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Dangerous Affairs #1
The Long Con
British Agent Nathaniel Bradley is tasked with bringing home a stolen heirloom. After tracking the Faberge egg all the way to a group of criminals in New York, Bradley infiltrates a ring of con artists and gets sucked into the role of a high priced prostitute.
While hoping for a chance to take back what is rightfully his, Bradley's sole mission becomes to seduce Tony Terranova, Jr, the heir to a notorious mafia dynasty. Though Tony is strikingly handsome, the usually dominant Bradley is hesitant to submit to the sexual whims of a dangerous Mafioso.
What Bradley doesn't expect is for Tony to fall to his knees so eagerly for him, leaving him blindsided by how intensely their dark tastes complement each other. Now Bradley is caught up in a deadly game of lies and desire, where what he truly wants may not be what duty requires.
Also include bonus book English Chaps:
A year ago, Tony Terranova followed his heart and left behind everything he knew in the States for a chance to build a life with Nathaniel Bradley. When an old flame of Bradley’s pops back into the picture, Tony has to face Bradley’s past. They have loved and lived a year together but is their relationship strong enough to weather the darkest of nights?
While hoping for a chance to take back what is rightfully his, Bradley's sole mission becomes to seduce Tony Terranova, Jr, the heir to a notorious mafia dynasty. Though Tony is strikingly handsome, the usually dominant Bradley is hesitant to submit to the sexual whims of a dangerous Mafioso.
What Bradley doesn't expect is for Tony to fall to his knees so eagerly for him, leaving him blindsided by how intensely their dark tastes complement each other. Now Bradley is caught up in a deadly game of lies and desire, where what he truly wants may not be what duty requires.
Also include bonus book English Chaps:
A year ago, Tony Terranova followed his heart and left behind everything he knew in the States for a chance to build a life with Nathaniel Bradley. When an old flame of Bradley’s pops back into the picture, Tony has to face Bradley’s past. They have loved and lived a year together but is their relationship strong enough to weather the darkest of nights?
247 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2012
About the author
Lori Toland
20 books105 followersWriting romance since the tender age of 13, Lori Toland somehow finds time to play video games and watch movies while taking care of her cats and husband. I'm also a secret cat.
Visit Lori's web site at http://www.loritoland.com or e-mail her at lori@loritoland.com.
Visit Lori's web site at http://www.loritoland.com or e-mail her at lori@loritoland.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
April 23, 2013
Enjoyable if you are looking for an easy read some D/s kink throw in...
Nathaniel Brady is an agent for the Serious Organised Crime Agency and when his Grandmothers priceless Faberge egg is stolen he vows to find the thieves. His search takes him to New York where he is recruited by a con team to play the lure in an elaborate sting to sell a fake Faberge egg, which is in fact the real egg. The mark is the very dangerous Anthony Terranova the son of a mafia boss… only Bradley is not prepared for how gorgeous the man is and just how much his body is craving the sub he see’s hidden behind those blue eyes, dark with lust.
There is a plot which revolves around Bradley infiltrating the gang and getting his hands on the stolen egg he is desperate to return his Grandmother but this is more about the relationship between the two MC’s and Bradleys conflicting emotions, Tony was a murder, a killer and the son of a mafia boss… yet his gut was telling him different! There is a lot of very hot, panty melting D/s play and with Bradley being a Dom his body is crying out to do all kinds of naughty’s with Tony, who as a sub can’t get enough! These two are insatiable, they are like magnets, drawn to each other both physically and emotionally and Bradley is way over his head and his heart is leading him down a path that can only end in his world falling apart… such is the connection between these two!
For me this was an easy read and I enjoyed it but no great shakes, the plot is predictable and it was slightly OTT on the insta love, with no real angst or action. However there is plenty of sex… which was HOT and there is definitely great chemistry between Bradley and Tony, the BDSM element is very light and is more of a D/s relationship and there is a twist to the story but it wasn’t one that surprised me.
Nathaniel Brady is an agent for the Serious Organised Crime Agency and when his Grandmothers priceless Faberge egg is stolen he vows to find the thieves. His search takes him to New York where he is recruited by a con team to play the lure in an elaborate sting to sell a fake Faberge egg, which is in fact the real egg. The mark is the very dangerous Anthony Terranova the son of a mafia boss… only Bradley is not prepared for how gorgeous the man is and just how much his body is craving the sub he see’s hidden behind those blue eyes, dark with lust.
There is a plot which revolves around Bradley infiltrating the gang and getting his hands on the stolen egg he is desperate to return his Grandmother but this is more about the relationship between the two MC’s and Bradleys conflicting emotions, Tony was a murder, a killer and the son of a mafia boss… yet his gut was telling him different! There is a lot of very hot, panty melting D/s play and with Bradley being a Dom his body is crying out to do all kinds of naughty’s with Tony, who as a sub can’t get enough! These two are insatiable, they are like magnets, drawn to each other both physically and emotionally and Bradley is way over his head and his heart is leading him down a path that can only end in his world falling apart… such is the connection between these two!
For me this was an easy read and I enjoyed it but no great shakes, the plot is predictable and it was slightly OTT on the insta love, with no real angst or action. However there is plenty of sex… which was HOT and there is definitely great chemistry between Bradley and Tony, the BDSM element is very light and is more of a D/s relationship and there is a twist to the story but it wasn’t one that surprised me.
April 15, 2013
**2.5 stars**
I went on an interesting journey with this book. I started out hating it. The writing is on the simple side and is just flat out bad at times so when the book began I immediately wanted to put it down. I thought to myself, "okay, just stick with it, I'm sure things will improve." When Bradley and Tony first meet there was a very strange leap out of nowhere into BDSM that just didn't work for me... but I decided to forage ahead. And honestly, I'm glad that I did.
The main issue with this book is the make-no-sense plot. It was muddled and unnecessarily confusing. Everyone is pretending to be someone that they aren't, and while a killer author can pull that off, Lori Toland isn't quite there. It was so confusing that I just decided to ignore the plot altogether. Also, another annoying aspect for me was the over the top insta-love. It just veered straight into sappy too fast and too hard for my liking (odd for a BDSM book but still). In the end, I just read this book for the chemistry between the main characters. And that leads me to the highlight of the book: The chemistry. Bradley and Tony were very very hot together and though I am SICK of BDSM books, in this book, I'll admit that it worked. It added to the story rather than detracted from it. The sex was delicious and kinky. I'd like to say that this book benefited from the Abigail Roux effect: The plot is nonsensical at times but the chemistry between the two men pull it off.
Why still such a low rating? Well, I can't get over how difficult it was for me to wade through the plot. Frustratingly, the author could have easily simplified it and eliminated so many issues. Also, I honestly didn't altogether enjoy the reading experience. I would give this author another go though because I think she writes a mean sex scene.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I went on an interesting journey with this book. I started out hating it. The writing is on the simple side and is just flat out bad at times so when the book began I immediately wanted to put it down. I thought to myself, "okay, just stick with it, I'm sure things will improve." When Bradley and Tony first meet there was a very strange leap out of nowhere into BDSM that just didn't work for me... but I decided to forage ahead. And honestly, I'm glad that I did.
The main issue with this book is the make-no-sense plot. It was muddled and unnecessarily confusing. Everyone is pretending to be someone that they aren't, and while a killer author can pull that off, Lori Toland isn't quite there. It was so confusing that I just decided to ignore the plot altogether. Also, another annoying aspect for me was the over the top insta-love. It just veered straight into sappy too fast and too hard for my liking (odd for a BDSM book but still). In the end, I just read this book for the chemistry between the main characters. And that leads me to the highlight of the book: The chemistry. Bradley and Tony were very very hot together and though I am SICK of BDSM books, in this book, I'll admit that it worked. It added to the story rather than detracted from it. The sex was delicious and kinky. I'd like to say that this book benefited from the Abigail Roux effect: The plot is nonsensical at times but the chemistry between the two men pull it off.
Why still such a low rating? Well, I can't get over how difficult it was for me to wade through the plot. Frustratingly, the author could have easily simplified it and eliminated so many issues. Also, I honestly didn't altogether enjoy the reading experience. I would give this author another go though because I think she writes a mean sex scene.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
April 10, 2013
The Long Con had smut, and I love smut. I liked its BDSM-lightness, meaning there was one BDSM-y sex scene. I liked the dirty talk; it’s a small shame there wasn’t more of it. I liked how insatiable of a bottom Tony was and how eager Nate was to satisfy Tony. On top of the yummy smut, the book actually had a decent plot and a good twist so it wasn't just a PWP. I should have been a happy camper, but I wasn't. I couldn't bring myself to fully enjoy the story, and I felt annoyingly nitpicky.
When it comes to smut, I can tolerate insta-love a great deal, a very great deal. However, I couldn't tolerated it in this book. I was okay with the fact that the couple lusted for each other on first sight. Nothing about that was unrealistic. I was not okay with how that lust magically developed into love, and it bugged me.
My issue was that the couple got too intimate too quickly to be believable considering who they were, especially who they were. Nate was an undercover agent, one that is on an unofficial international mission. Tony was a Mafia kid, and not just any kid but the heir to a major Mafia family. They should have been on their guard. Instead, they slept together overnight and ended up cohabiting for the length of Nate's mission.
During the cohabitation period, neither of them was carrying a gun or throwing looks of suspicion at each other or anything that openly suggested distrust. They acted more like they were a regular, lovey-dovey couple instead of the dangerous, suspicious people that they were supposed to be. The insta-love brought on an unnatural level of trust between the couple, which made the romance surreal.
I expected a high level of anxiety as both try to come to term with their love against who they were and what they were supposed to be doing; I didn't get that. Don't get me wrong; I don't want angst. I just thought the characters were not believable in their role. Because of that, piling on the emotions being rather subdued, I couldn't connect to the romance.
In Conclusion
I rate The Long Con 2-stars for it was okay. Trust was a theme in this book, and it was not properly played. The issue eclipsed the smut. Ay. I want to slap my brain.
For what it's worth, I liked the twist about Tony. I think it would have been a better story if it was told from his POV instead of exclusively from Nate's 1st person POV. Nate wasn't boring per se; Tony was just way more interesting.
When it comes to smut, I can tolerate insta-love a great deal, a very great deal. However, I couldn't tolerated it in this book. I was okay with the fact that the couple lusted for each other on first sight. Nothing about that was unrealistic. I was not okay with how that lust magically developed into love, and it bugged me.
My issue was that the couple got too intimate too quickly to be believable considering who they were, especially who they were. Nate was an undercover agent, one that is on an unofficial international mission. Tony was a Mafia kid, and not just any kid but the heir to a major Mafia family. They should have been on their guard. Instead, they slept together overnight and ended up cohabiting for the length of Nate's mission.
During the cohabitation period, neither of them was carrying a gun or throwing looks of suspicion at each other or anything that openly suggested distrust. They acted more like they were a regular, lovey-dovey couple instead of the dangerous, suspicious people that they were supposed to be. The insta-love brought on an unnatural level of trust between the couple, which made the romance surreal.
I expected a high level of anxiety as both try to come to term with their love against who they were and what they were supposed to be doing; I didn't get that. Don't get me wrong; I don't want angst. I just thought the characters were not believable in their role. Because of that, piling on the emotions being rather subdued, I couldn't connect to the romance.
In Conclusion
I rate The Long Con 2-stars for it was okay. Trust was a theme in this book, and it was not properly played. The issue eclipsed the smut. Ay. I want to slap my brain.
For what it's worth, I liked the twist about Tony. I think it would have been a better story if it was told from his POV instead of exclusively from Nate's 1st person POV. Nate wasn't boring per se; Tony was just way more interesting.
April 12, 2012
3.5 stars. Good m/m romantic suspense about a British agent who tracks a stolen Faberge egg to New York City, where he's mistaken for a prostitute and uses that to his investigative advantage. This book had a somewhat over-the-top old-school romance feel to it; while that's not usually my forte, it mostly worked here and I got sucked into the story.
May 13, 2013
3.5 stars
This first quarter of this book was very confusing for me. I really had to concentrate on following who was who, who was conning who, and what the cons all even were. Everyone seemed to be conning someone else, and even the conmen were being conned. I decided to not worry about it and just wait for things to become clearer later on, which they pretty much did.
Everything centers around this Faberge Egg, which belonged to but was stolen from Nathaniel Bradley's aunt. Nathaniel is a UK citizen who normally works with a unit that takes down organized crime in the UK. He has become involved with the egg retrieval in the US by becoming one of the conmen involved in conning Anthony Terranova, son of a Mafia crime boss, who it seems is attempting to buy the stolen egg.
Nathaniel (conname Bradley) and Tony hit it off, and Bradley strays from the original con plan to serve his own agenda, which is the egg retrieval. These two are smoking hot together. I had a bit of a hard time picturing a hard ass Mafia guy as the super sexy sweet submissive Tony, but he ends up having a bit of a split personality where the tough guy is concerned. There isn't anything too hardcore here, but the d/s that quickly comes into play is hot stuff.
I was a bit disappointed in the instalove that happens over a matter of a few days and a lot of sex, especially knowing everyone is lying to everyone else. There are a few twists and turns, but nothing earthshattering or overly shocking. I did enjoy this in the end, but I believe most of that comes from the chemistry between Tony and Bradley than the confusing and somewhat unbelievable con plot. I'm glad I stuck with it though, and am looking forward to the next book.
This first quarter of this book was very confusing for me. I really had to concentrate on following who was who, who was conning who, and what the cons all even were. Everyone seemed to be conning someone else, and even the conmen were being conned. I decided to not worry about it and just wait for things to become clearer later on, which they pretty much did.
Everything centers around this Faberge Egg, which belonged to but was stolen from Nathaniel Bradley's aunt. Nathaniel is a UK citizen who normally works with a unit that takes down organized crime in the UK. He has become involved with the egg retrieval in the US by becoming one of the conmen involved in conning Anthony Terranova, son of a Mafia crime boss, who it seems is attempting to buy the stolen egg.
Nathaniel (conname Bradley) and Tony hit it off, and Bradley strays from the original con plan to serve his own agenda, which is the egg retrieval. These two are smoking hot together. I had a bit of a hard time picturing a hard ass Mafia guy as the super sexy sweet submissive Tony, but he ends up having a bit of a split personality where the tough guy is concerned. There isn't anything too hardcore here, but the d/s that quickly comes into play is hot stuff.
I was a bit disappointed in the instalove that happens over a matter of a few days and a lot of sex, especially knowing everyone is lying to everyone else. There are a few twists and turns, but nothing earthshattering or overly shocking. I did enjoy this in the end, but I believe most of that comes from the chemistry between Tony and Bradley than the confusing and somewhat unbelievable con plot. I'm glad I stuck with it though, and am looking forward to the next book.
April 27, 2012
The story is pretty over-the-top, a British SOCA (Serious Organised Crime Agency) agent, Nathaniel Bradley, suddenly posed as prostitute to help a group of con artists (I don't think a group of established con artists suddenly believe a stranger, from Britain, that quick to be part of their conning plan that quick, yes?!) to seduce a mafia son.
There is insta-love with a number of sex scenes with a touch of D/s (the sex scenes bore me after awhile, though, because it's just slightly tad too much for my taste and current mood). There's twist offered, BIG SPOILER (), which is nice.
It's an okay read to lose few hours to, I guess.
There is insta-love with a number of sex scenes with a touch of D/s (the sex scenes bore me after awhile, though, because it's just slightly tad too much for my taste and current mood). There's twist offered, BIG SPOILER (), which is nice.
It's an okay read to lose few hours to, I guess.
March 20, 2013
I won this from The Sweet Spot monthly contest and Ms. Toland was very sweet and prompt in getting me the e-book. I am sorry to say that this one just didn't work for me.
The concept was great but I think this book needs a good editor. I often found myself confused about what was going on and who was involved. Plus the con was hardly part of the story; it would come and go from the book, not a good thing for a book called The Long Con.
The connection (insta-love) between the MCs was too quick and not well explained. Things were often repeated for no apparent reason. There were too many different storylines and they never meshed up with each other in a reasonable way. For example, I never understood why Bradley was thought to be a prostitute; he was English but seldom used English terms; and he had to find this Faberge egg for his “grandmother” (quotes because it was pointed out a lot that she wasn’t his blood relative) but then suddenly at the end it was pointed out he disliked his grandfather, his main connection to his grandmother. Tony was supposedly from a crime family but that never rang true either but he had crazy money. And this drove me nuts, they went to get a suit made for Bradley, supposedly from the Spring line of a designer, I forget who. The pants were finished! I don’t buy my husband suits from designers often but we’ve bought enough suits from regular stores to KNOW that the pants are never finished, they have to be hemmed. That is the kind of thing that makes me nuts because it’s so very easy to find out. And any time the story started going somewhere everything stopped so they could have sex, it was just odd. And I hate to say it but the sex was just as disjointed as the rest of the book. I finally just started skimming toward the end because I wanted to move on.
I do think this book has potential but it needs more work.
The concept was great but I think this book needs a good editor. I often found myself confused about what was going on and who was involved. Plus the con was hardly part of the story; it would come and go from the book, not a good thing for a book called The Long Con.
The connection (insta-love) between the MCs was too quick and not well explained. Things were often repeated for no apparent reason. There were too many different storylines and they never meshed up with each other in a reasonable way. For example, I never understood why Bradley was thought to be a prostitute; he was English but seldom used English terms; and he had to find this Faberge egg for his “grandmother” (quotes because it was pointed out a lot that she wasn’t his blood relative) but then suddenly at the end it was pointed out he disliked his grandfather, his main connection to his grandmother. Tony was supposedly from a crime family but that never rang true either but he had crazy money. And this drove me nuts, they went to get a suit made for Bradley, supposedly from the Spring line of a designer, I forget who. The pants were finished! I don’t buy my husband suits from designers often but we’ve bought enough suits from regular stores to KNOW that the pants are never finished, they have to be hemmed. That is the kind of thing that makes me nuts because it’s so very easy to find out. And any time the story started going somewhere everything stopped so they could have sex, it was just odd. And I hate to say it but the sex was just as disjointed as the rest of the book. I finally just started skimming toward the end because I wanted to move on.
I do think this book has potential but it needs more work.
April 22, 2012
Reviewed on Hearts On Fire... http://heartsonfirereviews.com/
There's something for everyone in this clever romantic suspense story. Nathaniel Bradley is a gorgeous British agent who's grandmother was just robbed. The only thing taken in the robbery was one of the lost Faberge eggs so it is thought to be an art theft. Bradley travels to the U.S. and infiltrates a ring of con men by posing as a hustler. The con is supposed to be an easy one with Bradley seducing the heir apparent of a mafia family,Tony Terranova, while the others sell Tony what they believe to be a phony Faberge egg. The seduction goes off beautifully and Bradley is firmly ensconced in Tony's apartment. What Bradley doesn't count on is that Tony is the perfect Sub to compliment Bradley's Dom needs. The sex is wild and everything both men want but quickly matters of the heart take over and Bradley doesn't want to see Tony conned or hurt. Bradley knows the egg is his grandmother's real egg so comes up with his own plan to just steal the egg but leave his love behind. The web of lies and deception grows as the angst over Bradley having to leave the only man he has ever loved grows. I loved Tony and Bradley as a couple and their personalities are well fleshed out. The plot twists and turns that Ms Toland wove into this fun book kept me guessing just how she was going to pull off a HEA. Bradley and Tony may well be in love but it is all based on lies hidden by both men. The way the end of the story unfolded was magical and romantic but I won't spoil it for the next reader which should be just about everyone in my opinion.
There's something for everyone in this clever romantic suspense story. Nathaniel Bradley is a gorgeous British agent who's grandmother was just robbed. The only thing taken in the robbery was one of the lost Faberge eggs so it is thought to be an art theft. Bradley travels to the U.S. and infiltrates a ring of con men by posing as a hustler. The con is supposed to be an easy one with Bradley seducing the heir apparent of a mafia family,Tony Terranova, while the others sell Tony what they believe to be a phony Faberge egg. The seduction goes off beautifully and Bradley is firmly ensconced in Tony's apartment. What Bradley doesn't count on is that Tony is the perfect Sub to compliment Bradley's Dom needs. The sex is wild and everything both men want but quickly matters of the heart take over and Bradley doesn't want to see Tony conned or hurt. Bradley knows the egg is his grandmother's real egg so comes up with his own plan to just steal the egg but leave his love behind. The web of lies and deception grows as the angst over Bradley having to leave the only man he has ever loved grows. I loved Tony and Bradley as a couple and their personalities are well fleshed out. The plot twists and turns that Ms Toland wove into this fun book kept me guessing just how she was going to pull off a HEA. Bradley and Tony may well be in love but it is all based on lies hidden by both men. The way the end of the story unfolded was magical and romantic but I won't spoil it for the next reader which should be just about everyone in my opinion.
April 14, 2013
Loved this one. Its a bit short but very sweet and sexy. I could feel the intensity between them in the sex scenes, it was emotional and interesting. One thing, don't promise me a silver cock ring and not deliver.
They talk alot about bdsm, but dont actually do much more than a spanking and a little bondage with his tie.it's ok though, i was comfortable with the kink level.
Loved the way they took turns caring for each other, being dominant. Love It when a man ties a tie for another.
I liked how B thought he was gorgeous instantly and in every way sexy, all the time, totally distracting him from his task.
They talk alot about bdsm, but dont actually do much more than a spanking and a little bondage with his tie.it's ok though, i was comfortable with the kink level.
Loved the way they took turns caring for each other, being dominant. Love It when a man ties a tie for another.
I liked how B thought he was gorgeous instantly and in every way sexy, all the time, totally distracting him from his task.
January 17, 2014
The exposition was so skirted over that I am entirely uncertain what exactly was happening. Who was working for whom for what against which side? Hey, you! Yeah, I know you want to skip to the sex, but can't you just pause one moment to expl-
Fine. Fine. Just keep fucking. *throws hands up in the air in exasperation*
And of course, random sex is magical best sex he's ever had.
Laaaaame.
*snickers* That's already been done before.
I'm just highly annoyed that I have no idea what's going on. Of course, I could go back and reread in hopes of deciphering some details from this huge clusterfuck, but I'm not yet at the point where I'm so hopelessly lost I'd need to. So I do what I always do - plough on.
And I was right. A little explainy-explainy session a bit later on with this Anne chick clears up a lot of stuff.
I don't quite know if I buy into the whole instant-chick-and-dick magnet thing that seems pivotal to the story, but whatever. It's fiction.
Actually, you know what? The main character reminds me of a gay Gaston...and Beast, now that I think of it, all in one.
Something that bothers me is that I see no basis of the MC's declaration that he's a dom (Not Dom - just dom). I mean, I see that he's pretty much a consummate top, but dom?
Actually, a bit later, there's some stuff that can be construed as light D/s, I guess...
I think the MC just enjoys being an asshole.
Eh. The kink in here annoys me because it seems like obligatory kink.
It's not a bad story. It's just a story I can't see ever happening irl. It's also really, really sex-centric when it would have benefited more from being more plot-driven, especially with the whole intrigue element it was trying to embrace.
It was weird. I think I actually quite liked it, regardless of all the weirdness and kitschiness and whatnot.
Something like that.
It's a weird mix of the absurd and realistic.
I actually could see this as a chick flick. Well, sans the explicit sex in movie.
It's so unapologetically kooky that I find myself giving it some grudging respect.
I think weirdly enough I actually kind of liked it.
Fine. Fine. Just keep fucking. *throws hands up in the air in exasperation*
And of course, random sex is magical best sex he's ever had.
Laaaaame.
*snickers* That's already been done before.
I'm just highly annoyed that I have no idea what's going on. Of course, I could go back and reread in hopes of deciphering some details from this huge clusterfuck, but I'm not yet at the point where I'm so hopelessly lost I'd need to. So I do what I always do - plough on.
And I was right. A little explainy-explainy session a bit later on with this Anne chick clears up a lot of stuff.
I don't quite know if I buy into the whole instant-chick-and-dick magnet thing that seems pivotal to the story, but whatever. It's fiction.
Actually, you know what? The main character reminds me of a gay Gaston...and Beast, now that I think of it, all in one.
Something that bothers me is that I see no basis of the MC's declaration that he's a dom (Not Dom - just dom). I mean, I see that he's pretty much a consummate top, but dom?
Actually, a bit later, there's some stuff that can be construed as light D/s, I guess...
I think the MC just enjoys being an asshole.
Eh. The kink in here annoys me because it seems like obligatory kink.
It's not a bad story. It's just a story I can't see ever happening irl. It's also really, really sex-centric when it would have benefited more from being more plot-driven, especially with the whole intrigue element it was trying to embrace.
It was weird. I think I actually quite liked it, regardless of all the weirdness and kitschiness and whatnot.
Something like that.
It's a weird mix of the absurd and realistic.
I actually could see this as a chick flick. Well, sans the explicit sex in movie.
It's so unapologetically kooky that I find myself giving it some grudging respect.
I think weirdly enough I actually kind of liked it.
July 20, 2012
The Long Con from the blurb sounded like a delightfully wicked novel with Agent Bradley pulling an undercover job on a very dangerous criminal. Unfortunately, the novel became so convoluted with whom was conning whom that it lost some of its charm and mystery, as I kept trying to keep track of who was the good guy and who was the bad guy.
Nathaniel Bradley is an agent with a organized task force in England. When his step-grandmother’s priceless Faberge egg is stolen, he makes it his mission to recover it even if that means going to New York and posing as a prostitute for a gang of con artists who think they are selling a fake Faberge egg to known mobster, Anthony “Tony” Terranova. Bradley is the bait to lure Tony into their scheme, but both men have other secrets, ones that could place everyone in danger.
I love a good undercover sting operation in a book and was hoping that Agent Bradley seducing Mafia guy Tony would be interesting. I think if that had just been the plot it could have worked, but when you threw in the gang of con artists, who didn’t even know they had a real Faberge egg in their hands, the plot fell apart. Plus, who in their right mind would try and con a Mafia Don’s son out of eight million dollars? That just did not make sense and could easily get you a pair of cement shoes. Add in Tony’s secret job, his ex-girlfriend, the BDSM overtones – which did not work in this storyline in my estimation – and finally the Insta-Love connection and it seemed like every trope in a romance novel but the kitchen sink was used, and not very well.
I really wish I could recommend this book as I love a good episode of Leverage or Remington Steele, but The Long Con was a huge disappointment all around.
Dark Divas Reviews
Nathaniel Bradley is an agent with a organized task force in England. When his step-grandmother’s priceless Faberge egg is stolen, he makes it his mission to recover it even if that means going to New York and posing as a prostitute for a gang of con artists who think they are selling a fake Faberge egg to known mobster, Anthony “Tony” Terranova. Bradley is the bait to lure Tony into their scheme, but both men have other secrets, ones that could place everyone in danger.
I love a good undercover sting operation in a book and was hoping that Agent Bradley seducing Mafia guy Tony would be interesting. I think if that had just been the plot it could have worked, but when you threw in the gang of con artists, who didn’t even know they had a real Faberge egg in their hands, the plot fell apart. Plus, who in their right mind would try and con a Mafia Don’s son out of eight million dollars? That just did not make sense and could easily get you a pair of cement shoes. Add in Tony’s secret job, his ex-girlfriend, the BDSM overtones – which did not work in this storyline in my estimation – and finally the Insta-Love connection and it seemed like every trope in a romance novel but the kitchen sink was used, and not very well.
I really wish I could recommend this book as I love a good episode of Leverage or Remington Steele, but The Long Con was a huge disappointment all around.
Dark Divas Reviews
March 2, 2013
Just what I needed some m/m loving this didn't dissapoint - it was hot.
The is a story about a missing Russian heirloom, which soca agent Bradley is investigating (the egg was his grandmothers), he has to get in with a terranova, a family known for being in the mafia. Did I mention both Bradley and Tony are gorgeous male specimens any women would jump!!
Bradley has to seduce Tony to get in with him, which he has no problem with as hs instantly attracted to him. Strange things happen when ŷou get close to some one, and these to get close pretty often!!! Yes there lots of sex, it was wasn't always drawn out but it was darn hot.
I would guess half the book is story, the other half is passionate love making **swoon**, Did I mention bdsm yes there is light bdsm in this book too, whats not to love.
The story keeps the sex together well, but expect twists and turns and an epilogue that made me so happy.
**i received this book from the publisher via netgalley for an honest review**
The is a story about a missing Russian heirloom, which soca agent Bradley is investigating (the egg was his grandmothers), he has to get in with a terranova, a family known for being in the mafia. Did I mention both Bradley and Tony are gorgeous male specimens any women would jump!!
Bradley has to seduce Tony to get in with him, which he has no problem with as hs instantly attracted to him. Strange things happen when ŷou get close to some one, and these to get close pretty often!!! Yes there lots of sex, it was wasn't always drawn out but it was darn hot.
I would guess half the book is story, the other half is passionate love making **swoon**, Did I mention bdsm yes there is light bdsm in this book too, whats not to love.
The story keeps the sex together well, but expect twists and turns and an epilogue that made me so happy.
**i received this book from the publisher via netgalley for an honest review**
Shelved as 'dnf'
October 10, 2013Shallow plot with wooden characters who meet at a party, and have bathroom sex. Our main character talks to the mafia heir for something like 5 minutes before he knows the heir is a bottom, and starts calling him things like "little bitch", "whore", and "cock slut". The writing is awkward, and I felt disconnected from the characters and events. I would have preferred more development of the mystery, and characters, but it seems like that was all a front for some "kinky" sex which felt forced, and stiff rather than sexy and hot. I tried, but I didn't have it in me to try to finish this.
April 25, 2012
This was so fun and you read and enjoy it and hope there's a sequel because the two of them, Bradley and Tony, could have so many more adventures together. The faith at the end, the yes, let's jump in together, is my favorite kind.
March 5, 2013
This was too 'porny' for me. There were too many declarations of love, too many 'let's fuck for the last time', too many events that fell into place too easily. It was just all too much really.
I felt besieged by cliche, melodrama and unrealistic angst.
I felt besieged by cliche, melodrama and unrealistic angst.
Read
March 21, 2014Conned to 22% which lasted through the best material of just one great bathroom scene before it all starts running off the tracks.
June 21, 2012
http://smexybooks.com/2012/06/review-...
Nathaniel Bradley is a British agent who takes it upon himself to locate and retrieve a stolen family heirloom. After several months, Nate tracks the priceless Faberge egg to New York where he believes a group of criminals are in possession of it and are moving to try and sell it. Taking on the persona of a male prostitute he hopes to infiltrate the con ring, seduce the mark, and somehow steal back the egg and return it to its rightful owner.
Tony Terranova, Jr. is the mark. The son of a well known mafia boss, Nate realizes that this con just got way more dangerous than he bargained for. But on the night that he is to meet Tony, all thoughts of danger fall away when Nate sees Tony for the first time. Their attraction to each other is immediate and Nate struggles to keep his personal feelings in check. Unfortunately, Tony makes this very difficult as he reads Nate’s reaction to him and begins to push every one of Nate’s buttons. Tony immediately senses Nate’s dominant side and is more than ready to be his submissive.
Nate is completely unprepared for Tony’s reaction to him. Torn between his feelings for Tony and the con he’s supposed to pull, Nate finds himself in a no win situation. He must retrieve the egg, but he knows it will end with both he and Tony having broken hearts? Caught between his lies and his love for Tony can Nate do the right thing?
The Long Con is my first read by author Lori Toland and while I enjoyed the suspense part of this story, there were parts of the romance that didn’t work for me. Nathaniel Bradley is a British agent for SOCA (Serious Organised Crime Agency). He’s well respected and works hard and therefore has no time for a serious relationship. The only family he has left are his grandfather and his wife Margie. The Faberge egg in question actually belongs to Margie whose family brought the egg with them when they fled out of Russia. The egg is priceless because it’s not supposed to exist. When it is stolen, Margie is devastated and Nate promises her that he will get it back.
The story then jumps forward six months. Nate tracks the egg to New York and works his way into the con artists ring by posing as a male prostitute. His job is to seduce the mark, Tony Terranova, and get him to contact the others to negotiate the purchase of the egg. They know that Tony is interested in Russian artifacts because his mother was Russian. Everything is in place and going as planned until Nate meets Tony. Their attraction to each other is instant and Nate struggles to stay in character and pull off the con. He fails as they immediately have sex in the bathroom where Nate is thrilled to find out that Tony is the perfect sub to his dominant personality.
And this is where I began to have a little trouble with the romance/relationship part of this story. I don’t really know how to explain it; there was just something about the dialogue between the men during the sex scenes that felt clinical and staged. It just didn’t flow naturally and came off a bit like “take A and put into slot B. I would classify the bdsm aspect as “light”, just some spanking and the tying of wrists, but it was the way they talked to each other that was somehow “off” for me. Additionally, these two are having internal dialogues about being in love after only knowing each other for a very short time and that absolutely did not work for me. Considering that the con part of the story covers about 72 hours; these two professing love was too unrealistic for me.
The “con” part of this story, however, was extremely well done. I totally bought into the original ruse and was pulled into the story. Though I had the feeling as I read that there was something or someone who was “more” than we were being shown, the author totally had me fooled and I even missed a totally blatant hint that she gives until it’s pointed out. In this, the author does a fantastic job and I really did enjoy the suspense and catch 22 she uses in the end.
We are treated to a very nice epilogue but it is here, once again, that I became confused. Following the con, Nate and Tony are separated for a few months while everything is sorted out. It is clear that they are both miserable, but neither has made any effort to contact the other. Why? How could two people who claim to be in love completely cut off all communication. While I disliked that they fell in love so quickly, their lack of communication seemed like a big inconsistency to me.
In the end, there was enough to keep me engaged and at no time did I consider dnf-ing due to my issues with the romance. Ultimately, it was the suspense part of the story that kept me intrigued enough to continue.
Nathaniel Bradley is a British agent who takes it upon himself to locate and retrieve a stolen family heirloom. After several months, Nate tracks the priceless Faberge egg to New York where he believes a group of criminals are in possession of it and are moving to try and sell it. Taking on the persona of a male prostitute he hopes to infiltrate the con ring, seduce the mark, and somehow steal back the egg and return it to its rightful owner.
Tony Terranova, Jr. is the mark. The son of a well known mafia boss, Nate realizes that this con just got way more dangerous than he bargained for. But on the night that he is to meet Tony, all thoughts of danger fall away when Nate sees Tony for the first time. Their attraction to each other is immediate and Nate struggles to keep his personal feelings in check. Unfortunately, Tony makes this very difficult as he reads Nate’s reaction to him and begins to push every one of Nate’s buttons. Tony immediately senses Nate’s dominant side and is more than ready to be his submissive.
Nate is completely unprepared for Tony’s reaction to him. Torn between his feelings for Tony and the con he’s supposed to pull, Nate finds himself in a no win situation. He must retrieve the egg, but he knows it will end with both he and Tony having broken hearts? Caught between his lies and his love for Tony can Nate do the right thing?
The Long Con is my first read by author Lori Toland and while I enjoyed the suspense part of this story, there were parts of the romance that didn’t work for me. Nathaniel Bradley is a British agent for SOCA (Serious Organised Crime Agency). He’s well respected and works hard and therefore has no time for a serious relationship. The only family he has left are his grandfather and his wife Margie. The Faberge egg in question actually belongs to Margie whose family brought the egg with them when they fled out of Russia. The egg is priceless because it’s not supposed to exist. When it is stolen, Margie is devastated and Nate promises her that he will get it back.
The story then jumps forward six months. Nate tracks the egg to New York and works his way into the con artists ring by posing as a male prostitute. His job is to seduce the mark, Tony Terranova, and get him to contact the others to negotiate the purchase of the egg. They know that Tony is interested in Russian artifacts because his mother was Russian. Everything is in place and going as planned until Nate meets Tony. Their attraction to each other is instant and Nate struggles to stay in character and pull off the con. He fails as they immediately have sex in the bathroom where Nate is thrilled to find out that Tony is the perfect sub to his dominant personality.
And this is where I began to have a little trouble with the romance/relationship part of this story. I don’t really know how to explain it; there was just something about the dialogue between the men during the sex scenes that felt clinical and staged. It just didn’t flow naturally and came off a bit like “take A and put into slot B. I would classify the bdsm aspect as “light”, just some spanking and the tying of wrists, but it was the way they talked to each other that was somehow “off” for me. Additionally, these two are having internal dialogues about being in love after only knowing each other for a very short time and that absolutely did not work for me. Considering that the con part of the story covers about 72 hours; these two professing love was too unrealistic for me.
The “con” part of this story, however, was extremely well done. I totally bought into the original ruse and was pulled into the story. Though I had the feeling as I read that there was something or someone who was “more” than we were being shown, the author totally had me fooled and I even missed a totally blatant hint that she gives until it’s pointed out. In this, the author does a fantastic job and I really did enjoy the suspense and catch 22 she uses in the end.
We are treated to a very nice epilogue but it is here, once again, that I became confused. Following the con, Nate and Tony are separated for a few months while everything is sorted out. It is clear that they are both miserable, but neither has made any effort to contact the other. Why? How could two people who claim to be in love completely cut off all communication. While I disliked that they fell in love so quickly, their lack of communication seemed like a big inconsistency to me.
In the end, there was enough to keep me engaged and at no time did I consider dnf-ing due to my issues with the romance. Ultimately, it was the suspense part of the story that kept me intrigued enough to continue.
March 16, 2013
The Long Con Lori Toland
I received this via Netgalley in return for an honest review. I don't gush and give false praise – I don't believe that helps readers or authors so what you read is what I truly feel about a book.
Nathaniel Bradley (Bradley )is a British Agent seeking to recover a stolen Fabergé egg. Its actually been stolen from his grandmother. In order to infiltrate the gang seeking to sell it on to an unsuspecting collector he has to pose as a high priced prostitute. Once in the gang he is tasked with seducing the buyer, Tony Terranova Jr – the heir to a Mafia dynasty. It makes things dangerous for Bradley – even more so when he finds he is very attracted to Tony and Tony clearly wants him...he deviated from the plan and starts winging it and the gang keep trying to bring him back to target. Although he's not bothered about tricking the gang – as con artists they are good targets to bring in – but he feels guilty that he's conning Tony as he seems such a nice and honest man, not at all what he expected from someone so high in the Mafia family.
I really enjoyed this book, the sexual chemistry between Bradley and Tony was sizzling and at times very erotic and sensual. Bradley discovers by accident that Tony is a submissive and being a top himself they found that they had an added dimension to the sexual relationship. They really felt like real people to me, and I was carried along with them on their romantic forays... I empathised with Bradley when he had feelings of guilt over the part he was playing in deceiving Tony, and felt for Tony in the way he was quickly so taken with Bradley and hoping for a longer term romance. But as ever things aren't as straightforward as they seem, and the story takes directions I didn't expect and the results were just what I wanted though it took some emotional moments to get there. There wasn't any weird plot endings where Bradley got out of a scrape by some unbelievable means – you know the sort I mean, where something weird happens and suddenly all is sorted. Lori gives us credible endings and ways out fo the dilemmas she puts her characters in and that's what made it so good for me. . Its well written and edited and was a treat to read, with the plot taking unexpected diversions that kept me gripped and the romance angle was very tender. I felt for both parties when things began to heat up and become critical.
The Long Con is a terrific read, good solid romance wrapped up in a believable storyline. I hate that so many erotic books are little more than sex scene upon sex scene with little or no story. I need a good back-story to balance the heat and romance and make it an enjoyable read and this book delivers that for me. Its joined my keepers list. At £4.54 for 235 pages it is a little expensive but if like me you'll re read the story then that becomes a more value for money price.
Stars: a solid four.
I received this via Netgalley in return for an honest review. I don't gush and give false praise – I don't believe that helps readers or authors so what you read is what I truly feel about a book.
Nathaniel Bradley (Bradley )is a British Agent seeking to recover a stolen Fabergé egg. Its actually been stolen from his grandmother. In order to infiltrate the gang seeking to sell it on to an unsuspecting collector he has to pose as a high priced prostitute. Once in the gang he is tasked with seducing the buyer, Tony Terranova Jr – the heir to a Mafia dynasty. It makes things dangerous for Bradley – even more so when he finds he is very attracted to Tony and Tony clearly wants him...he deviated from the plan and starts winging it and the gang keep trying to bring him back to target. Although he's not bothered about tricking the gang – as con artists they are good targets to bring in – but he feels guilty that he's conning Tony as he seems such a nice and honest man, not at all what he expected from someone so high in the Mafia family.
I really enjoyed this book, the sexual chemistry between Bradley and Tony was sizzling and at times very erotic and sensual. Bradley discovers by accident that Tony is a submissive and being a top himself they found that they had an added dimension to the sexual relationship. They really felt like real people to me, and I was carried along with them on their romantic forays... I empathised with Bradley when he had feelings of guilt over the part he was playing in deceiving Tony, and felt for Tony in the way he was quickly so taken with Bradley and hoping for a longer term romance. But as ever things aren't as straightforward as they seem, and the story takes directions I didn't expect and the results were just what I wanted though it took some emotional moments to get there. There wasn't any weird plot endings where Bradley got out of a scrape by some unbelievable means – you know the sort I mean, where something weird happens and suddenly all is sorted. Lori gives us credible endings and ways out fo the dilemmas she puts her characters in and that's what made it so good for me. . Its well written and edited and was a treat to read, with the plot taking unexpected diversions that kept me gripped and the romance angle was very tender. I felt for both parties when things began to heat up and become critical.
The Long Con is a terrific read, good solid romance wrapped up in a believable storyline. I hate that so many erotic books are little more than sex scene upon sex scene with little or no story. I need a good back-story to balance the heat and romance and make it an enjoyable read and this book delivers that for me. Its joined my keepers list. At £4.54 for 235 pages it is a little expensive but if like me you'll re read the story then that becomes a more value for money price.
Stars: a solid four.
August 13, 2012
Reviewed by Stacey Jo: Nathaniel Bradley is called to his grandparent’s house whengrandmother’s priceless Faberge egg is stolen. Nathanial, or Bradley, as he goes by, works for the British branch of SOCA “Serious Organized Crime Agency”.He ends up tracking the family heirloom to a group of con artists in New York and works his way into a group of con artists. They’re wanting to sell the egg to Tony Terra nova, Jr., an arts collector and the son of one of one of the large stand most notorious mafia families in New York. The con artists know Tony is gay so they bring Bradley in as a prostitute to seduce Tony in their con game to transfer the egg.
Tony and Bradley meet as planned and there is an immediate attraction between the two. They are revenging each other within the hour.Bradley finds that the dom in him meshes well with the sub in Tony. Yes, there is a BDSM element to this story. These two are hot together, but they are genuine and this really seems to show through. They really seem to be connecting with each other and falling hard and fast. No, this isn’t insta-love, it’s just two guys finding what they need in their perfect other half.
They have a lot of problems though—trust and who they are being the biggest issues. Bradley can’t tell Tony who he really is because Tony, being a mafia person, would surely kill Bradley if he knew he was an agent with SOCA, there to steal the egg from that Tony is buying. And the con artists also don’t realize is that Bradley is there to take back what rightfully belongs to his family. But Tony has some pretty big secrets of his own too, which adds another twist to the story. The con goes back and forthwith the con artists, Tony, and Bradley in an interesting cat and mouse kind of game and lots of double crossing.
To say any more about how what happens would be to spoil the last fourth of the book and ruin the twist. Suffice it to say, this is fantastic story with two wonderful guys. Things are not always what they seem.This is a well-written book and you can really feel how much Tony and Bradley love each other. The BDSM bits really add a great element to the story. Don’tworry if BDSM isn’t your thing, as it’s very light and not really physical.Love the ending—great HEA. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and if this is any indication of her style, she will be an auto-buy author for me from now on. I would dearly love to see this turned into a series so I could read more about Tony and Bradley “Nate”. This is definitely going on my favourites shelf.
A+
http://manohmanreviews.blogspot.ca/20...
Tony and Bradley meet as planned and there is an immediate attraction between the two. They are revenging each other within the hour.Bradley finds that the dom in him meshes well with the sub in Tony. Yes, there is a BDSM element to this story. These two are hot together, but they are genuine and this really seems to show through. They really seem to be connecting with each other and falling hard and fast. No, this isn’t insta-love, it’s just two guys finding what they need in their perfect other half.
They have a lot of problems though—trust and who they are being the biggest issues. Bradley can’t tell Tony who he really is because Tony, being a mafia person, would surely kill Bradley if he knew he was an agent with SOCA, there to steal the egg from that Tony is buying. And the con artists also don’t realize is that Bradley is there to take back what rightfully belongs to his family. But Tony has some pretty big secrets of his own too, which adds another twist to the story. The con goes back and forthwith the con artists, Tony, and Bradley in an interesting cat and mouse kind of game and lots of double crossing.
To say any more about how what happens would be to spoil the last fourth of the book and ruin the twist. Suffice it to say, this is fantastic story with two wonderful guys. Things are not always what they seem.This is a well-written book and you can really feel how much Tony and Bradley love each other. The BDSM bits really add a great element to the story. Don’tworry if BDSM isn’t your thing, as it’s very light and not really physical.Love the ending—great HEA. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and if this is any indication of her style, she will be an auto-buy author for me from now on. I would dearly love to see this turned into a series so I could read more about Tony and Bradley “Nate”. This is definitely going on my favourites shelf.
A+
http://manohmanreviews.blogspot.ca/20...
April 3, 2013
I love those suspenseful stories surrounding jewel heists and expert con jobs so when I saw this one I just had to give it a try. I ended up really enjoying this story.
The story opens when a Faberge egg is stolen from Nate Bradley's Russian step-grandmother. It has family sentimental value and he promises to do what he can to get it back. It is not a hollow promise because his job as an agent for one of the government agencies gives him experience in tracking this art crime.
Bradley takes leave from his job to track the egg and his search brings him to NYC. There he gets take for being a prostitute and roped into a long con scheme involving the egg. Things get complicated fast, but he goes with it because it is his best bet to get to the egg. The con artists think the egg they have is just a really good fake and they plan to sell it to Anthony Terranova son of a Mafia don. The whole scheme is dangerous, but then Bradley sets eyes on the target and knows he's in real trouble. Instead of seducing Tony, Bradley will be the one getting seduced and where will that leave him and Tony when the truth all starts coming out. That is if Tony doesn't kill him first.
The plot on this one was a fun ride waiting for that moment when Tony learned the truth as Bradley and Tony just fell harder and deeper for each other. Its all told from Bradley's perspective so everyone else's doings are left to his interpretation. The twists that came in the end were great. I saw a few from the clues dropped earlier, but I missed one big one until it was revealed. The intrigue just made it even better.
I winced a little with how quickly the love word was bandied around in Bradley's mind, but I know for some it can happen quickly. The thing that really got me off track for a bit was that I had a hard time seeing him as the Dom he claimed to be. Bossy and commanding lover who got into playing a scene, yes; Dom with a sub, no. Maybe he would be different if he wasn't hiding who he really was and struggling not to fall for Tony, but at this point he wasn't in the right place mentally to be caring for a sub. This was not something that caused dislike or even irritation; it was more an observation of how I interpreted the character I was reading about. This brings me to make the point that there are mild BDSM elements in the story.
I look forward to more stories from this author and I hope she writes another story about Bradley and Tony. Those who enjoy M/M Contemporary Romance or Romantic Suspense should give this a try.
Thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read this book for review purposes.
The story opens when a Faberge egg is stolen from Nate Bradley's Russian step-grandmother. It has family sentimental value and he promises to do what he can to get it back. It is not a hollow promise because his job as an agent for one of the government agencies gives him experience in tracking this art crime.
Bradley takes leave from his job to track the egg and his search brings him to NYC. There he gets take for being a prostitute and roped into a long con scheme involving the egg. Things get complicated fast, but he goes with it because it is his best bet to get to the egg. The con artists think the egg they have is just a really good fake and they plan to sell it to Anthony Terranova son of a Mafia don. The whole scheme is dangerous, but then Bradley sets eyes on the target and knows he's in real trouble. Instead of seducing Tony, Bradley will be the one getting seduced and where will that leave him and Tony when the truth all starts coming out. That is if Tony doesn't kill him first.
The plot on this one was a fun ride waiting for that moment when Tony learned the truth as Bradley and Tony just fell harder and deeper for each other. Its all told from Bradley's perspective so everyone else's doings are left to his interpretation. The twists that came in the end were great. I saw a few from the clues dropped earlier, but I missed one big one until it was revealed. The intrigue just made it even better.
I winced a little with how quickly the love word was bandied around in Bradley's mind, but I know for some it can happen quickly. The thing that really got me off track for a bit was that I had a hard time seeing him as the Dom he claimed to be. Bossy and commanding lover who got into playing a scene, yes; Dom with a sub, no. Maybe he would be different if he wasn't hiding who he really was and struggling not to fall for Tony, but at this point he wasn't in the right place mentally to be caring for a sub. This was not something that caused dislike or even irritation; it was more an observation of how I interpreted the character I was reading about. This brings me to make the point that there are mild BDSM elements in the story.
I look forward to more stories from this author and I hope she writes another story about Bradley and Tony. Those who enjoy M/M Contemporary Romance or Romantic Suspense should give this a try.
Thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read this book for review purposes.
July 30, 2013
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
My impressions on this book varies from loved it to oh my God kill me now.
The action plot here was quite interesting, the pace set was my favorite, the intensity the story managed to grip me with was breathtaking and I managed to devour the book in only some short hours. The erotic factor was mouthwatering and the erotic scenes (which were plenty, and I mean plenty) were pretty brilliant. The author has a knack of making you jump into that eroticism along with the characters no matter what’s going on in the plot and all around you in real life. It’s safe to say that I completely left my outside world for the duration.
As gripping as it was though, the plot had some serious holes there that every fan of action/mystery/suspense would say a big NO to. On many occasions the undercover work was plain ludicrous, the characters gave themselves away and the incredulity of the events that followed was big enough to slow you down and think about what a shame it was. The way that egg (the stolen heirloom) moved in the end was just too easy. The way how an agent reacted when faced with a bully-criminal like Silvio was so not realistic and at some point some events were dragged a bit too much.
Speaking of too much here comes my favorite part. The insta-love thing. How fast can you fall utterly in love with a person you don’t know? Is a day enough? Add to that that you’re an agent and he is a Mafia kid and you have a completely non-realistic romance shaping right there. As much as I loved the entire sexual ordeal between Tony and Bradley, as much as it blew my mind with the hot and freaking awesome scenes, there was always the “love” in between them that put me off faster than an ice-cold shower. Add to that the desperation card that got overused there and the drama nearly suffocated me.
So in the end there were many, many things that would make me give this book not a favorable rating, but as I said in the beginning it still managed to drag me with it and not let me go till I reach THE END. Odd isn’t it? So when you consider that, that is the purpose of a book I can’t help but recommend it despite the cons.
Thommie
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
My impressions on this book varies from loved it to oh my God kill me now.
The action plot here was quite interesting, the pace set was my favorite, the intensity the story managed to grip me with was breathtaking and I managed to devour the book in only some short hours. The erotic factor was mouthwatering and the erotic scenes (which were plenty, and I mean plenty) were pretty brilliant. The author has a knack of making you jump into that eroticism along with the characters no matter what’s going on in the plot and all around you in real life. It’s safe to say that I completely left my outside world for the duration.
As gripping as it was though, the plot had some serious holes there that every fan of action/mystery/suspense would say a big NO to. On many occasions the undercover work was plain ludicrous, the characters gave themselves away and the incredulity of the events that followed was big enough to slow you down and think about what a shame it was. The way that egg (the stolen heirloom) moved in the end was just too easy. The way how an agent reacted when faced with a bully-criminal like Silvio was so not realistic and at some point some events were dragged a bit too much.
Speaking of too much here comes my favorite part. The insta-love thing. How fast can you fall utterly in love with a person you don’t know? Is a day enough? Add to that that you’re an agent and he is a Mafia kid and you have a completely non-realistic romance shaping right there. As much as I loved the entire sexual ordeal between Tony and Bradley, as much as it blew my mind with the hot and freaking awesome scenes, there was always the “love” in between them that put me off faster than an ice-cold shower. Add to that the desperation card that got overused there and the drama nearly suffocated me.
So in the end there were many, many things that would make me give this book not a favorable rating, but as I said in the beginning it still managed to drag me with it and not let me go till I reach THE END. Odd isn’t it? So when you consider that, that is the purpose of a book I can’t help but recommend it despite the cons.
Thommie
May 3, 2012
Is it summer yet, because this book is one heckuva steamy read! When two men full of secrets connect, a story with a bit of mystery and an intriguing secondary character, make for a memorable read that I'd like to see expanded.
Nate, through family obligations, ends up undercover in America looking for a stolen family heirloom and ends up in the middle of an intense game of cloak and daggers where nobody is who they seem. Nate's lived a rather by the book life never making close connections since the deaths of his parents at a young age. That's why his connecting so strongly with Tony is so unexpected. Tony too didn't expect to find someone like Nate who accepts him for who he is. Nate wasn't with Tony for the luxuries and gifts his money and family name could buy, which was refreshing for Tony who was tired of everyone's preconceived notions of him. These two were combustible together and the sexual interludes between them were numerous with a bit of lite BDSM play included and left this reader parched. While I enjoyed these intense scenes, I would've liked seeing more personal interaction and less physical, between Nate and Tony. Bulking up the mystery, the actual con, would've made for a more well-rounded story and would've made the sexual interludes more special.
Many of the secondary characters are rather generic, with the exception of Amanda. As a player in this con game with a kickass attitude and a propensity to wield a crop who's never as she seems, I'd love to see her get her own story to see what kind of man could tame her.
All-in-all, this was an unforgettable read with two strong-willed likable men involved in a scorching relationship that fans of the m/m genre will enjoy. And anytime the author wants to tell Amanda's story I'll definitely be there.
Nate, through family obligations, ends up undercover in America looking for a stolen family heirloom and ends up in the middle of an intense game of cloak and daggers where nobody is who they seem. Nate's lived a rather by the book life never making close connections since the deaths of his parents at a young age. That's why his connecting so strongly with Tony is so unexpected. Tony too didn't expect to find someone like Nate who accepts him for who he is. Nate wasn't with Tony for the luxuries and gifts his money and family name could buy, which was refreshing for Tony who was tired of everyone's preconceived notions of him. These two were combustible together and the sexual interludes between them were numerous with a bit of lite BDSM play included and left this reader parched. While I enjoyed these intense scenes, I would've liked seeing more personal interaction and less physical, between Nate and Tony. Bulking up the mystery, the actual con, would've made for a more well-rounded story and would've made the sexual interludes more special.
Many of the secondary characters are rather generic, with the exception of Amanda. As a player in this con game with a kickass attitude and a propensity to wield a crop who's never as she seems, I'd love to see her get her own story to see what kind of man could tame her.
All-in-all, this was an unforgettable read with two strong-willed likable men involved in a scorching relationship that fans of the m/m genre will enjoy. And anytime the author wants to tell Amanda's story I'll definitely be there.
September 17, 2012
KcLu's review posted on Guilty Pleasures
The Long Con is the first book I read by Lori Toland, and I have to so yet again I have found another great author to go soak up!! This book held me hostage!! I couldn’t sleep till I finished it and these two got there HEA!!!
British Agent Nathaniel Bradley gets a phone call from his grandfather that scares the life out of him. He races to his house thinking he will be going to the hospital to see about the only grandmother he has ever known, but when he gets there he finds out that a priceless family heirloom was stolen. He vows to do what ever he has to do get that Faberge Egg back for her. His search brings him to America, and has him working on his on undercover with a gang of cons. He is supposed to seduce Tony Terranova, Jr. Only problem with that plan is when he sees Tony he steals his breath away.
Tony Terranova, Jr is the heir to a big mafia dynasty, but he has secrets of his own. No on in his family knows that he is gay for one. He falls instantly for Bradley too! The sparks these two throw off would see you to burning if you were standing nest to them!! They have a supper HOT and SEXY as hell sex scene in a bathroom at an art showing minutes after meeting. Tony awakens the Dom in Bradley, but can Bradley keep his mission intact without loosing his heart too??
I don’t want to give away too much more of the story, because ohhh the way this unfolds is just beyond beautiful! Both of these men stole my heart from the beginning!! You really could careless that Tony is a mafia heir, because he is just a damn good guy! LAWD .. could I find a straight version of Bradley fer my lil ol self!!!! I hope you guys enjoy this one as much as I have!!!!!! It was a true pleasure to read this one!!
The Long Con is the first book I read by Lori Toland, and I have to so yet again I have found another great author to go soak up!! This book held me hostage!! I couldn’t sleep till I finished it and these two got there HEA!!!
British Agent Nathaniel Bradley gets a phone call from his grandfather that scares the life out of him. He races to his house thinking he will be going to the hospital to see about the only grandmother he has ever known, but when he gets there he finds out that a priceless family heirloom was stolen. He vows to do what ever he has to do get that Faberge Egg back for her. His search brings him to America, and has him working on his on undercover with a gang of cons. He is supposed to seduce Tony Terranova, Jr. Only problem with that plan is when he sees Tony he steals his breath away.
Tony Terranova, Jr is the heir to a big mafia dynasty, but he has secrets of his own. No on in his family knows that he is gay for one. He falls instantly for Bradley too! The sparks these two throw off would see you to burning if you were standing nest to them!! They have a supper HOT and SEXY as hell sex scene in a bathroom at an art showing minutes after meeting. Tony awakens the Dom in Bradley, but can Bradley keep his mission intact without loosing his heart too??
I don’t want to give away too much more of the story, because ohhh the way this unfolds is just beyond beautiful! Both of these men stole my heart from the beginning!! You really could careless that Tony is a mafia heir, because he is just a damn good guy! LAWD .. could I find a straight version of Bradley fer my lil ol self!!!! I hope you guys enjoy this one as much as I have!!!!!! It was a true pleasure to read this one!!
March 11, 2013
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
I liked this book, but I really wanted to love it. It sounded right up my alley, some hot m/m loving along with an action/suspense plot. I loved the two leads, Nathan Bradley and Tony Terranova, both came to life on the page and you wanted them to get a happy ending, despite everything.
The writing is good, the plot is enthralling but there were some niggles which jarred me out of the story. Bradley is as British as British can be yet he used words like sidewalk instead of pavement and trunk instead of boot. Since it was written in Bradley's first person POV, those words just don't ring true to him and neither does his use of ass instead of arse. UK people tend not to use the word ass unless they are referring to a donkey, and that isn’t the thought you want to be having when reading a hot love scene ;)
I also didn't get why Bradley was mistaken for a prostitute by the con artists, that seemed to come out of nowhere and because they thought he was a prostitute they wanted him to seduce Tony Terranova, their mark. Knowing Tony was gay, couldn't Bradley have just offered to seduce him anway, without playing a prostitute? There were some things added near the end about Bradley's relationship with his grandfather, which would have worked much better if we'd found that out earlier in the book, it would have given Bradley's life a bit more depth.
The love scenes are hot, with a bit of BDSM in there for good measure, there is no denying that. Bradley and Tony seem to fit so well from their first meeting when they fall instantly in lust. There are mysteries and secrets to be teased out, which keeps you reading to find out more. Even though they seemed to fall in love very quickly, as you were reading, it didn't seem like that. It seemed right for these two characters and I was gripped to the end.
Review copy from netgalley.
I liked this book, but I really wanted to love it. It sounded right up my alley, some hot m/m loving along with an action/suspense plot. I loved the two leads, Nathan Bradley and Tony Terranova, both came to life on the page and you wanted them to get a happy ending, despite everything.
The writing is good, the plot is enthralling but there were some niggles which jarred me out of the story. Bradley is as British as British can be yet he used words like sidewalk instead of pavement and trunk instead of boot. Since it was written in Bradley's first person POV, those words just don't ring true to him and neither does his use of ass instead of arse. UK people tend not to use the word ass unless they are referring to a donkey, and that isn’t the thought you want to be having when reading a hot love scene ;)
I also didn't get why Bradley was mistaken for a prostitute by the con artists, that seemed to come out of nowhere and because they thought he was a prostitute they wanted him to seduce Tony Terranova, their mark. Knowing Tony was gay, couldn't Bradley have just offered to seduce him anway, without playing a prostitute? There were some things added near the end about Bradley's relationship with his grandfather, which would have worked much better if we'd found that out earlier in the book, it would have given Bradley's life a bit more depth.
The love scenes are hot, with a bit of BDSM in there for good measure, there is no denying that. Bradley and Tony seem to fit so well from their first meeting when they fall instantly in lust. There are mysteries and secrets to be teased out, which keeps you reading to find out more. Even though they seemed to fall in love very quickly, as you were reading, it didn't seem like that. It seemed right for these two characters and I was gripped to the end.
Review copy from netgalley.
April 28, 2012
Article first published as eBook Review: The Long Con by Lori Toland on Blogcritics.
The Long Con by Lori Toland is a m/m erotic romance. It tells the story of British Agent Nathaniel Bradley. He's tasked with retrieving a stolen Faberge egg, which is priceless, and also belongs to his grandfather's wife, giving him a personal connection to the case. After tracking the stolen goods all the way to a group of criminals in New York, Bradley infiltrates a ring of con artists and gets sucked into the role of a high priced prostitute.
As he works to get back the egg without blowing his cover or putting himself in further danger, he decides the best way is to seduce the heirloom's potential buyer. However, Tony Terranova, Jr is the heir to a notorious mafia dynasty and Nathaniel knows that he could be in extreme danger if anything goes wrong.
However, as the two men explore their sexual relationship, they quickly discover how well they complement each other. Nate's a natural top, and Tony is incredibly submissive. They become wrapped up in one another, but as Nate comes closer to solving his case, he realises that the Faberge egg isn't the only thing at stake... so is his heart.
The Long Con is a fab read. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did I really enjoyed all the twists and turns, the kinky sex and the relationship between the two guys. There were several surprises, which I loved, and the ending left me with a smile on my face, and wanting to know what happened next. Well written, with an interesting plot and serious heat, The Long Con is the perfect read for gay erotic romance lovers.
The Long Con by Lori Toland is a m/m erotic romance. It tells the story of British Agent Nathaniel Bradley. He's tasked with retrieving a stolen Faberge egg, which is priceless, and also belongs to his grandfather's wife, giving him a personal connection to the case. After tracking the stolen goods all the way to a group of criminals in New York, Bradley infiltrates a ring of con artists and gets sucked into the role of a high priced prostitute.
As he works to get back the egg without blowing his cover or putting himself in further danger, he decides the best way is to seduce the heirloom's potential buyer. However, Tony Terranova, Jr is the heir to a notorious mafia dynasty and Nathaniel knows that he could be in extreme danger if anything goes wrong.
However, as the two men explore their sexual relationship, they quickly discover how well they complement each other. Nate's a natural top, and Tony is incredibly submissive. They become wrapped up in one another, but as Nate comes closer to solving his case, he realises that the Faberge egg isn't the only thing at stake... so is his heart.
The Long Con is a fab read. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did I really enjoyed all the twists and turns, the kinky sex and the relationship between the two guys. There were several surprises, which I loved, and the ending left me with a smile on my face, and wanting to know what happened next. Well written, with an interesting plot and serious heat, The Long Con is the perfect read for gay erotic romance lovers.
April 7, 2013
After finding out that a priceless family heirloom, a jeweled egg, was stolen Nathaniel did the one thing he knew that he could do. Using his government job, he searched high and low to find the thief’s. Exhausting all the leads in the UK, it seemed that fate was on his side when the egg turned up on the US black market. Taking a leave from his job, he crosses the ocean in hopes of finding the egg, by any means necessary.
What could have ended up horribly, helped give him an easy access to the egg in the long run. Finding out that the people who were in possession of the egg were in fact con men, he was then brought into the con because they believed he was a male hooker. Acting as a hooker gives him the chance to get close to the buyer of the egg, but he wasn’t prepared for what would happen when he did finally meet him. Pictures didn’t do Tony any justice because when Nathaniel sees him, feelings and instincts come to the surface that he didn’t realize that he had.
Overall I have to say that I completely enjoyed reading this book. The chemistry between Nathaniel and Tony was off the charts amazing. I really enjoyed the way the author was able to draw you into the story with her descriptions of the events that were going on throughout the book. The character development was also amazingly well done, to where I felt like I could completely picture them in my mind.
With the different twists and turns that the author included in this book, it kept me on my toes! After thinking that I had it figured out, I was proven wrong and it kept me wanting more. I was completely satisfied with this book overall and I will try out some of her other books as well!
What could have ended up horribly, helped give him an easy access to the egg in the long run. Finding out that the people who were in possession of the egg were in fact con men, he was then brought into the con because they believed he was a male hooker. Acting as a hooker gives him the chance to get close to the buyer of the egg, but he wasn’t prepared for what would happen when he did finally meet him. Pictures didn’t do Tony any justice because when Nathaniel sees him, feelings and instincts come to the surface that he didn’t realize that he had.
Overall I have to say that I completely enjoyed reading this book. The chemistry between Nathaniel and Tony was off the charts amazing. I really enjoyed the way the author was able to draw you into the story with her descriptions of the events that were going on throughout the book. The character development was also amazingly well done, to where I felt like I could completely picture them in my mind.
With the different twists and turns that the author included in this book, it kept me on my toes! After thinking that I had it figured out, I was proven wrong and it kept me wanting more. I was completely satisfied with this book overall and I will try out some of her other books as well!
December 3, 2012
B&N Synopsis:
"British Agent Nathaniel Bradley is tasked with bringing home a stolen heirloom. After tracking the Faberge egg all the way to a group of criminals in New York, Bradley infiltrates a ring of con artists and gets sucked into the role of a high priced prostitute.
While hoping for a chance to take back what is rightfully his, Bradley's sole mission becomes to seduce Tony Terranova, Jr, the heir to a notorious mafia dynasty. Though Tony is strikingly handsome, the usually dominant Bradley is hesitant to submit to the sexual whims of a dangerous Mafioso.
What Bradley doesn't expect is for Tony to fall to his knees so eagerly for him, leaving him blindsided by how intensely their dark tastes complement each other. Now Bradley is caught up in a deadly game of lies and desire, where what he truly wants may not be what duty requires."
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, no matter how implausible the plot, I didn't care. I fell in love with Tony JR! Even though I'm not a mob-story person, and Tony is supposed to be a dangerous guy - I didn't get that from him at all, and therefore totally enjoyed the story. Amanda seemed a little too super-spy for supposedly being young-ish, but I still found her intriguing and unexpected. If the author does write Amanda's story, then I will definately read it!
Bradley and Tony really have the chemistry, and I was completely enthralled by their story. The sex was hot-hot-hot, but not just sex - the feelings and the love was there. I would highly recommend this book to readers of gay romance!
"British Agent Nathaniel Bradley is tasked with bringing home a stolen heirloom. After tracking the Faberge egg all the way to a group of criminals in New York, Bradley infiltrates a ring of con artists and gets sucked into the role of a high priced prostitute.
While hoping for a chance to take back what is rightfully his, Bradley's sole mission becomes to seduce Tony Terranova, Jr, the heir to a notorious mafia dynasty. Though Tony is strikingly handsome, the usually dominant Bradley is hesitant to submit to the sexual whims of a dangerous Mafioso.
What Bradley doesn't expect is for Tony to fall to his knees so eagerly for him, leaving him blindsided by how intensely their dark tastes complement each other. Now Bradley is caught up in a deadly game of lies and desire, where what he truly wants may not be what duty requires."
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, no matter how implausible the plot, I didn't care. I fell in love with Tony JR! Even though I'm not a mob-story person, and Tony is supposed to be a dangerous guy - I didn't get that from him at all, and therefore totally enjoyed the story. Amanda seemed a little too super-spy for supposedly being young-ish, but I still found her intriguing and unexpected. If the author does write Amanda's story, then I will definately read it!
Bradley and Tony really have the chemistry, and I was completely enthralled by their story. The sex was hot-hot-hot, but not just sex - the feelings and the love was there. I would highly recommend this book to readers of gay romance!
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July 9, 2013I'm going to withhold my star rating on this one ... if Goodreads didn't base their star ratings on 'enjoyment' it would probably be a ★★★☆ to ★★★★ for quality of writing etc BUT I just couldn't get into the book at all ... I'll probably re-read it at a later date because I usually really enjoy these sorts of books but perhaps it isn't the ideal book to pick up & try to read when you've had less than 4 hours sleep & half the fucking neighbourhood seems to be playing xbox in your lounge room ... who are all these people? ... "Son? If you don't know anyone here, send them the fuck home!" ... School holidays can be a bitch sometimes! ... anyway, I digress ... this book was okay, but I suspect, with peace & quiet, it would rate much higher.
March 16, 2013
I received a review copy of this book through Net Galley.
A very enjoyable little read! A lot of the book's plot falls into the zone of romance novel tropes -- secret identities, bad guys who are really good guys, spies, etc., but I don't think the acknowledgement of this deterred from my enjoyment of the book in any way. Other reviewers have complained about the main character's voice not being authentically British, but it didn't honestly bother me.
The sex scenes are all well-written, sweet, and enjoyable, and fall very firmly into the light BDSM zone, so those not into that genre should not be deterred from reading this book if the plot appeals to them.
A very enjoyable little read! A lot of the book's plot falls into the zone of romance novel tropes -- secret identities, bad guys who are really good guys, spies, etc., but I don't think the acknowledgement of this deterred from my enjoyment of the book in any way. Other reviewers have complained about the main character's voice not being authentically British, but it didn't honestly bother me.
The sex scenes are all well-written, sweet, and enjoyable, and fall very firmly into the light BDSM zone, so those not into that genre should not be deterred from reading this book if the plot appeals to them.
August 16, 2013
The Long Con was a great read. The heat between the two main characters was explosive and their albeit quick but deep felt love made my heart bounce around in my chest. The back stories were great and the story of the long con itself did not get in the way of the romantic workings between Bradley and Tony. At the end I was swiping tears off of my face for them. I couldn't put it down. On to the sequel!
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