whether it's his acting career or his newly-discovered identity as a gay man, he can't seem to get any traction in his job or his love life. What he needs is a change. What he needs is a shock to his system. What he needs is Hamilton.
"Your first time... You ready for it?"
Hamilton. Dillinger. Harrison. He goes by different names to fulfill a world of different fantasies, but he's most popular as Hamilton, the escort who acts and dresses like he's worth a million bucks. Few people know the man behind the character, Henry Davis. He's yet another New Yorker living on the financial edge, cobbling together jobs in the sex industry to make a living. Henry wants nothing more than to drop the facade, to live in cargo shorts and an old Mets t-shirt, working as a screenwriter, to be free from playing the part of the high class lover. But first, he's got to write the perfect screenplay...
"I had a breakthrough recently. Being with you has been… life-changing. I realized one day that I didn’t have to be me, you know?"
As "Hamilton" guides Colin into becoming a confident gay man, Henry is inspired by Colin's journey to write his screenplay. Meanwhile, Colin's transformation makes him more confident as an actor, landing him bigger and bigger parts. Then a Hollywood studio wants Colin for a lead role, and magically, the part seems like it was written just for him...
Now Colin and Henry are on a collision course. What will Colin think when he finds out that Hamilton is really ordinary Henry, the struggling artist? Will Colin feel conned when he finds that the perfect Hollywood part contains all the secrets that Colin confided in "Hamilton"?
For a limited time, this book contains the bonus novel, "The Road Home"!
Blurb:
"Whatever else is or isn’t true, I just lost my cherry to the hottest man in the world."
Colin O'Neill has been in a rut for some time now. Whether it's his acting career or his newly-discovered identity as a gay man, he can't seem to get any traction in his job or his love life. What he needs is a change. What he needs is a shock to his system. What he needs is Hamilton.
"Your first time... You ready for it?"
Hamilton. Dillinger. Harrison. He goes by different names to fulfill a world of different fantasies, but he's most popular as Hamilton, the escort who acts and dresses like he's worth a million bucks. Few people know the man behind the character, Henry Davis. He's yet another New Yorker living on the financial edge, cobbling together jobs in the sex industry to make a living. Henry wants nothing more than to drop the facade, to live in cargo shorts and an old Mets t-shirt, working as a screenwriter, to be free from playing the part of the high class lover. But first, he's got to write the perfect screenplay...
"I had a breakthrough recently. Being with you has been… life-changing. I realized one day that I didn’t have to be me, you know?"
As "Hamilton" guides Colin into becoming a confident gay man, Henry is inspired by Colin's journey to write his screenplay. Meanwhile, Colin's transformation makes him more confident as an actor, landing him bigger and bigger parts. Then a Hollywood studio wants Colin for a lead role, and magically, the part seems like it was written just for him...
Now Colin and Henry are on a collision course. What will Colin think when he finds out that Hamilton is really ordinary Henry, the struggling artist? Will Colin feel conned when he finds that the perfect Hollywood part contains all the secrets that Colin confided in "Hamilton"?
For a limited time, this book contains the bonus novel, "The Road Home"!
August 8, 2023
A wildly underappreciated gay romance, co-written by a gay man. It follows a divorced NYC-based voice actor, Colin O'Neil, who hires high-end escort Hamilton (the alter ego of aspiring screenwriter Henry Davis) for a combination of sex and confidence coaching in being a gay man, since his orientation is a recent revelation.
As Colin and "Hamilton" spend more time together, both Colin and Henry struggle with the serious growing affection between them, complicated by both men being unclear about how much of Hamilton is an act. I was fascinated to see the "behind the scenes" of how Henry patches his financial life together, borrowing the right "Hamilton" clothes from a friend in the fashion industry, getting into character (and the consequences when he falls out of it), and assuming a completely different persona for low-budget porn. All these jobs are in service to a good cause, but Vance and Winters never cast Henry's sex work as a tragic burden due to his economic circumstances.
Despite the complicated and increasingly mutually uncomfortable relationship, Colin does gain confidence, in part by using Hamilton's strategy of stepping into a role. He's able to overcome his stage fright enough to audition for live roles instead of only accepting voice roles. And that's where things get really messy for these guys. I loved how Vance and Winters were willing to make and keep these characters uncomfortable without papering over their past together, but letting the genuine connection between the two men shine through.
[Update: I first read this in 2017, I re-read it in 2023 and enjoyed it just as much - though I did notice some minor issues with ableist language and weight talk this time. ]
A note on the Kindle ebook formatting: It's confusing. The first thing is a long excerpt from the middle of the book, I guess as a teaser? And Conning Colin ends at about 50%, followed by a whole second book, so there are two complete Tables of Contents at the beginning. Make sure you find the real beginning of the first book before you dig in.
As Colin and "Hamilton" spend more time together, both Colin and Henry struggle with the serious growing affection between them, complicated by both men being unclear about how much of Hamilton is an act. I was fascinated to see the "behind the scenes" of how Henry patches his financial life together, borrowing the right "Hamilton" clothes from a friend in the fashion industry, getting into character (and the consequences when he falls out of it), and assuming a completely different persona for low-budget porn. All these jobs are in service to a good cause, but Vance and Winters never cast Henry's sex work as a tragic burden due to his economic circumstances.
Despite the complicated and increasingly mutually uncomfortable relationship, Colin does gain confidence, in part by using Hamilton's strategy of stepping into a role. He's able to overcome his stage fright enough to audition for live roles instead of only accepting voice roles. And that's where things get really messy for these guys. I loved how Vance and Winters were willing to make and keep these characters uncomfortable without papering over their past together, but letting the genuine connection between the two men shine through.
[Update: I first read this in 2017, I re-read it in 2023 and enjoyed it just as much - though I did notice some minor issues with ableist language and weight talk this time. ]
A note on the Kindle ebook formatting: It's confusing. The first thing is a long excerpt from the middle of the book, I guess as a teaser? And Conning Colin ends at about 50%, followed by a whole second book, so there are two complete Tables of Contents at the beginning. Make sure you find the real beginning of the first book before you dig in.
October 8, 2019
I had a hard time rating this book. It was ok, I just didn’t love it. I thought Colin getting mad because Henry used him as inspiration for a character in his screenplay didn’t make much sense. After all Colin used Hamilton to get over his stage fright.
June 16, 2018
4 Stars
Check out my notes and highlights...I really, really liked the book.
Check out my notes and highlights...I really, really liked the book.
June 7, 2017
Totally Engaging!
5 big stars for a complex romp in the world of acting, screen writing, and escorts. Nothing is as it seems, in a devilish plot with two immensely engaging characters in Henry and Colin. Time well spent.
5 big stars for a complex romp in the world of acting, screen writing, and escorts. Nothing is as it seems, in a devilish plot with two immensely engaging characters in Henry and Colin. Time well spent.
June 14, 2017
Henry Davis is a recent college grad with a degree in English and writing, and no desire to work for peanuts in the cube-world. He aspires to be a screen-writer, if only he can find his muse. In the meantime, being an escort paid all his college debts, and he's supporting himself and a family member in need with his earnings. That is a really awesome part of his story, but I don't want to spoil it--so trust me! Henry's pretty much as selfless as they come. And boy, do they come!
Okay, Henry has two personas he adopts for his sex worker roles: Hamilton Dillon is a cultured and stunning man in thousand-dollar suits he rents from a pal who works in the fashion pages of GC magazine. The other, "Dillinger" is a "straight" Queens bro who jacks his junk to make bank in solo porn shoots. It's quite the interesting juxtaposition. Henry tends to lose himself in his roles, and is baffled when his interactions with his newest client, Colin O'Neill, blur the lines between his professional persona as Hamilton, and Henry's own need for intimacy and connection.
Colin is a newly divorced voice actor who doesn't have a lot of disposable income. He gets an allowance from his ex-wife, with whom he had an amiable, mutually-beneficial arrangement. She wanted a husband because it helped her image at work, and he accepted her proposal, mostly because they got along. He's never had a passionate relationship and they barely shared more than a few sexual encounters over their six years of marriage. He took acting classes and bonded with a classmate, however, and it was the beginning of Colin recognizing that he is likely gay--something his wife had long suspected, and wasn't the least bit upset over. Thing is, Colin has crippling stage fright, and he's a timid man by nature. He missed out on telling his pal how he'd felt, but he's not going to waste too much more time in the "figure out Colin" phase of life.
Buoyed by a big payday for a voice-over spot, Colin FINALLY dials the number for Hamilton Dillon's escort services. He's stalked Hamilton's web advertisement for several months and has definite fantasies that the cultured, attractive man he sees online will be the best tutor for Colin's fledgling bedroom skills. He's only tried to date a couple guys since his divorce and both were abject failures. So, Colin's willing to pony up the fee for expert Hamilton's tutelage.
And, naturally, Henry is ready to be his very best Hamilton for Colin. It's a heady experience for both men, even when it isn't physical. Colin is more than a little gone for Hamilton, and the lines are increasingly blurred the more "dates" they arrange. Henry is captivated by Colin's vulnerability and the intimacy they continue to develop. It's really so very sweet, and so very inspiring--Henry has found his muse, in the combination of Hamilton and Colin's developing relationship. Meanwhile, Colin's sessions with Hamilton leave him feeling elated and confident enough to try live auditions for the first time in years.
What comes next is something they hadn't planned for, and it brings moments of heartbreak and rejection, but that's just reality. The fun part of reality, as opposed to the fantasy they had been experiencing, is that Colin and Henry can find a common ground that actually exists and build something true and real. Which, I was happy to discover, they do. I'm used to the grand, twisting plots of Brad Vance, and I wasn't disappointed here. Henry is a complex man, with his debts and his desires and his personas. Colin isn't complicated. He wants a true partner, even if it isn't convenient. They each grow a lot in the time they spend together, and that was awesome to experience as a reader. They also have some yummy hawt sexytimes, and some incredibly tender moments, times that have both men confused about the roles they are supposed to be playing. That said, the HEA exists, and it felt genuine. Highly recommend.
Okay, Henry has two personas he adopts for his sex worker roles: Hamilton Dillon is a cultured and stunning man in thousand-dollar suits he rents from a pal who works in the fashion pages of GC magazine. The other, "Dillinger" is a "straight" Queens bro who jacks his junk to make bank in solo porn shoots. It's quite the interesting juxtaposition. Henry tends to lose himself in his roles, and is baffled when his interactions with his newest client, Colin O'Neill, blur the lines between his professional persona as Hamilton, and Henry's own need for intimacy and connection.
Colin is a newly divorced voice actor who doesn't have a lot of disposable income. He gets an allowance from his ex-wife, with whom he had an amiable, mutually-beneficial arrangement. She wanted a husband because it helped her image at work, and he accepted her proposal, mostly because they got along. He's never had a passionate relationship and they barely shared more than a few sexual encounters over their six years of marriage. He took acting classes and bonded with a classmate, however, and it was the beginning of Colin recognizing that he is likely gay--something his wife had long suspected, and wasn't the least bit upset over. Thing is, Colin has crippling stage fright, and he's a timid man by nature. He missed out on telling his pal how he'd felt, but he's not going to waste too much more time in the "figure out Colin" phase of life.
Buoyed by a big payday for a voice-over spot, Colin FINALLY dials the number for Hamilton Dillon's escort services. He's stalked Hamilton's web advertisement for several months and has definite fantasies that the cultured, attractive man he sees online will be the best tutor for Colin's fledgling bedroom skills. He's only tried to date a couple guys since his divorce and both were abject failures. So, Colin's willing to pony up the fee for expert Hamilton's tutelage.
And, naturally, Henry is ready to be his very best Hamilton for Colin. It's a heady experience for both men, even when it isn't physical. Colin is more than a little gone for Hamilton, and the lines are increasingly blurred the more "dates" they arrange. Henry is captivated by Colin's vulnerability and the intimacy they continue to develop. It's really so very sweet, and so very inspiring--Henry has found his muse, in the combination of Hamilton and Colin's developing relationship. Meanwhile, Colin's sessions with Hamilton leave him feeling elated and confident enough to try live auditions for the first time in years.
What comes next is something they hadn't planned for, and it brings moments of heartbreak and rejection, but that's just reality. The fun part of reality, as opposed to the fantasy they had been experiencing, is that Colin and Henry can find a common ground that actually exists and build something true and real. Which, I was happy to discover, they do. I'm used to the grand, twisting plots of Brad Vance, and I wasn't disappointed here. Henry is a complex man, with his debts and his desires and his personas. Colin isn't complicated. He wants a true partner, even if it isn't convenient. They each grow a lot in the time they spend together, and that was awesome to experience as a reader. They also have some yummy hawt sexytimes, and some incredibly tender moments, times that have both men confused about the roles they are supposed to be playing. That said, the HEA exists, and it felt genuine. Highly recommend.
June 28, 2017
4.5 wonderful stars!!
Conning Colin , is one of those books readers are going to either love or hate. The story is out of the box and can easily confuse a reader especially if the reader has a habit of skimming a story. Most people may have gravitated to this book because the blurb was intriguing or because they liked the authors. I’m part of the latter. I love Brad Vance’s stories ( especially his Viking series
), and when I saw he had a new release pending, I scooped it up blindly. I knew nothing of the plot nor was I familiar with the co-author. The only thing that mattered to me was that Vance wrote it, therefore, I’m going to read it.I loved this story. There were glimmers of Vance’s past characters in both MC’s and I fell in love with the modern twist to his “days of yore” characters. Ok...I’m so excited, I’m getting way ahead of myself so let me back up a bit. Conning Colin tells the story of Colin O’Neill, a talented actor who does voice over work because he suffers from stage fright. Colin has also just recently divorced his wife and best friend after realizing that he is actually gay. Colin is in essentially in limbo. He has a wonderful friendship with his ex-wife but his career is not a consistent one and he’s also way behind on exploring his sexuality. Colin finally catches a lucky break and lands a job with steady income. Now that he’s in a better financial position Colin decides to take a leap of faith and explore his sexuality… with an escort who’s profile has intrigued him for months.
Hamilton, is NOT your run of the mill escort. Hamilton tailors his personality to fulfill the desires of his clients. He’s handsome, refined and possesses a magnetic personality that draws you to him the minute he enters any room. Harrison may dress to the nines and morph effortlessly into the kind of man his clients dream about but his reality is a stark difference to the upscale image he projects. Harrison lives in a cramped apartment, hustling several gigs, trying to make ends meet. He earns good money, however, the majority of his earnings is spent on someone very important to him. Hamilton is currently putting himself through school and has dreams to one day become a screen writer. Drowning in debt, Colin ( and his steady 2k payment), couldn’t have landed in Hamilton’s lap at a better time.
The first meeting between Colin and Hamilton is a sweet one. I cringed a couple times for Colin while he revealed his past dates and sexual experiences to Hamilton. Hamilton for his part put Colin at ease immediately and as these two got to know each other over the coming weeks I fell hard for both of them. Both men essentially assumed masks for various reasons but despite those masks, their true selves kept emerging and forged a true romantic connection that neither saw coming. This story takes a lot of twists and turns but they all make sense. Some parts are predictable but it's so well written and organic to the characters that it didn’t matter.
Elsa Winters is a 'new to me’ author and I must say, her and Brad’s writing style compliment and mesh rather well. I am looking forward to checking out her stories! If you’re a fan of hers but never read Vance, I highly recommend you check his books out as well, especially if you enjoyed this story (or want to learn more about Colum ;) )
This was a fantastic great read and I look forward to future collaborations by these two.
Happy Reading!
*ARC provided for review at my discretion*
June 9, 2017
I liked this story but it wasn't what I was expecting. The title says "A Gay Romantic Comedy" but it's more of a drama/sad comedy of errors. Okay, but not the brilliant storytelling as I'm accustomed to Brad Vance offering. I liked the bonus story The Road Home a lot more than the featured title.
July 8, 2018
I liked this! Far different than the usual rent-boy trope and I enjoyed the touch of Hollywood. I could get all existential about it as a representation of the masks we all tend to wear, trying to portray what we think is expected of us. There were existential crises for the very well-rounded characters and there was also some hot sex, men falling in love and happily ever after. Really good, light angst-free reading.
There’s a second bonus novel in this edition but I’ll save it for later
There’s a second bonus novel in this edition but I’ll save it for later
June 6, 2017
3.5 Stars
I was really looking forward to reading this story. The blurb sounded intriguing, but once I picked up the book and started reading, well, the story didn't quite work for me. Henry, one of the main characters, has three different personas, his true self Henry, a high-class escort Harrison and later in the story we are introduced to Dillinger, a STR8 Dudes Porn Star. That's just Henry's personas, then we meet Colin, a shy and awkward recently divorced (from a woman) man who has just recently come to the realization that he's gay. We meet Colin when he hires Harrison, the escort, to take his virginity and help give his self-confidence a much needed boost and prepare him to go out into the world and maybe find a real boyfriend. Later in the story when Colin, a voice over actor who suffers from severe stage fright, gets an acting audition, he steps into the persona of Neil Callum. Neil is confident and an alpha male who is in charge. He gets Colin past his stage fright. Confused yet? I was.
I think if the personas of these two men had been treated as just that, a persona, rather than a main character in the story, it would have been less confusing and worked better. What I saw of Henry and Colin I really loved and they seemed to click when they were just themselves, unfortunately, I felt I wasn't given enough page time with Henry and Colin to really get to know them as a couple. Even once the jig is up and we know the true characters, the other personas make appearances.
Okay, so here is what I liked. I actually loved the true Henry and Colin. While, Henry started escorting by accident, sort of, his subsequent reasons for later deciding to continue to portray himself in that light came from a good place. His reason for needing the money is a noble one, that I admired. I liked Colin's awkwardness, it made him endearing. Without the masks in place, these men had chemistry. Even when Harrison was present, he sometimes let Henry slip in and I loved those moments between them.
While this story wasn't for me that isn't to say others won't enjoy it.
*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*
I was really looking forward to reading this story. The blurb sounded intriguing, but once I picked up the book and started reading, well, the story didn't quite work for me. Henry, one of the main characters, has three different personas, his true self Henry, a high-class escort Harrison and later in the story we are introduced to Dillinger, a STR8 Dudes Porn Star. That's just Henry's personas, then we meet Colin, a shy and awkward recently divorced (from a woman) man who has just recently come to the realization that he's gay. We meet Colin when he hires Harrison, the escort, to take his virginity and help give his self-confidence a much needed boost and prepare him to go out into the world and maybe find a real boyfriend. Later in the story when Colin, a voice over actor who suffers from severe stage fright, gets an acting audition, he steps into the persona of Neil Callum. Neil is confident and an alpha male who is in charge. He gets Colin past his stage fright. Confused yet? I was.
I think if the personas of these two men had been treated as just that, a persona, rather than a main character in the story, it would have been less confusing and worked better. What I saw of Henry and Colin I really loved and they seemed to click when they were just themselves, unfortunately, I felt I wasn't given enough page time with Henry and Colin to really get to know them as a couple. Even once the jig is up and we know the true characters, the other personas make appearances.
Okay, so here is what I liked. I actually loved the true Henry and Colin. While, Henry started escorting by accident, sort of, his subsequent reasons for later deciding to continue to portray himself in that light came from a good place. His reason for needing the money is a noble one, that I admired. I liked Colin's awkwardness, it made him endearing. Without the masks in place, these men had chemistry. Even when Harrison was present, he sometimes let Henry slip in and I loved those moments between them.
While this story wasn't for me that isn't to say others won't enjoy it.
*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*
June 8, 2017
I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Conning Colin is a contemporary m/m romance about two men learning to accept the masks they wear in order to find success alongside their happy-ever-afters.
Colin is trying to make it in show business. With a horrible case of stage fright that keeps him on the voice-over actor path and a failed heterosexual marriage behind him, Colin decides that it’s time to finally accept that’s he’s gay and meet a nice man. So, Colin hires Hamilton, a high-end escort, who can properly introduce Colin to his new lifestyle.
Hamilton, however, isn’t the amazing teacher Colin thinks he is. Hamilton is actually failed screenwriter Henry. In order to afford his niece’s private school education, Henry picks up extra money as both Hamilton, the $2,000 a night escort, and as Dillinger, the star of some of the most popular “straight” porn for closeted gay men.
Colin comes along with his voice-over money, and Hamilton thinks Colin might be his ticket to financial stability, at least for a while. But then Hamilton gets to know Colin, starts developing feelings for Colin, and Hamilton starts wishing he could be Henry when he’s around Colin instead of just the paid escort. But Henry knows that Colin might leave if he knew the truth about Hamilton, and Henry can’t afford to lose Colin’s weekly escort payments. Neither man knows how the other feels, but that’s all about to come crashing down.
Henry sells his first movie script and Colin ends up being cast in the lead, not only meeting the man behind Hamilton but also realizing the man he loved used him for his script. Through feelings of scorn and betrayal, both men must learn to see the other for who they really are if their love has a chance of lasting.
Conning Colin was actually a really sweet story of two men finding out they can find happiness by just stripping away their masks and barriers and being their vulnerable selves. Winters and Vance wrote compelling characters with depth. While I was cheering for both Colin and Henry to just admit their feelings for the last half of the book, both characters had enough personality that I could understand why both were hesitant to come clean with the other. And while both Colin and Henry just happened to hit their lucky breaks in Hollywood at the same time, that seemed to be the least believable part of the whole story. Their relationship was realistic, their issues were all too common, and their desperation to make something of their lives is something I think most people can understand.
This is my first experience with both Winters and Vance. On this first reading, their writing was easy to follow, logical, and accessible to a wide audience. Their explicit scenes were detailed, but not overdone or done just for shock value. The authors knew just how much to include for a fulfilling plot without including too many extraneous details or plot devices. Very sweet read; recommended for anyone who can keep multiple character perspectives straight and is looking for a cute m/m HEA.
[Original review posted at http://rockeyreads.tumblr.com/post/16...]
Conning Colin is a contemporary m/m romance about two men learning to accept the masks they wear in order to find success alongside their happy-ever-afters.
Colin is trying to make it in show business. With a horrible case of stage fright that keeps him on the voice-over actor path and a failed heterosexual marriage behind him, Colin decides that it’s time to finally accept that’s he’s gay and meet a nice man. So, Colin hires Hamilton, a high-end escort, who can properly introduce Colin to his new lifestyle.
Hamilton, however, isn’t the amazing teacher Colin thinks he is. Hamilton is actually failed screenwriter Henry. In order to afford his niece’s private school education, Henry picks up extra money as both Hamilton, the $2,000 a night escort, and as Dillinger, the star of some of the most popular “straight” porn for closeted gay men.
Colin comes along with his voice-over money, and Hamilton thinks Colin might be his ticket to financial stability, at least for a while. But then Hamilton gets to know Colin, starts developing feelings for Colin, and Hamilton starts wishing he could be Henry when he’s around Colin instead of just the paid escort. But Henry knows that Colin might leave if he knew the truth about Hamilton, and Henry can’t afford to lose Colin’s weekly escort payments. Neither man knows how the other feels, but that’s all about to come crashing down.
Henry sells his first movie script and Colin ends up being cast in the lead, not only meeting the man behind Hamilton but also realizing the man he loved used him for his script. Through feelings of scorn and betrayal, both men must learn to see the other for who they really are if their love has a chance of lasting.
Conning Colin was actually a really sweet story of two men finding out they can find happiness by just stripping away their masks and barriers and being their vulnerable selves. Winters and Vance wrote compelling characters with depth. While I was cheering for both Colin and Henry to just admit their feelings for the last half of the book, both characters had enough personality that I could understand why both were hesitant to come clean with the other. And while both Colin and Henry just happened to hit their lucky breaks in Hollywood at the same time, that seemed to be the least believable part of the whole story. Their relationship was realistic, their issues were all too common, and their desperation to make something of their lives is something I think most people can understand.
This is my first experience with both Winters and Vance. On this first reading, their writing was easy to follow, logical, and accessible to a wide audience. Their explicit scenes were detailed, but not overdone or done just for shock value. The authors knew just how much to include for a fulfilling plot without including too many extraneous details or plot devices. Very sweet read; recommended for anyone who can keep multiple character perspectives straight and is looking for a cute m/m HEA.
[Original review posted at http://rockeyreads.tumblr.com/post/16...]
September 21, 2017
After reading Apollo’s Curse, I had high expectations for this story and it just did not meet my expectations. The characters were interesting. The story clearly had direction, points A, B, C, etc. Unfortunately, the journey to those points fell apart then just ended.
When I purchased the book through Amazon, I understood that there was an additional story attached, but with the listing of the ebook at 502 pages and the kindle version at 454 pages I settled in for a long read. The kindle book started with the summary that described the plot, not unusual, I usually just skip through those but suddenly there was a break and a scene and I couldn’t figure out if I was already on the first chapter (the breaks along the bottom didn’t seem to correspond to chapters which was odd). Apparently not, as I paged ahead for quite a while and finally found the first chapter. That was not a good first impression and the last impression of being at 49% and suddenly hitting the epilogue did not leave a good lasting impression either. This digital book definitely needed some checking because the setup with the summary and scene excerpt along with the additional full-length book at the end was very disconcerting to this reader. I was expecting a lot more story here.
The character of Colin was fascinating to me. Colin kept busy making a name for himself as a voiceover actor after giving up on auditioning for physical acting roles due to extreme stage fright though his friends still encouraged him to conquer his fears. Colin takes the money from a recent successful job and hires “Hamilton” a high price escort to explore his lifestyle and as a bonus finds a way to conquer his fears.
“Hamilton” (really?) is really Henry, a screenwriter who makes his money doing various other occupations including high price escort and “Dillinger” a GFP porn gig. I kept thinking that Henry was a method actor with all his “personas” which were somehow all a part of him and that idea just failed for me. I guess maybe I was supposed to connect that Colin conquers his fears by not being himself but Henry takes on characters that are all a part of him? It seemed like the main concept of the story was in conflict with itself and just did not work for me. It turned me off Henry, who I think could have been a very interesting character given his background and reasons for doing these jobs. If only they had left the “method acting” out of his money-making occupations, I might have liked this story a little more but it became too distracting for me.
When I purchased the book through Amazon, I understood that there was an additional story attached, but with the listing of the ebook at 502 pages and the kindle version at 454 pages I settled in for a long read. The kindle book started with the summary that described the plot, not unusual, I usually just skip through those but suddenly there was a break and a scene and I couldn’t figure out if I was already on the first chapter (the breaks along the bottom didn’t seem to correspond to chapters which was odd). Apparently not, as I paged ahead for quite a while and finally found the first chapter. That was not a good first impression and the last impression of being at 49% and suddenly hitting the epilogue did not leave a good lasting impression either. This digital book definitely needed some checking because the setup with the summary and scene excerpt along with the additional full-length book at the end was very disconcerting to this reader. I was expecting a lot more story here.
The character of Colin was fascinating to me. Colin kept busy making a name for himself as a voiceover actor after giving up on auditioning for physical acting roles due to extreme stage fright though his friends still encouraged him to conquer his fears. Colin takes the money from a recent successful job and hires “Hamilton” a high price escort to explore his lifestyle and as a bonus finds a way to conquer his fears.
“Hamilton” (really?) is really Henry, a screenwriter who makes his money doing various other occupations including high price escort and “Dillinger” a GFP porn gig. I kept thinking that Henry was a method actor with all his “personas” which were somehow all a part of him and that idea just failed for me. I guess maybe I was supposed to connect that Colin conquers his fears by not being himself but Henry takes on characters that are all a part of him? It seemed like the main concept of the story was in conflict with itself and just did not work for me. It turned me off Henry, who I think could have been a very interesting character given his background and reasons for doing these jobs. If only they had left the “method acting” out of his money-making occupations, I might have liked this story a little more but it became too distracting for me.
June 5, 2017
Conning Colin reminded me of those wonderful, often improbable, storylines from 1940's romantic comedies where the characters are more than they seem—or rather more than they present to the world—and the magic comes when the facades peel away to reveal their true strengths and weaknesses.
For Colin, fear drives him to his comfort zone, buttressed by what most would measure as success. Unfortunately, there's more to Colin's struggles than finding and mastering a skill set... much more. What Colin needs is to come to terms, then validate, who he is. Enter Hamilton, the escort with more than one identity, and a powerful motivator to keep him on the knife edge of his various personas. For both men, the world of entertainment offers not just opportunities, but manages to define and channel who and what they are.
And though the show must always go on, attraction tends to blur the lines when a scripted encounter takes on elements of improvisation.
How both men resolve and channel their growing feelings amidst the artifice of their self-imposed script occurs when fate and dumb luck throw monkey wrenches into their assumed career trajectories. The result is a fun, satisfying story arc, that acknowledges all the masques we wear, for whatever reason we wear them, and celebrates the complexities of what makes up a character in that one-act play we call life.
I very much enjoyed Conning Colin, though I will admit there were points when the various roles/personas became confusing for brief periods. That may have been due to this story having co-authors, although the writing styles were quite complementary if not entirely seamless. There were some laugh-out-loud lines where I had to set the Kindle down and walk away to compose myself. At least one of the personas seemed off-kilter, but not all roles fit like a glove, nor do all roles appeal to every member of the audience. The epilogue was a hair disjointed, inserted like program notes, rather than proceeding as a unified scene in the play's final act. And, this grammar maven must point out that another good line copy edit is in order as there were places where I had to pause to figure out what was missing.
On the whole Conning Colin is a fast-paced, fun and funny story with an ending that will certainly satisfy. This is a solid 4 star read.
For Colin, fear drives him to his comfort zone, buttressed by what most would measure as success. Unfortunately, there's more to Colin's struggles than finding and mastering a skill set... much more. What Colin needs is to come to terms, then validate, who he is. Enter Hamilton, the escort with more than one identity, and a powerful motivator to keep him on the knife edge of his various personas. For both men, the world of entertainment offers not just opportunities, but manages to define and channel who and what they are.
And though the show must always go on, attraction tends to blur the lines when a scripted encounter takes on elements of improvisation.
How both men resolve and channel their growing feelings amidst the artifice of their self-imposed script occurs when fate and dumb luck throw monkey wrenches into their assumed career trajectories. The result is a fun, satisfying story arc, that acknowledges all the masques we wear, for whatever reason we wear them, and celebrates the complexities of what makes up a character in that one-act play we call life.
I very much enjoyed Conning Colin, though I will admit there were points when the various roles/personas became confusing for brief periods. That may have been due to this story having co-authors, although the writing styles were quite complementary if not entirely seamless. There were some laugh-out-loud lines where I had to set the Kindle down and walk away to compose myself. At least one of the personas seemed off-kilter, but not all roles fit like a glove, nor do all roles appeal to every member of the audience. The epilogue was a hair disjointed, inserted like program notes, rather than proceeding as a unified scene in the play's final act. And, this grammar maven must point out that another good line copy edit is in order as there were places where I had to pause to figure out what was missing.
On the whole Conning Colin is a fast-paced, fun and funny story with an ending that will certainly satisfy. This is a solid 4 star read.
June 10, 2017
Loved it.
I've read other books with a similar premise, minus the escort thing, so I was expecting the build-up of feelings, then the reveal of betrayal, and a certain type of resolution. Those expectations, however, were far too simplistic for the frustrations, failings, and even triumphs of these men. I was engrossed in their individual stories as well as the relationship between them. I read quickly and was disappointed that it was over when I finished the epilogue.
And thank the Keeper of Cute Puppies for an epilogue. I do wish there were another chapter between the end and the epilogue because I hoped for more in general as well as more of a sense of what their future would be and became. Other than that, I felt that the pacing was good, the writing smooth, the characters likable and endearing, and the resolution both sweet and hot.
Overall, I very much enjoyed myself while reading this book. I eagerly reviewed this ARC from Hidden Gems with honesty and willingness.
I've read other books with a similar premise, minus the escort thing, so I was expecting the build-up of feelings, then the reveal of betrayal, and a certain type of resolution. Those expectations, however, were far too simplistic for the frustrations, failings, and even triumphs of these men. I was engrossed in their individual stories as well as the relationship between them. I read quickly and was disappointed that it was over when I finished the epilogue.
And thank the Keeper of Cute Puppies for an epilogue. I do wish there were another chapter between the end and the epilogue because I hoped for more in general as well as more of a sense of what their future would be and became. Other than that, I felt that the pacing was good, the writing smooth, the characters likable and endearing, and the resolution both sweet and hot.
Overall, I very much enjoyed myself while reading this book. I eagerly reviewed this ARC from Hidden Gems with honesty and willingness.
June 10, 2017
This was a brilliant concept for a book. In real life, no one really is themselves at the beginning of a relationship. There is always the initial period of faking it, where you don't have any faults, and try to be the best, most interesting version of you that you can be. This story took that to its extreme with both Colin and Henry assuming a persona (Henry even assuming a different name) all to avoid getting emotionally involved.
Naturally, it doesn't work because each mixes too much of himself into the image he's trying to project. But when Henry uses his knowledge of Colin to write his first screenplay, Colin feels used and betrayed. The angst between these characters was believable and done perfectly - balanced excellently with humor and insight.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Naturally, it doesn't work because each mixes too much of himself into the image he's trying to project. But when Henry uses his knowledge of Colin to write his first screenplay, Colin feels used and betrayed. The angst between these characters was believable and done perfectly - balanced excellently with humor and insight.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
June 2, 2017
Teaser
In the very clever Conning Colin, Brad Vance and Elsa Winters study identity - when we own it, and when it owns us
Vance and Winters write profound observations again and again.
Oh my yes, this is a hot and fascinating romance. Yes, the complex characters grabbed me. Yes, the plot twisted my tummy at times. And yes, the book has many amusing moments.
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REVIEW: 'Conning Colin' by Brad Vance and Elsa Winters | kimmerseroticbb
Title: Conning Colin Author: Brad Vance and Elsa Winters Published: June 1, 2017 Publisher: Self-Published/Zirconia Publishing, Inc. Genre: Contemporary Romance...
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June 12, 2017
Colin has always been shy and his dream of being an actor has always been held back by stage fright. Henry must wear several hats in order to provide for The Bill. Both are attracted to each other, but meet under unusual circumstances. What happens when Henry decides its time to let Colin make a life? Will Colin be able to accept and forgive Henry for his lies?
Love these books! I've read all the books by Elsa and Brad and this one was just as great. Loved how both characters had to wear a mask to play their part. When it came down to it, I was proud of both for taking the chances they were taking! Cannot wait to see what comes next!
Love these books! I've read all the books by Elsa and Brad and this one was just as great. Loved how both characters had to wear a mask to play their part. When it came down to it, I was proud of both for taking the chances they were taking! Cannot wait to see what comes next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2020
I really liked this book. Even though the trope of 'hooker-turned-boyfriend' isn't exactly original, I still very much enjoyed the growth of the characters. The sex scenes were super steamy and very well written. I enjoyed the information about the whole movie-writing process and can tell that the authors put real thought and effort into not only creating their own plotline, but also the plot of the movie that Henry, the hooker with a heart of gold, wrote after meeting the wonderfully shy Colin. This book is definitely on my REREAD list and I highly reccomend it to fans og the M/M-ROM genre.
June 7, 2017
really enjoyed this story. It was fun and light hearted, great storyline, brilliantly developed characters (several of them all serving a different purpose) and ultimately a lovely romance. This is definitely one of those books you read with a smile on your face.
Minor formatting points: The blurb and sneak peek at the beginning of the story should be labelled as such. I would usually avoid any type of spoilers but it's difficult to do that if you are reading them without real using. Also note, Conning Colin taken up half of the book. There is a second story in here.
Minor formatting points: The blurb and sneak peek at the beginning of the story should be labelled as such. I would usually avoid any type of spoilers but it's difficult to do that if you are reading them without real using. Also note, Conning Colin taken up half of the book. There is a second story in here.
June 10, 2017
Got from Hidden Gems Romance ARC Club, for an honest review.
I have loved a couple of Elsa Winters books. So I was excited to read another. I am sorry to say this was a big miss for me. I kept trying to read it but something was missing for me. The writing it self didn’t put up walls, it was the story itself. I even put the book down and couple days later tried again. By the cover and the description of the story, it had pulled me into so badly wanting to like it. I will still keep looking to read from the authors.
Thank you for letting me read your story.
I have loved a couple of Elsa Winters books. So I was excited to read another. I am sorry to say this was a big miss for me. I kept trying to read it but something was missing for me. The writing it self didn’t put up walls, it was the story itself. I even put the book down and couple days later tried again. By the cover and the description of the story, it had pulled me into so badly wanting to like it. I will still keep looking to read from the authors.
Thank you for letting me read your story.
June 11, 2017
This is my first book of this authors I have read and I found the story to be ok and at times difficult to follow. I do commend the author for trying to show Colin as a man who is in the process of finding out who he is while everyone's eyes are focused on him but the character of Henry I found confusing especially how he is introduced and why his alter egos are needed. I think the character could have been interested in Colin without coming across as manipulative and in some cases hard to like. I did finish the story and I am glad how it ended overall.
June 11, 2017
What is it about hiring an escort that gets your heart pumping and your pulse race? Conning Colin not only gives you a unique look at what causes someone to hire an escort, but what the escort is feeling or doing as well. It's a very interesting storyline with well developed characters and plenty of twists and turns along the journey to the HEA. It's a really good. 😊
(I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and found it to be a very good read.)
(I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and found it to be a very good read.)
June 11, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. Colin is an actor with some serious self esteem issues, who looks to an escort to help him explore his sexuality. Henry works as an escort, and has developed different personas to please the men who hire him. The lines between the two men start to fade, and neither is sure what is real and what is pretend. I liked the characters, and their playful banter.
August 17, 2017
4.5 stars. I loved how the MC's brought out the best parts of each other. While deception is decidedly my LEAST favorite method of tension, this didn't really fit that category since Colin knew that Hamilton wasn't necessarily the real man behind the escort (if that makes sense). I really connected to these characters and their emotions. My only complaint is that I wanted more of them together after the resolution. This will most likely be a re-read for me!
June 3, 2017
Conning
Full disclosure I love Brad Vance and really enjoy his work with Elsa Winters.
This story is so character driven. I was engaged in their lives whichever persona they were playing.
I could not put it down and I didn't care. It just flowed along and I was along for the ride .
The story was interesting and touching, it felt new and real.
Full disclosure I love Brad Vance and really enjoy his work with Elsa Winters.
This story is so character driven. I was engaged in their lives whichever persona they were playing.
I could not put it down and I didn't care. It just flowed along and I was along for the ride .
The story was interesting and touching, it felt new and real.
June 10, 2017
First I want to say I loved Henry and all his alter egos! That's being said I felt this would have been better split into two books with before and after Colin learns the truth. I wanted more details of their time together and more insight to how they felt separated and the feelings involved. I love these character and would love to read about them some more
June 11, 2017
3.5 stars
For the most part I liked it and it was easily 4 stars except for one part that bothered me. I maybe shouldn't let it bother me because the character was an escort. But still reading a sexual scene, even if it wasn't actual sex, with someone that wasn't the other hero, after they began "seeing" each other bugged me.
***I decided to review an ARC of this book.
For the most part I liked it and it was easily 4 stars except for one part that bothered me. I maybe shouldn't let it bother me because the character was an escort. But still reading a sexual scene, even if it wasn't actual sex, with someone that wasn't the other hero, after they began "seeing" each other bugged me.
***I decided to review an ARC of this book.
June 19, 2017
The story has a strong beginning. Engaging, hot and makes you read more. Colin is an actor with stage freight. Hamilton is an escort who is a screen writer by day. Colin just recently divorced, and finally accepting he is gay hires Hamilton to guide him through his new sexual awakening. The characters are complex and with many facets, and it's a fun romance with a happy ending. I enjoyed it.
June 28, 2017
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+
Normally I really don't like when a title story is only 50% of book. This time I won't complain, both stories were well written and amazing. Both stories were just a bit on this side of believable. A bit of reality with a lot of wishful areas that make the stories enjoyable.
Normally I really don't like when a title story is only 50% of book. This time I won't complain, both stories were well written and amazing. Both stories were just a bit on this side of believable. A bit of reality with a lot of wishful areas that make the stories enjoyable.
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