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Under Red Sky #1
The Boss
Nicholas Erickson is happy to be the smallest cog at the US Embassy in Singapore, a big step up from prison. Nick lives with a terrible secret: he killed a family of three in a traffic accident, for which he was imprisoned and became a pariah back home. The only threat to his second chance is the truth—and Nelson Graves.
Shipping Magnate Lord Nelson Graves is secretly the head of crime syndicate Red Sky, making him the biggest arms dealer and drug boss in Southeast Asia. Graves is tired, lonely, addicted to opium, and trying to get his imploding crime syndicate back to business. There is a traitor in his organization and an old enemy is back on his tail.
A romance builds between hot-headed, reckless Nick and unhappy, ruthless Graves. But nothing is that easy. Shoot-outs, bombings, and vindictive exes prove Nick’s past and Graves’s present may be a lethal combination.
Shipping Magnate Lord Nelson Graves is secretly the head of crime syndicate Red Sky, making him the biggest arms dealer and drug boss in Southeast Asia. Graves is tired, lonely, addicted to opium, and trying to get his imploding crime syndicate back to business. There is a traitor in his organization and an old enemy is back on his tail.
A romance builds between hot-headed, reckless Nick and unhappy, ruthless Graves. But nothing is that easy. Shoot-outs, bombings, and vindictive exes prove Nick’s past and Graves’s present may be a lethal combination.
- GenresM M RomanceDark
306 pages, ebook
First published January 15, 2021
3 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
J. Calamy
9 books39 followersJ Calamy is a queer disabled vet and foreign service wonk who spends a good part of the year bouncing down dirt roads in the back of Range Rovers with men with guns. Coffee, romance novels, and embassy scuttlebutt are her last remaining vices.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 22, 2021
When this started I had no idea what was going on. I like to have clear ideas of characters, what they look like or what they sound like, because I want to picture them in my head. I couldn’t get a clear idea of what these characters even looked like. How old was Nick? I knew more information was coming about him as I read but I felt lost at first.
I had a very hard time with who Graves was. He’s described as a giant by Nick at first. A giant with a bald head and face tattoos. That is not much of a description and I wasn’t impressed. I learned more of where he was from and his heritage so that made him click more in my mind.
I’m not a huge fan of more than the main characters telling the story and this has other characters POV’s. It seemed messy to me. I felt like I couldn’t enjoy the book because I couldn’t sit back and let it flow.
Nick seemed so young and immature throughout the entire book and Graves had so many titles and different names being thrown around. My head hurt while I was reading and for someone like me, who has attention issues, the information dump was an overload.
In the end I never connected with this story. There was so much potential for me to like it but I felt thrown in from the start, like the story had begun before I started reading, and I just never could catch up. It took too long for Nick & Graves to get together. There is sex between the MC and other characters, one of them being a female. I know this doesn’t work for everyone so I wanted to mention it.
The book ends with an epilogue that promises more to come. If you read and enjoy this there is a lot of action and more of the story of Graves and Nick to come. I hope to check out the next book because like I said, there was so much potential for me. The writing is solid I just wish the story felt more cohesive to me.
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I had a very hard time with who Graves was. He’s described as a giant by Nick at first. A giant with a bald head and face tattoos. That is not much of a description and I wasn’t impressed. I learned more of where he was from and his heritage so that made him click more in my mind.
I’m not a huge fan of more than the main characters telling the story and this has other characters POV’s. It seemed messy to me. I felt like I couldn’t enjoy the book because I couldn’t sit back and let it flow.
Nick seemed so young and immature throughout the entire book and Graves had so many titles and different names being thrown around. My head hurt while I was reading and for someone like me, who has attention issues, the information dump was an overload.
In the end I never connected with this story. There was so much potential for me to like it but I felt thrown in from the start, like the story had begun before I started reading, and I just never could catch up. It took too long for Nick & Graves to get together. There is sex between the MC and other characters, one of them being a female. I know this doesn’t work for everyone so I wanted to mention it.
The book ends with an epilogue that promises more to come. If you read and enjoy this there is a lot of action and more of the story of Graves and Nick to come. I hope to check out the next book because like I said, there was so much potential for me. The writing is solid I just wish the story felt more cohesive to me.
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2021
Man, J Calamy's
Under Red Sky: The Boss
was a HOT, steamy, and intense read, with lots of emotion and action!
Since I joined Bookstagram more than two years ago I’ve been fortunate to work with some groups that organize blog tours for books. Through those groups, I’ve been lucky to find books I might never have heard of otherwise, and I'm so grateful.
That holds true for Under Red Sky: The Boss , too! Thanks to Pride Book Tours for putting it on my radar and for sending me a complimentary copy in exchange for an unbiased review!
Nick did a horrible thing in the heat of the moment—he killed a family in a traffic accident as a result of road rage—and he paid the price for it. Shunned by family and friends, he spent some time in prison and then fled the U.S. for Singapore, where he’s content being a tiny cog at the U.S. Embassy there.
But when his past is discovered, it threatens to destroy him professionally and personally until Lord Nelson Graves, a powerful shipping magnate, intervenes. Feeling guilty about nearly running Nick over with his sports car, he helps Nick land a job which puts him on a much better path and shows him he is worthy of happiness and success again.
Nick can’t help but feel drawn to Graves, even if he’s never really had an interest in men before. But Graves has secrets, too—he is the head of Red Sky, a major arms and drug dealer in Asia. He’s hunting a traitor in his midst and between that and fighting his growing attraction to Nick, he’s all over the place and doesn't know what he really wants.
This was a quick read and I was hooked from the start. There’s action, intrigue, serious sexual tension, emotion, and some immensely hot (and graphic) sex scenes, both M/M and M/F. The relationship between Nick and Graves is really fascinating—it's a younger/older thing, and I love how the book doesn't shy away from dealing with Graves' disability while still portraying him as a powerful, virile man.
I could really see this as a series on Netflix or something because of the drama and action!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Since I joined Bookstagram more than two years ago I’ve been fortunate to work with some groups that organize blog tours for books. Through those groups, I’ve been lucky to find books I might never have heard of otherwise, and I'm so grateful.
That holds true for Under Red Sky: The Boss , too! Thanks to Pride Book Tours for putting it on my radar and for sending me a complimentary copy in exchange for an unbiased review!
Nick did a horrible thing in the heat of the moment—he killed a family in a traffic accident as a result of road rage—and he paid the price for it. Shunned by family and friends, he spent some time in prison and then fled the U.S. for Singapore, where he’s content being a tiny cog at the U.S. Embassy there.
But when his past is discovered, it threatens to destroy him professionally and personally until Lord Nelson Graves, a powerful shipping magnate, intervenes. Feeling guilty about nearly running Nick over with his sports car, he helps Nick land a job which puts him on a much better path and shows him he is worthy of happiness and success again.
Nick can’t help but feel drawn to Graves, even if he’s never really had an interest in men before. But Graves has secrets, too—he is the head of Red Sky, a major arms and drug dealer in Asia. He’s hunting a traitor in his midst and between that and fighting his growing attraction to Nick, he’s all over the place and doesn't know what he really wants.
This was a quick read and I was hooked from the start. There’s action, intrigue, serious sexual tension, emotion, and some immensely hot (and graphic) sex scenes, both M/M and M/F. The relationship between Nick and Graves is really fascinating—it's a younger/older thing, and I love how the book doesn't shy away from dealing with Graves' disability while still portraying him as a powerful, virile man.
I could really see this as a series on Netflix or something because of the drama and action!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
January 18, 2021
If you like sprawling ensemble action films with a smattering of romance and dubious morality, you should enjoy this.
It's written mostly as a dual POV story, however some supporting characters do have their own POV sections (mostly Jeanne, once Mac). These instances are always clearly indicated, so it's not confusing.
The concerns Nick, a young drifter-type with a shady past, and Graves, a mob boss battling a mole in his organisation. Nick meets Graves when he's trying to start a new life in Singapore at the American Embassy and they are drawn to each other, despite the chaos surrounding them due to Nick's past and Graves' current difficulties with his organisation.
It took me a bit to get into it, there is a lot going on and this style isn't one I normally gravitate towards.
Once I was in though, I was hooked and I'll be looking for the next book.
I appreciated the pragmatism in relation to Nick's PTSD and Graves' prosthetics and asphasia. You are not meant to pity these guys and there is no one trying to save them from their disabilities. There is no preaching or pitymongering for sympathy points ("oh, poor them, I'm glad they found each other") as there sometimes is when an abled person writes characters with disabilities and doesn't bother to use sensitivity readers.
Mostly you're just supposed to accept their disabilities as part of who they are and then join them for the good stuff (fights, intrigue, scenes of an intimate nature).
There is a tasty epilogue that I assume will lead into the next book, although I'm uncertain if it will focus on Nick and Graves or another set of characters that will propel the series forward.
It's written mostly as a dual POV story, however some supporting characters do have their own POV sections (mostly Jeanne, once Mac). These instances are always clearly indicated, so it's not confusing.
The concerns Nick, a young drifter-type with a shady past, and Graves, a mob boss battling a mole in his organisation. Nick meets Graves when he's trying to start a new life in Singapore at the American Embassy and they are drawn to each other, despite the chaos surrounding them due to Nick's past and Graves' current difficulties with his organisation.
It took me a bit to get into it, there is a lot going on and this style isn't one I normally gravitate towards.
Once I was in though, I was hooked and I'll be looking for the next book.
I appreciated the pragmatism in relation to Nick's PTSD and Graves' prosthetics and asphasia. You are not meant to pity these guys and there is no one trying to save them from their disabilities. There is no preaching or pitymongering for sympathy points ("oh, poor them, I'm glad they found each other") as there sometimes is when an abled person writes characters with disabilities and doesn't bother to use sensitivity readers.
Mostly you're just supposed to accept their disabilities as part of who they are and then join them for the good stuff (fights, intrigue, scenes of an intimate nature).
There is a tasty epilogue that I assume will lead into the next book, although I'm uncertain if it will focus on Nick and Graves or another set of characters that will propel the series forward.
January 28, 2021
Characters are introduced fast and furious. You have zero clue who they are and they all just get jumbled into a pile of names. Not the best way to start telling a story. I feel like chapter 1 is already the middle of the book.
Also if there’s going to be MF sexual relations a warning would have been nice. Pelvic floors are not what I want to read if I’m expecting just MM in a book. That should definitely be in the blurb. Plus it was one of the MCs in the story. Ugh 🙄
For this reason, this book was a DNF for me.
Also if there’s going to be MF sexual relations a warning would have been nice. Pelvic floors are not what I want to read if I’m expecting just MM in a book. That should definitely be in the blurb. Plus it was one of the MCs in the story. Ugh 🙄
For this reason, this book was a DNF for me.
January 26, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
The Boss was an interesting, if somewhat uneven, action and character driven story about two men who seem made for one another.
Nelson Graves isn’t a particularly good man and that made him difficult to like at times. He’s an international weapons and drug dealer and associates with some pretty nasty people. So I struggled to really connect with him. But his devotion to the family he’s made is admirable and ultimately what made him relatable. Nick was harder to grasp. He wasn’t a bad guy. He did a terrible thing certainly, but beyond that it was hard to actually understand who he was. He just didn’t feel fully developed as a character. Despite this, he and Nelson worked well together and they made a sweet couple in their own way. There’s a connection between and while they aren’t the best communicators, they read as realistic.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
The Boss was an interesting, if somewhat uneven, action and character driven story about two men who seem made for one another.
Nelson Graves isn’t a particularly good man and that made him difficult to like at times. He’s an international weapons and drug dealer and associates with some pretty nasty people. So I struggled to really connect with him. But his devotion to the family he’s made is admirable and ultimately what made him relatable. Nick was harder to grasp. He wasn’t a bad guy. He did a terrible thing certainly, but beyond that it was hard to actually understand who he was. He just didn’t feel fully developed as a character. Despite this, he and Nelson worked well together and they made a sweet couple in their own way. There’s a connection between and while they aren’t the best communicators, they read as realistic.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
January 20, 2021
This is a gritty, interesting and original story that had me intrigued and kept me turning pages right till the end.
Although, the many people sometimes made it difficult to keep everyone straight and remember who's who.
There was plenty of action and adventure. I liked both Graves and Nicholas and was wishing for them to get their hea.
The epilogue had a twist I didn't see coming and definitely leaves the story open for a great beginning to the next book.
Although, the many people sometimes made it difficult to keep everyone straight and remember who's who.
There was plenty of action and adventure. I liked both Graves and Nicholas and was wishing for them to get their hea.
The epilogue had a twist I didn't see coming and definitely leaves the story open for a great beginning to the next book.
February 2, 2021
I don't like to give 1-star ratings to books that are not yet popular. It always feels like I'm nipping it in the bud, and I would have not if this book was self-published, since I'm not an evil monster that likes to crush authors' dreams apart. But this is not, and I can't believe for the love of God that this has gone through an editing process. If it has, then the editor is totally incompetent, because this looks like a first draft, and not even a clean one.
The writing is clunky, repetitive, boring, and confusing at the same time. Every sentence is structured the same, starting with a pronoun, making each scene more like a list of actions than a proper narrative. It was SO EASY to fix. So easy. But nope.
By confusing then, I mean that most of the time I couldn't figure out who was who and so on and so forth. We are introduced immediately to a great variety of characters who are not at all described in a way that will make them stick in my head. Each description is superficial, so much I had troubles understanding what Graves looked like until a good halfway through, and then I'm still not 100% sure?? Is he white? Is he Malay? Is he what? I swear either it changed every three pages, or this poor man wasn't once described in a clear, focused way. I opt for the second.
Nicholas is such a feeble, useless character that I don't even know what to say about him. Unfortunately, his ineptitude for life wasn't a plot point or a way to build his backstory, it was just... there.
The sex between them is among the cringiest I've ever read. Like, imagine trashy porn movie dialogue mixed up with oddly purple prose. So you get a weird combination of "channels of pleasure" and "breed me like a whore". Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
Then, the harder note. I picked up this book to review from NetGalley because I was fascinated by the setting. I love Singapore. I won't say I know it like the back of my hand, but a little bit yes, and I know so many Singaporeans I've lost count by now. And I'm not saying the author doesn't. But... I never felt like I was back there, you know? Which was exactly what I was looking for. Singapore would have been such an amazing setting for really delving into important issues which are normally totally ignored by the genre, would have been an amazing opportunity to explore this great result of such a fascinating history of past colonialism and modern pride and national identity, of incredible technological advance and great wealth vs. the weight of a conservative culture, harsh laws and the exploitation of migrant workers.
I mean, I understand that I probably won't find these issues in a sort of what, MM romance? But... there was nothing if not some superficial glaze over a cringy story that made me even angrier.
And at this point, I would have been happy if I was just there in spirit, sweating in the heat, surprised by a midday thunderstorm. Not even that. For the whole duration of this book, I stayed with my mind 100% stuck in fucking London in the bleak midwinter.
And that's it.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
The writing is clunky, repetitive, boring, and confusing at the same time. Every sentence is structured the same, starting with a pronoun, making each scene more like a list of actions than a proper narrative. It was SO EASY to fix. So easy. But nope.
By confusing then, I mean that most of the time I couldn't figure out who was who and so on and so forth. We are introduced immediately to a great variety of characters who are not at all described in a way that will make them stick in my head. Each description is superficial, so much I had troubles understanding what Graves looked like until a good halfway through, and then I'm still not 100% sure?? Is he white? Is he Malay? Is he what? I swear either it changed every three pages, or this poor man wasn't once described in a clear, focused way. I opt for the second.
Nicholas is such a feeble, useless character that I don't even know what to say about him. Unfortunately, his ineptitude for life wasn't a plot point or a way to build his backstory, it was just... there.
The sex between them is among the cringiest I've ever read. Like, imagine trashy porn movie dialogue mixed up with oddly purple prose. So you get a weird combination of "channels of pleasure" and "breed me like a whore". Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
Then, the harder note. I picked up this book to review from NetGalley because I was fascinated by the setting. I love Singapore. I won't say I know it like the back of my hand, but a little bit yes, and I know so many Singaporeans I've lost count by now. And I'm not saying the author doesn't. But... I never felt like I was back there, you know? Which was exactly what I was looking for. Singapore would have been such an amazing setting for really delving into important issues which are normally totally ignored by the genre, would have been an amazing opportunity to explore this great result of such a fascinating history of past colonialism and modern pride and national identity, of incredible technological advance and great wealth vs. the weight of a conservative culture, harsh laws and the exploitation of migrant workers.
I mean, I understand that I probably won't find these issues in a sort of what, MM romance? But... there was nothing if not some superficial glaze over a cringy story that made me even angrier.
And at this point, I would have been happy if I was just there in spirit, sweating in the heat, surprised by a midday thunderstorm. Not even that. For the whole duration of this book, I stayed with my mind 100% stuck in fucking London in the bleak midwinter.
And that's it.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
February 6, 2021
*I received this novel for free in exchange for an honest review*
Nick Erickson tries to keep a low profile both in his job and his personal life. With mistakes from his past still haunting him and coupled with the fear of anyone finding out, he keeps himself somewhat closed off from those around him. Nick just wants to keep his life quiet. And that all changes when he meets Lord Nelson Graves. Graves is the owner of a shipping firm and also secretly the head of the crime syndicate Red Sky. Circumstances find the two drawn together and as Nick gets to know Graves he also begins to discover a lot about himself too.
I enjoyed reading this first installment of the Under Red Sky series. I liked the Singapore setting and being immersed in the location and culture. The Boss is gritty and unflinching in the descriptions of violence which really captures the genre and mood of the story well. Nick and Graves are both flawed, but human and each have likeable and not so likeable qualities. The two main characters go together well. Nick’s hot-headedness means he is unafraid to stand up to Graves’ more domineering and ruthless personality. The supporting cast are interesting and I hope to learn about them in later books in the series.
If you like a gritty, action-packed novel with a building romance between the two main characters you will certainly enjoy The Boss!
Nick Erickson tries to keep a low profile both in his job and his personal life. With mistakes from his past still haunting him and coupled with the fear of anyone finding out, he keeps himself somewhat closed off from those around him. Nick just wants to keep his life quiet. And that all changes when he meets Lord Nelson Graves. Graves is the owner of a shipping firm and also secretly the head of the crime syndicate Red Sky. Circumstances find the two drawn together and as Nick gets to know Graves he also begins to discover a lot about himself too.
I enjoyed reading this first installment of the Under Red Sky series. I liked the Singapore setting and being immersed in the location and culture. The Boss is gritty and unflinching in the descriptions of violence which really captures the genre and mood of the story well. Nick and Graves are both flawed, but human and each have likeable and not so likeable qualities. The two main characters go together well. Nick’s hot-headedness means he is unafraid to stand up to Graves’ more domineering and ruthless personality. The supporting cast are interesting and I hope to learn about them in later books in the series.
If you like a gritty, action-packed novel with a building romance between the two main characters you will certainly enjoy The Boss!
February 1, 2021
Both Nick and Graves have blood on their hands: Nick from a past choice that haunts him daily, Graves from his long tenure as a soldier and the head of a crime syndicate. To say they're complicated is an understatement, and much of the relationship that forms between them does so in the liminal space between the intuition they have about each other that not everything is as it seems and the desire they seem to share to connect no matter what the obstacles. I liked both characters: they're complex, flawed, and morally ambiguous, but perfect for each other. I also really liked Graves' friends -- inside and outside of his criminal organization. They're a chosen family bound as much my love and laughter as by violence and shared history, and they made for a compelling community. The epilogue implies that there might be more to Nick and Graves' story, and I admit, I'm really hoping there is. It's a well-written book, with good pacing and awesomely complex characters. Well worth a read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 5, 2021
After finishing it, I wanted to sit on this book, but I couldn't stop thinking about my feeling after reading this book. I was just a passive reader initially, and I was struggling and had to put it down after reading few pages and took it back up a couple of weeks later. I just started where I left off and didn't want to put it down. It could have been Nick's describing his loneliness or Nelson Graves just entering the scene. Nelson Graves and his circle are characters I wanted to know more about. I enjoyed how Nick's personality just revealed itself the more time he got involved in the circle. I doubly enjoyed how Nick's sexual discovery played out this book. It was such a surprisingly slow burn, and I was here for all of it. I got what attracted them both beyond their looks, and I honestly didn't know how much I crave that in a book. I'm glad to see that there would be more to this series and ended in a good place to continue with the story.
This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
January 31, 2021
J. Calmay is a first author read for me and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. The book is action-packed, gritty, some angst, all the characters are likable, romantic, and I enjoyed it. Nicholas just wanted to do his job but his past keeps coming back to haunt him. He lost his job because of Nelson Graves and he was given an opportunity to work within his circle. Nelson Graves is the boss of all bosses and he cares for family and people. He has a soft spot for Nick and the two are attracted to each other and once they get together their sexy times are hot. The book has a lot of twists and turns and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
January 31, 2021
What a rush, oh man this book was a trip and a half and just oozed that something special. Graves was a man of mystery and very intriguing, whereas Nick was a conundrum that was in such turmoil. The story was complicated and one you have to pay attention to understand. Full of drama, first time experiences and an amazing yet funny found family. I enjoyed the closeness of everyone and how much they all took to Nick, he so desperately needed someone to care. This had me on my toes as I never knew just who was playing what side and where allegiances lay.
January 31, 2021
There are no punches pulled here, both Nick and Graves have pasts and their present situations aren't good either. If you are willing to accept one MC who is the head of a criminal organization and one who served time in prison and just let them show you who they are over the course of the story you are in for a wonderful, original ride. There is action and suspense galore but it doesn't overpower the relationship that builds between these two men. The ending left me wanting the next book in the series immediately.
February 8, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this intriguing, grab-you-by-the-feels, simmering, intense, fantastic, gritty, raw, gripping, and totally awesome start to an interesting new series. This is a debut book by a new-to-me author, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
July 10, 2021
This is a complex and well-written story about organized crime in Southeast Asia, mainly Singapore. This is also an m/m antihero love story, but it does not follow the usual tropes. There is a bisexual awakening theme, but that, too, doesn't follow the usual path. Both MCs are bisexual. There is an HFN ending with a setup for sequels.
I can't give this five stars because there were some minor grammatical issues that slipped past editing/proofreading. However, this book is better in that regard than most romance novels. There were also some problems with shifting viewpoint characters a bit too often.
I can't give this five stars because there were some minor grammatical issues that slipped past editing/proofreading. However, this book is better in that regard than most romance novels. There were also some problems with shifting viewpoint characters a bit too often.
April 18, 2021
This book was the sweltering, steamy, slow burn romance/thriller I needed in my life! The writing is wonderful, the story is intriguing, and the pacing is electric. Nelson Graves is big, bad, sweet, and hotter than hot. He can boss me around any day of the week! Highly recommend!
February 1, 2021
Very enjoyable
Nick and Graves were wonderfully complex characters, both were haunted and by past decisions. I really enjoyed this fantastic series opener, I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series has to offer.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Nick and Graves were wonderfully complex characters, both were haunted and by past decisions. I really enjoyed this fantastic series opener, I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series has to offer.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 2, 2021
Man, I haven't read a book with this kind of writing in a long fucking time!! More, please. 😭😭😭
March 9, 2021
3.25 Stars
This book took me on a rollercoaster, and I’m not just meaning because of the storyline.
This book was about two gritty, flawed, and morally corrupt characters. They weren’t always likable, and it took a while to find a connection with them. That’s the thing about people; we don’t all fit into neat little boxes.
The story was a slow build in some ways, and fast-paced in others. Being in the lifestyle they were, there was plenty of action. I wish they kept the POV to just the two main characters, but that’s just my personal preference. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of the sex between a main character and someone who wasn’t the other main character. I am not naive, and realize that life doesn’t always follow the script we want it to, but it’s just not my cup of tea. With the life these men lead, especially Graves, this may be par for the course for them/him. Once your morals are questionable, go big or go home, right?
I’m not sure I was the best audience for this book, so bear that in mind for my review. I found the blurb intriguing but wasn’t aware of how the story was going to play out. It’s always a gamble with any book you pick up. I feel like there is an audience for this book, and they will love it. If darker storylines with morally questionable characters is more up your alley, then I think you should give this book a try.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***
This book took me on a rollercoaster, and I’m not just meaning because of the storyline.
This book was about two gritty, flawed, and morally corrupt characters. They weren’t always likable, and it took a while to find a connection with them. That’s the thing about people; we don’t all fit into neat little boxes.
The story was a slow build in some ways, and fast-paced in others. Being in the lifestyle they were, there was plenty of action. I wish they kept the POV to just the two main characters, but that’s just my personal preference. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of the sex between a main character and someone who wasn’t the other main character. I am not naive, and realize that life doesn’t always follow the script we want it to, but it’s just not my cup of tea. With the life these men lead, especially Graves, this may be par for the course for them/him. Once your morals are questionable, go big or go home, right?
I’m not sure I was the best audience for this book, so bear that in mind for my review. I found the blurb intriguing but wasn’t aware of how the story was going to play out. It’s always a gamble with any book you pick up. I feel like there is an audience for this book, and they will love it. If darker storylines with morally questionable characters is more up your alley, then I think you should give this book a try.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***
February 27, 2021
The book has great characters and dialogue, and the romance arc is quite touching. But before I get started, I want to say that the characters are BISEXUAL, so if you're squeamish about reading sex scenes involving a man and a woman in your mlm romance, move along. To be clear: the majority of the sex scenes (which are habanero-level hot and very well done) involve two men, but since I saw a couple of reviewers complaining about the m/f sex scenes I thought I should mention it.
I loved Nick, who is described as being ready to "fight a traffic sign for a single corn chip." This feisty redhead has a big-ass chip on his shoulder, which is kind of cute and funny, but makes a lot of sense when you find out about the trauma he has experienced, which is largely of his own making. His struggle to deal with his trauma, combined with his discovery of his bisexuality, are at the heart of the story. What he needs is a strong man with a broad back to hold him and tell him everything will be okay, and then do things to him he never imagined possible.
Enter Graves, AKA the Boss, a disabled crimelord who is equal parts amoral and deeply loving. He is such a fantastic character, and I honestly couldn't get enough of him. He has two partial leg prostheses, but that doesn't stop him from running a crime syndicate or engaging in some rather vigorous sex. He also has a bit of an opium problem, but the guy has multiple pieces of shrapnel in his body, so give him a break, okay? He is the only one to see Nick for who he really is, to understand what it means to experience trauma, and he gives Nick the space to process that trauma. The romance is a fairly slow burn, but when it lights up there are serious fireworks.
The push and pull of the characters' moral quandaries and their growing love for each other are the strengths of the book. Both characters have killed innocent people, but they are nuanced people, not defined by individual actions. The intimacy and frankness of the shared space they create is Important; this isn't just an I-love-you-you're-so-great story. This is a story about loving someone despite, or perhaps because of, their deep flaws, insecurities, and troubled past (and present). Absolute aces for the emotional intimacy, and though I'm not the best judge, the sex scenes are pretty damned good too.
There are two areas I felt could have been a little stronger. The book is set in Singapore, and though we do get a few glimpses of the location, I wanted a stronger sense of place. The food stalls were a highlight, and I found myself wanting more Singapore. The second quibble is with the POV switches. We mostly get Nick and Graves POVs, and they are both well done and work well together. But we occasionally get other POVs, notably Jeanne's, and they don't get enough page time to add a significant dimension to the story for me. I also prefer my POV switches to be cleaner, and we often jump back and forth a bit more than I would like.
Overall, this was a great read, and I will definitely be reading the next book. I should add that this was the first romance I have read in a long time, and J Calamy has given me the inspiration to make sure it is not the last.
I loved Nick, who is described as being ready to "fight a traffic sign for a single corn chip." This feisty redhead has a big-ass chip on his shoulder, which is kind of cute and funny, but makes a lot of sense when you find out about the trauma he has experienced, which is largely of his own making. His struggle to deal with his trauma, combined with his discovery of his bisexuality, are at the heart of the story. What he needs is a strong man with a broad back to hold him and tell him everything will be okay, and then do things to him he never imagined possible.
Enter Graves, AKA the Boss, a disabled crimelord who is equal parts amoral and deeply loving. He is such a fantastic character, and I honestly couldn't get enough of him. He has two partial leg prostheses, but that doesn't stop him from running a crime syndicate or engaging in some rather vigorous sex. He also has a bit of an opium problem, but the guy has multiple pieces of shrapnel in his body, so give him a break, okay? He is the only one to see Nick for who he really is, to understand what it means to experience trauma, and he gives Nick the space to process that trauma. The romance is a fairly slow burn, but when it lights up there are serious fireworks.
The push and pull of the characters' moral quandaries and their growing love for each other are the strengths of the book. Both characters have killed innocent people, but they are nuanced people, not defined by individual actions. The intimacy and frankness of the shared space they create is Important; this isn't just an I-love-you-you're-so-great story. This is a story about loving someone despite, or perhaps because of, their deep flaws, insecurities, and troubled past (and present). Absolute aces for the emotional intimacy, and though I'm not the best judge, the sex scenes are pretty damned good too.
There are two areas I felt could have been a little stronger. The book is set in Singapore, and though we do get a few glimpses of the location, I wanted a stronger sense of place. The food stalls were a highlight, and I found myself wanting more Singapore. The second quibble is with the POV switches. We mostly get Nick and Graves POVs, and they are both well done and work well together. But we occasionally get other POVs, notably Jeanne's, and they don't get enough page time to add a significant dimension to the story for me. I also prefer my POV switches to be cleaner, and we often jump back and forth a bit more than I would like.
Overall, this was a great read, and I will definitely be reading the next book. I should add that this was the first romance I have read in a long time, and J Calamy has given me the inspiration to make sure it is not the last.
March 2, 2021
"I thought I would get to take my time, pull you to pieces little by little. I didn't think I'd be so..." He kissed Nick again, nipping at his lower lip. "So bloody desperate for you."
There have been very few moments in the past, where a romance read has taken me by surprise. With a backdrop of an action film, I can say that Graves and Nick added to the very limited set of scenarios I conjure up in my head when it comes to romance reads. They were not the best, but they certainly were unique enough to be memorable. J. Calamy may not have written a masterpiece, but this book is a huge step forward in the #OwnVoices genre, normalizing the representation of queer and the disabled in an environment which finds their existence to be implicit and not an anomaly.
Nelson Graves is the Lord of the crime syndicate Red Sky and the biggest arms dealer/drug boss in Southeast Asia. Calamy's description of him made me imagine him as Dwayne Johnson with face tattoos lol. Though his life seems to be all glamorous at first, we see him struggling to bring the syndicate back on track. Amidst this chaos, enter touch-starved and hot-headed Nicholas Erickson. He has been to prison and takes no shit from anybody, even though he's a former prisoner doing a menial job in the US Embassy in Singapore. While Nick is trying hard to stay away from trouble, trouble is where Graves thrives. So when these two cross paths, we see them falling for each other with a slow burn that only cares about who they are in the present moment.
First of all, the blurb does NOT give any heads-up for the steam this book has. I admit that most of the erotica I get to read focuses on straight couples, so maybe it was just my lack of encounter with queer sex that I was taken by surprise. But to be fair, the build up to that one sex scene is so, so damn good. The description, the pace, and the sweet endearments just hit home perfectly. Not gonna lie, but Calamy gave me a teeny-tiny orgasm with her erotic writing. The sex was not just steamy, but informative too!
The author tries to balance the steam - or even complement it - with the action sequences but I couldn't connect much with the latter. The conspiracies and drama within Red Sky only helps reinforce Graves' masculine image as a dom/protector in the relationship, in contrast to Nick. Otherwise, I did not feel much motivated to learn about the happenings of Red Sky.
"Everything. I want to take you to bed. I want you to make me laugh and insult me and keep me from slipping too far down this dark road I am on. I think you could. I think it could be good with you. I think I could be. Might even get out of the game for a bit. Just a little. Rest. God knows we could use it. It would be good. That was it, wasn't it? Being with Nick could be good. Really good."
I can't say I'm very enthusiastic about the sequels but I'll give them a go because I ship Graves and Nick. I appreciate the way books like this one may not hit us hard but they do help in normalizing queer representations of love. Calamy also does a good job integrating Nick's panic attacks and Graves' disability within the romance, using them to enhance their bond, yet not treating them as some distinct abnormalities. In all, loved the sex and the slow burn but looking forward to a more gripping and wholesome plot in the sequels.
There have been very few moments in the past, where a romance read has taken me by surprise. With a backdrop of an action film, I can say that Graves and Nick added to the very limited set of scenarios I conjure up in my head when it comes to romance reads. They were not the best, but they certainly were unique enough to be memorable. J. Calamy may not have written a masterpiece, but this book is a huge step forward in the #OwnVoices genre, normalizing the representation of queer and the disabled in an environment which finds their existence to be implicit and not an anomaly.
Nelson Graves is the Lord of the crime syndicate Red Sky and the biggest arms dealer/drug boss in Southeast Asia. Calamy's description of him made me imagine him as Dwayne Johnson with face tattoos lol. Though his life seems to be all glamorous at first, we see him struggling to bring the syndicate back on track. Amidst this chaos, enter touch-starved and hot-headed Nicholas Erickson. He has been to prison and takes no shit from anybody, even though he's a former prisoner doing a menial job in the US Embassy in Singapore. While Nick is trying hard to stay away from trouble, trouble is where Graves thrives. So when these two cross paths, we see them falling for each other with a slow burn that only cares about who they are in the present moment.
First of all, the blurb does NOT give any heads-up for the steam this book has. I admit that most of the erotica I get to read focuses on straight couples, so maybe it was just my lack of encounter with queer sex that I was taken by surprise. But to be fair, the build up to that one sex scene is so, so damn good. The description, the pace, and the sweet endearments just hit home perfectly. Not gonna lie, but Calamy gave me a teeny-tiny orgasm with her erotic writing. The sex was not just steamy, but informative too!
The author tries to balance the steam - or even complement it - with the action sequences but I couldn't connect much with the latter. The conspiracies and drama within Red Sky only helps reinforce Graves' masculine image as a dom/protector in the relationship, in contrast to Nick. Otherwise, I did not feel much motivated to learn about the happenings of Red Sky.
"Everything. I want to take you to bed. I want you to make me laugh and insult me and keep me from slipping too far down this dark road I am on. I think you could. I think it could be good with you. I think I could be. Might even get out of the game for a bit. Just a little. Rest. God knows we could use it. It would be good. That was it, wasn't it? Being with Nick could be good. Really good."
I can't say I'm very enthusiastic about the sequels but I'll give them a go because I ship Graves and Nick. I appreciate the way books like this one may not hit us hard but they do help in normalizing queer representations of love. Calamy also does a good job integrating Nick's panic attacks and Graves' disability within the romance, using them to enhance their bond, yet not treating them as some distinct abnormalities. In all, loved the sex and the slow burn but looking forward to a more gripping and wholesome plot in the sequels.
March 1, 2021
I was sent a copy of this book for review.
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The story is set in Singapore and is a fast paced, action packed crime thriller with an extremely hot, erotic and unexpectedly endearing couple at its heart. Nick Erickson is a lonely and troubled young man who is trying desperately to escape the mistakes of his past. Nelson Graves is a sophisticated, rich, older man who is the head of the Red Sky drug syndicate and has ongoing troubles of his own. They hit it off when Nick takes no crap from Graves who is used to being unquestioned and enjoys the push back and Graves feels the need to take care of Nick and senses his vulnerability which is exactly what Nick needs.
As they learn the darker side to each other and explore their pasts the relationship quickly turns to scorching hot passion. Grave can see the trauma within Nick and tries to help and in turn Nick appreciates Graves for the man inside rather than his criminal persona. Graves enables Nick to explore his bisexuality freely and Nick allows Graves to step back and take a moment for himself instead constantly being in control.
I give this 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟. The main story deals with an M/M relationship but there are some M/F moments too. I found myself needing to fan myself after most of them as they are inventively descriptive and incredibly hot. Both main characters are bisexual and embrace sex exuberantly. I thought the scenes dealing with Nick's discovery of his attraction to men and the exploration of this side to himself were really well written. The violence and criminal elements are gritty and unforgiving which adds a dangerous and dark thread to the plot and will keep you gripped to every page. Graves was a complex, at times deeply flawed and immoral character but a compelling and addictive one too. It would be easy to dislike him but he is so well written and his love and loyalty to friends and family is so deep that it's hard to not care about him plus he drives my dream car. The unabashed desire between Nick and Graves was irresistible and captivating reading. I eagerly await book 2 in this series for more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
The story is set in Singapore and is a fast paced, action packed crime thriller with an extremely hot, erotic and unexpectedly endearing couple at its heart. Nick Erickson is a lonely and troubled young man who is trying desperately to escape the mistakes of his past. Nelson Graves is a sophisticated, rich, older man who is the head of the Red Sky drug syndicate and has ongoing troubles of his own. They hit it off when Nick takes no crap from Graves who is used to being unquestioned and enjoys the push back and Graves feels the need to take care of Nick and senses his vulnerability which is exactly what Nick needs.
As they learn the darker side to each other and explore their pasts the relationship quickly turns to scorching hot passion. Grave can see the trauma within Nick and tries to help and in turn Nick appreciates Graves for the man inside rather than his criminal persona. Graves enables Nick to explore his bisexuality freely and Nick allows Graves to step back and take a moment for himself instead constantly being in control.
I give this 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟. The main story deals with an M/M relationship but there are some M/F moments too. I found myself needing to fan myself after most of them as they are inventively descriptive and incredibly hot. Both main characters are bisexual and embrace sex exuberantly. I thought the scenes dealing with Nick's discovery of his attraction to men and the exploration of this side to himself were really well written. The violence and criminal elements are gritty and unforgiving which adds a dangerous and dark thread to the plot and will keep you gripped to every page. Graves was a complex, at times deeply flawed and immoral character but a compelling and addictive one too. It would be easy to dislike him but he is so well written and his love and loyalty to friends and family is so deep that it's hard to not care about him plus he drives my dream car. The unabashed desire between Nick and Graves was irresistible and captivating reading. I eagerly await book 2 in this series for more.
February 22, 2021
Thank you so much to Nine Star Press and Pride Book Tours for the ARC of this book!
The Boss is a gritty, action-packed mm romance set against the backdrop of Singapore. Nick Erickson is a low-level grunt at the US Embassy, having escaped his life and the horrific mistakes he made back in the US. Nelson Graves is a shipping magnate, important enough to have government officials and noble peace prize winners on speed dial -- he also happens to be head of the Red Sky drug cartel. When their paths diverge, it sets them on a dangerous path of lust and danger, with neither able to resist.
This book surprised me in that I absolutely could not stop reading it. It's a quick and easy read as a lot of romances are, but I loved the story here. Nick had his demons, and we saw the way he let them eat at him in painful flashbacks and his guilt-ridden conscience. Graves, a war vet from New Zealand, is a double amputee who struggles with aphasia and agonizing pain. As characters, they're both a bit unbelievable. Especially Graves, a giant of a man with tribal tattoos and a posh English accent who will also murder you if he needs to. But I didn't even care. The story caters to it so well, I was just along for the ride.
The book could definitely use a bit more of an edit. Some of the dialogue is a bit stiff in areas and felt a little unnatural. That said, it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book. The sex scenes were well written and super spicy, pillow talk included, so if that's not your thing, this book is definitely not for you.
I think the epilogue is maybe meant as a sneak peek into the next book? I'm not sure but if so, I'm there!
The Boss is a gritty, action-packed mm romance set against the backdrop of Singapore. Nick Erickson is a low-level grunt at the US Embassy, having escaped his life and the horrific mistakes he made back in the US. Nelson Graves is a shipping magnate, important enough to have government officials and noble peace prize winners on speed dial -- he also happens to be head of the Red Sky drug cartel. When their paths diverge, it sets them on a dangerous path of lust and danger, with neither able to resist.
This book surprised me in that I absolutely could not stop reading it. It's a quick and easy read as a lot of romances are, but I loved the story here. Nick had his demons, and we saw the way he let them eat at him in painful flashbacks and his guilt-ridden conscience. Graves, a war vet from New Zealand, is a double amputee who struggles with aphasia and agonizing pain. As characters, they're both a bit unbelievable. Especially Graves, a giant of a man with tribal tattoos and a posh English accent who will also murder you if he needs to. But I didn't even care. The story caters to it so well, I was just along for the ride.
The book could definitely use a bit more of an edit. Some of the dialogue is a bit stiff in areas and felt a little unnatural. That said, it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book. The sex scenes were well written and super spicy, pillow talk included, so if that's not your thing, this book is definitely not for you.
I think the epilogue is maybe meant as a sneak peek into the next book? I'm not sure but if so, I'm there!
February 28, 2021
This book is a hell of a lot of fun. It plays with characters and settings in a way that makes them come off the page and jump to life.
Having watched this book come to life, I can honestly say that everyone reading it is going to enjoy the hell out of the sequels. I can guarantee it.
Jcalamy is a new voice on the scene but an absolutely fantastic one!
Having watched this book come to life, I can honestly say that everyone reading it is going to enjoy the hell out of the sequels. I can guarantee it.
Jcalamy is a new voice on the scene but an absolutely fantastic one!
January 26, 2021
very interesting set up. took me a mn to get into it as there was multiple POVs but once I did, I really liked it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 24, 2021
The Boss was an interesting read. I’m not one for smash, bang, and shoot outs, but this was a cool read. I can’t wait to see where the author goes with this story.
Did not finish
July 15, 2021Mixed pairings, including MF, also unusual but unlikable characters and distasteful interactions.
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