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Brandt and Donnelly Caper #1
Achtung, Aufnahme! (Translation)
Ein Fall für Brandt und Akte Nr. 1 Sein neuester Auftrag bringt den Kriminalbeamten Brandt in eine unangenehme Er soll Undercover bei einer Organisation vorsprechen, die Online-Sexfilme produziert und dafür muss er nackt vor der Kamera posieren. Glücklicherweise steht ihm sein Partner und bester Freund Donnelly immer treu zur Seite - ob es darum geht, in Schwulenboutiquen Reizwäsche zu shoppen oder ihn während seiner Recherchen auf Pornowebsites zu ermutigen und mit Jägermeister zu versorgen. Aller Demütigung zum Trotz liefert Brandt bei dem Vorsprechen seinen besten "Schuss" ab - und wird über Nacht zur Sensation. Aber um den Mann hinter der Organisation zu treffen, muss er noch eine weitere Vorstellung geben - dieses Mal für den Höchstbietenden live vor der Webcam. Um seinen Partner zu schützen, gewinnt Donnelly die Auktion, aber ihr Plan hat einen Sie müssen die Nummer bis zum bitteren Ende durchziehen. Danach fühlt sich Brandt zutiefst erniedrigt. Er versucht, damit ins Reine zu kommen, was er für seinen Job tun musste und Ruhe in sein Gefühlschaos zu bringen. Aber auch für Donnelly war diese Ermittlung die reinste Entdeckungsreise. Plötzlich wird alles, was die beiden Männer über sich und den anderen zu wissen glaubten, über den Haufen geworfen. Dabei haben sie doch eigentlich noch einen Fall zu lösen - aber der sieht möglicherweise ganz anders aus, als sie dachten.
210 pages, Paperback
First published December 18, 2012
25 people are currently reading
895 people want to read
About the author
Xavier Mayne
14 books190 followersXavier Mayne is the pen name of a writer who has been both a university professor of English and a marketing professional for software companies. He currently manages a team of writers for a large technology company based in the US Pacific Northwest. Versed in academic theories of sexual identity, he is passionate about writing stories in which men experience a love that pushes them beyond the boundaries they thought defined their sexuality. He believes that romance can be hot, funny, and sweet in equal measure.
The name Xavier Mayne is a tribute to the pioneering gay author Edward Prime-Stevenson, who also used it as a pen name. He wrote the first openly gay novel by an American, 1906’s Imre: A Memorandum, which depicts two masculine men falling in love despite social pressures that attempt to keep them apart.
The name Xavier Mayne is a tribute to the pioneering gay author Edward Prime-Stevenson, who also used it as a pen name. He wrote the first openly gay novel by an American, 1906’s Imre: A Memorandum, which depicts two masculine men falling in love despite social pressures that attempt to keep them apart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
March 7, 2016
It probably makes me a bad person, but I would have enjoyed this story so much more if the author had just dropped the love story between Brandt and his partner. If it had been written about how Brandt was sent to infiltrate the frat house, came to accept, and then embrace his role as an internet sex idol I would have loved it. Sort of a How Brandt Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Sex.
This book clearly wanted to be porn. It really did. I was good with that, but then out of the blue there was this love story, and it just didn't work for me at all. The feelings felt like they came out of nowhere, and their relationship just changed too fast to feel authentic or real. I mean they go from not being able to look at another guy's ass to jumping each other, and while we have Brandt's thought process, I didn't feel like I got the same handle on Donnelly's thought process, so I never full bought into it.
The story of Donnelly's brother should have been moving, but the way it was written almost made it feel farcical; like the story itself wasn't serious enough to support what should have been a tragic story. It just didn't fit, and felt awkward rather than sad. Which is a shame. It made me uncomfortable to see something like that seem like it was played for laughs.
I think this book suffered from an identity crisis; like the author tried to write some fun smut, and then someone told them it had to be something more, but that something never really took root, and it just felt like a flimsy facade thrown up to disguise the heart of porn.
I wish it had just embraced the porn, and left the other trappings behind.
This book clearly wanted to be porn. It really did. I was good with that, but then out of the blue there was this love story, and it just didn't work for me at all. The feelings felt like they came out of nowhere, and their relationship just changed too fast to feel authentic or real. I mean they go from not being able to look at another guy's ass to jumping each other, and while we have Brandt's thought process, I didn't feel like I got the same handle on Donnelly's thought process, so I never full bought into it.
The story of Donnelly's brother should have been moving, but the way it was written almost made it feel farcical; like the story itself wasn't serious enough to support what should have been a tragic story. It just didn't fit, and felt awkward rather than sad. Which is a shame. It made me uncomfortable to see something like that seem like it was played for laughs.
I think this book suffered from an identity crisis; like the author tried to write some fun smut, and then someone told them it had to be something more, but that something never really took root, and it just felt like a flimsy facade thrown up to disguise the heart of porn.
I wish it had just embraced the porn, and left the other trappings behind.
i-m-a-quitter
August 13, 2015DNF @ 59%
So....I found this one to be odd.
Donnelly and Brandt are cops. Brandt goes undercover to infiltrate a sex cam operation which will require him to "perform" for the public.
Donnelly's straight--or not. Brandt's straight--or not. Double GFY anyone? Not really believable double GFY sadly.
I found a lot of the dialogue cheesy. And the whole premise was pretty far fetched.
At the 59% where I stopped Brandt had just "performed" for Donnelly, so I can't imagine going from "straight" partners to throwing out "I Love You's" to each other between now and the end of the book.
Unfortunately that happens (so I was told).
I just didn't get any build-up and chemistry between the two guys.
So yeah, just going to cut my losses with this one....it just wasn't for me.
So....I found this one to be odd.
Donnelly and Brandt are cops. Brandt goes undercover to infiltrate a sex cam operation which will require him to "perform" for the public.
Donnelly's straight--or not. Brandt's straight--or not. Double GFY anyone? Not really believable double GFY sadly.
I found a lot of the dialogue cheesy. And the whole premise was pretty far fetched.
At the 59% where I stopped Brandt had just "performed" for Donnelly, so I can't imagine going from "straight" partners to throwing out "I Love You's" to each other between now and the end of the book.
Unfortunately that happens (so I was told).
I just didn't get any build-up and chemistry between the two guys.
So yeah, just going to cut my losses with this one....it just wasn't for me.
December 21, 2012
Ty and Zane, Griff and Dante... I would like you to meet Brandt and Donnelly!!!! Absolutely loved this book, it's excellent! What a talent Xavier Mayne is, he believes that romance can be HOT, FUNNY and SWEET in equal measure and believe me when I say he more than delivered! I laughed out loud through out this book, great characters... I just loved them!
Off to write my review and re-live all the funny moments with my saved notes!! I do not usually use quotes in my reviews, but I think I am going to have to slip one or two in here... not only was it hilarious... these two men were HOT, as in get me the fire hose HOT!
Off to write my review and re-live all the funny moments with my saved notes!! I do not usually use quotes in my reviews, but I think I am going to have to slip one or two in here... not only was it hilarious... these two men were HOT, as in get me the fire hose HOT!
January 18, 2016
1.5
I was looking forward to some porny fun with this book but it really didn't work for me.
Brandt is a cop who goes undercover at an online porn site in order to bust them on tax evasion, because jacking off in front of a camera is a perfect way to find out all about a business's financials. I found the way the whole case went down was just completely plausible and not at all confusing. Really.
To be fair, I didn't go into this book expecting any plausibility when it's just meant to put the character in this porny situation but tax evasion? Seriously?
Anyway, I probably could've overlooked that if wasn't for everything else.
Donnelly is Brandt's partner and if you've read the blurb, you'll know that he's also his love interest. While reading though I would've thought it was Nick, the dude showing Brandt the ropes at the porn site. Those two had much more chemistry between them. Donnelly and Brandt getting together comes out of nowhere. Especially since Donnelly comes off as homophobic. But the stuff he says is okay because he loves his dead gay brother. Or something.
There were a lot of POVs from random secondary characters--like the dude selling Brandt underwear--but I would've appreciated a POV from Donnelly showing how he went from "eww, gay sex is icky" to wanting to go to pound town with his best friend.
It also annoyed me that every guy in this book is straight. Not gay or bisexual even though they're falling ass backwards onto cocks. With the first guy I thought maybe it was supposed to be a funny "I'm not gay but my boyfriend is" kind of thing but by the third guy it was just left me thinking WTF.
The porny stuff was pretty hot though so I'm rounding up.
I was looking forward to some porny fun with this book but it really didn't work for me.
Brandt is a cop who goes undercover at an online porn site in order to bust them on tax evasion, because jacking off in front of a camera is a perfect way to find out all about a business's financials. I found the way the whole case went down was just completely plausible and not at all confusing. Really.
To be fair, I didn't go into this book expecting any plausibility when it's just meant to put the character in this porny situation but tax evasion? Seriously?
Anyway, I probably could've overlooked that if wasn't for everything else.
Donnelly is Brandt's partner and if you've read the blurb, you'll know that he's also his love interest. While reading though I would've thought it was Nick, the dude showing Brandt the ropes at the porn site. Those two had much more chemistry between them. Donnelly and Brandt getting together comes out of nowhere. Especially since Donnelly comes off as homophobic. But the stuff he says is okay because he loves his dead gay brother. Or something.
There were a lot of POVs from random secondary characters--like the dude selling Brandt underwear--but I would've appreciated a POV from Donnelly showing how he went from "eww, gay sex is icky" to wanting to go to pound town with his best friend.
It also annoyed me that every guy in this book is straight. Not gay or bisexual even though they're falling ass backwards onto cocks. With the first guy I thought maybe it was supposed to be a funny "I'm not gay but my boyfriend is" kind of thing but by the third guy it was just left me thinking WTF.
The porny stuff was pretty hot though so I'm rounding up.
December 21, 2012
Highly recommended M/M gay-for-you love-fest between two hot State Police Officers!
I fucking loved this book. I remember reading a variation of it a million years ago on Literotica so I was excited about it coming out as a novel, enough to pre-order it. I would have read it in one sitting if real-life would have let me.
The two MC's, Ethan and Gabriel, State Trooper partners, are as hot as sin and the sex is even hotter. They instantly reminded me of Griff and Dante from the fantastic M/M scorcher Hot Head. If you enjoyed Hot Head, I can pretty much guarantee you will enjoy Frat House Troopers. They are very similar.
Be sure to look for secondary character Bryce, who just about steals the show. I'm normally not one to pay much attention to other characters in romance books, but Bryce had me LOLing several times. He was over-the-top and absolutely delicious.
If you like M/M exploratory sex, extra hot preformed by a couple in love, cute frat boys walking around in their underwear, mild (but fucking hot) oh-my-god-I-think-I-love-my-best-friend angst, and extra flamboyant boutique employees, this book is for you! Nothing heavy here. It's all good fun.
A new favorite for me. Fuck yeah!
I fucking loved this book. I remember reading a variation of it a million years ago on Literotica so I was excited about it coming out as a novel, enough to pre-order it. I would have read it in one sitting if real-life would have let me.
The two MC's, Ethan and Gabriel, State Trooper partners, are as hot as sin and the sex is even hotter. They instantly reminded me of Griff and Dante from the fantastic M/M scorcher Hot Head. If you enjoyed Hot Head, I can pretty much guarantee you will enjoy Frat House Troopers. They are very similar.
Be sure to look for secondary character Bryce, who just about steals the show. I'm normally not one to pay much attention to other characters in romance books, but Bryce had me LOLing several times. He was over-the-top and absolutely delicious.
If you like M/M exploratory sex, extra hot preformed by a couple in love, cute frat boys walking around in their underwear, mild (but fucking hot) oh-my-god-I-think-I-love-my-best-friend angst, and extra flamboyant boutique employees, this book is for you! Nothing heavy here. It's all good fun.
A new favorite for me. Fuck yeah!
October 21, 2015
♥♥♥ 3.75 STARS ♥♥♥
Ethan Brandt has a new assignment, one he didn't think he would ever get. He must infiltrate a sex-cam operation. The problem is, he needs to get very naked in order to do it. And the only person he has as back up is his best friend and partner, Gabriel Donnelly. With his help, he has to give the best performance of his life on a webcam, live. Brandt finds himself feeling confused about it all. He is turned on about things he normally wouldn't be. This case ends up changing his life completely, as well as Donnelly's.
Brandt is a straight man, who gets put into a situation where other straight men do sexually questionable work. They get naked on camera for other men. He was very reluctant to do this assignment. But I have got to say, I couldn't stop laughing when he was getting prepared for the role. He and Donnelly, go shopping in the gay district in order for him to find an outfit or more like underwear, that will make him stand out in the audition. In a store, they meet fashion savvy, Bryce. He was freaking hilarious. It was uncomfortable for Brandth that a gay man was groping him in order to get him into some briefs with a pouch, but I just could not stop chuckling at his ordeal. Bryce was flamboyant and fun and really hard not to like.
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“Your panties need to say, “Tear me off, for I contain wonders!” Those say, “Look away while I complete your tax forms”
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"You on the bed, the way you grind that shit out? Holy fuck, I must have beat it a dozen times watching that (...) So now I want you to do it. Do it slowly, but fucking get on it. And when you shoot, you say my name, got that?"
Brandt in a daze. "You want me to say...what?"
"My name. When you come you call out my fucking name. Just like I scream yours every time I come watching you."
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There was some reallyhot scenes in this book. Even the solo scene Brandt did was smokin'!!! The bath tub scene, sizzling. I also loved when Brandt met Nick, he was an awesome gay-for-one-man-only guy. He opened Brandt's mind to be more accepting to what he was feeling. Nick was the push he needed to finally see the light and be okay with it 100%. I think all of the secondary characters, all of which were super likable characters, really helped Brandt in some way to come to terms with his sexuality.
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"It's you," he breathed, his expression one of pure wonder. "It's you. It's always been you, hasn't it?"
He studied Brandt's face carefully, as carefully as Brandt had searched his, and then he knew--he knew what Brandt meant, and he knew what his answer would be. "Yes. It's me. It will always be me."
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The case that Brandt was investigating became rather unimportant as the story progressed, where as it started with the case being priority. Which was fine by me, I was more interested in the romance. Some parts of the story were über sweet and kind of fairytale like. I usually don't like when a book becomes too cheesy, but it kind of worked for Brandt and Donnelly. I couldn't help but sigh and swoon at all they would say and do. My heart completely melted. Some parts just seemed too perfect and kind of unrealistic but that didn't stop me from liking it. Overall, it was a really cute and fun read.
July 21, 2014
What in the hell. My brain hurts.
I should have loved this book. It had all the ingredients necessary to take me to reading bliss. Alas, it wasn't meant to be.
This book took gfy to a whole different level. That level is called irritating. So, every man in this book is straight, and feels the need to talk about how straight they are, until they aren't anymore because they fall face first onto a dick. Standard gfy formula, right? Wrong. Because the characters are apparently still completely heterosexual even after being dickmatized. In one case, the guy talks about how straight he is although he has a long term boyfriend. 3 out of 4 couples, including the MC's, have some version of this storyline. Nothing about bisexuality, or sexual fluidity. Not a thing. Nope, just straight men fucking other straight men when they aren't talking about how straight they are.
I was so confused.
Behold, the plot of Frat House Troopers as summarized by a completely fictitious conversation between the MC's:
Brandt: Broseph, my anus goes into hiding at the sight of two guys getting it on. It's such a hardship, watching porn vids for this completely plausible undercover job.
Donnelly: Ew, you said anus...those are gross Bro. Gross.
Brandt: Is it weird that when my heterosexuality feels threatened I sometimes need to reconfirm it with the occasional homophobic comment?
Donnelly: Completely normal, I do the same. But I'm a little more tolerant because my brother was gay. Still, I'm totally straight because the sight of two guys smexin makes me cover my eyes like a child during a horror movie.
Brandt: Yea, me too. Totally straight. Loooooove me some mammaries. But, lately the sight of naked men gives me a semi. I'm still like 99% sure I'm straight since I'm so manly. Um, excuse me while I punch you in the shoulder to assert my Machismo. Bro.
Donnelly: ...Wanna jerk off together?
It came off like the characters were feeding into the idea that manly men aren't gay, or gay men aren't manly. So all the really macho men who fall in love with their one special guy are still completely straight. Because, manly. Ugh.
When the MC's got together my mind kept wandering off. It was just so out of the blue. I was SO bored. I didn't have much of a clue they were even attracted to each other. Brandt spends most of the book worrying over his attraction to other men. Apparently, I skimmed the blurb because I totally thought . Then, Brandt and Donnelly both get personality transplants. I almost gave up, but I made it to the end. I persevered. And you know what? I regret that decision.
At times this book was funny and I laughed obnoxiously. At times it was pretty damn hot. At times it was a little offensive. At times it was so unrealistic and confusing that it made me ask myself "what the fuck am I reading?!"
In conclusion: Brandt's adventures in porn = fun. The actual romance = bored to tears.
2 Stars
I should have loved this book. It had all the ingredients necessary to take me to reading bliss. Alas, it wasn't meant to be.
This book took gfy to a whole different level. That level is called irritating. So, every man in this book is straight, and feels the need to talk about how straight they are, until they aren't anymore because they fall face first onto a dick. Standard gfy formula, right? Wrong. Because the characters are apparently still completely heterosexual even after being dickmatized. In one case, the guy talks about how straight he is although he has a long term boyfriend. 3 out of 4 couples, including the MC's, have some version of this storyline. Nothing about bisexuality, or sexual fluidity. Not a thing. Nope, just straight men fucking other straight men when they aren't talking about how straight they are.
I was so confused.
Behold, the plot of Frat House Troopers as summarized by a completely fictitious conversation between the MC's:
Brandt: Broseph, my anus goes into hiding at the sight of two guys getting it on. It's such a hardship, watching porn vids for this completely plausible undercover job.
Donnelly: Ew, you said anus...those are gross Bro. Gross.
Brandt: Is it weird that when my heterosexuality feels threatened I sometimes need to reconfirm it with the occasional homophobic comment?
Donnelly: Completely normal, I do the same. But I'm a little more tolerant because my brother was gay. Still, I'm totally straight because the sight of two guys smexin makes me cover my eyes like a child during a horror movie.
Brandt: Yea, me too. Totally straight. Loooooove me some mammaries. But, lately the sight of naked men gives me a semi. I'm still like 99% sure I'm straight since I'm so manly. Um, excuse me while I punch you in the shoulder to assert my Machismo. Bro.
Donnelly: ...Wanna jerk off together?
It came off like the characters were feeding into the idea that manly men aren't gay, or gay men aren't manly. So all the really macho men who fall in love with their one special guy are still completely straight. Because, manly. Ugh.
When the MC's got together my mind kept wandering off. It was just so out of the blue. I was SO bored. I didn't have much of a clue they were even attracted to each other. Brandt spends most of the book worrying over his attraction to other men. Apparently, I skimmed the blurb because I totally thought . Then, Brandt and Donnelly both get personality transplants. I almost gave up, but I made it to the end. I persevered. And you know what? I regret that decision.
At times this book was funny and I laughed obnoxiously. At times it was pretty damn hot. At times it was a little offensive. At times it was so unrealistic and confusing that it made me ask myself "what the fuck am I reading?!"
In conclusion: Brandt's adventures in porn = fun. The actual romance = bored to tears.
2 Stars
October 7, 2020
Oookay, so this story was interesting.
Have you ever watched a movie that seemed to start off like a screwball comedy and suddenly turned around trying to be a serious character piece somewhere around the middle?
Not only are there deeply philosophical statements thrown in there between sequences of slapstick action, but these guys literally go from "Eeeew, I'm not gay, gross!!" to "I love you and I have loved you forever" within the blink of an eye.
But first things first.
Officers Brandt and Donnelly have been partners for two years. The newest undercover case they're working on requires the infiltration (or should we say 'penetration') of a gay porn company to uncover their presumbed tax evasion (yeah, I was rolling my eyes here too).
And since Brandt looks like a Men's Health cover model, he's the one that shall pose as a model and 'jerk off' his way into the porn company.
The porn content in this book is limited to masturbation scenes and no matter how extremely exaggerated they are (quote "cum flew everywhere", "rivers of cum painting his torso like streaked marble"), at the end of the day, the porn company seemed rather tame. Like something your grandmother would produce if she had to go into the gay porn business...
Anyway, Brandt becomes a star and realizes that the gay side of sex is super interesting (not that he had any gay sex at all there, mind you) and Donnelly watching his partner getting it off on camera makes him aware that yes, he's had gay feelings for Brandt all this time.
Bam.
Next scene and they're in love. Have loved each other forever and are working themselves through the standard repertoir of mm romance sex scenes that needed to be ticked off.
In summary: These characters' feelings and attitudes are all over the place, changing like a flag in the wind.
Also, and maybe I'm just being super sensitive nowadays, but the flamboyantly gay sales assistant Bryce who literally helped Brandt cram his junk inside some skimpy Andrew Christian underwear (and I mean by taking his balls and cock and shoving it in there) seemed so out of place and over the top to me that even the screwball comedy intention of the whole thing fell flat.
Not to mention how Brandt & Donnelly, the stupidly heterosexual machos from the first 50% of the story, suddenly become pride ambassadors, fighting their homophobic surroundings like the LGBTQ activists that they are (not), which took the last shred of credibility out of this story.
I wish I could say I enjoyed it at least as a sexy day trip to the land of gay erotica, but seriously, the music track for the climax scene in Brandt's masturbation video reminding me of Sarah Brightman's high note from the Phantom of the Opera theme song is a tad too much, even for me.
2 stars!
Have you ever watched a movie that seemed to start off like a screwball comedy and suddenly turned around trying to be a serious character piece somewhere around the middle?
Not only are there deeply philosophical statements thrown in there between sequences of slapstick action, but these guys literally go from "Eeeew, I'm not gay, gross!!" to "I love you and I have loved you forever" within the blink of an eye.
But first things first.
Officers Brandt and Donnelly have been partners for two years. The newest undercover case they're working on requires the infiltration (or should we say 'penetration') of a gay porn company to uncover their presumbed tax evasion (yeah, I was rolling my eyes here too).
And since Brandt looks like a Men's Health cover model, he's the one that shall pose as a model and 'jerk off' his way into the porn company.
The porn content in this book is limited to masturbation scenes and no matter how extremely exaggerated they are (quote "cum flew everywhere", "rivers of cum painting his torso like streaked marble"), at the end of the day, the porn company seemed rather tame. Like something your grandmother would produce if she had to go into the gay porn business...
Anyway, Brandt becomes a star and realizes that the gay side of sex is super interesting (not that he had any gay sex at all there, mind you) and Donnelly watching his partner getting it off on camera makes him aware that yes, he's had gay feelings for Brandt all this time.
Bam.
Next scene and they're in love. Have loved each other forever and are working themselves through the standard repertoir of mm romance sex scenes that needed to be ticked off.
In summary: These characters' feelings and attitudes are all over the place, changing like a flag in the wind.
Also, and maybe I'm just being super sensitive nowadays, but the flamboyantly gay sales assistant Bryce who literally helped Brandt cram his junk inside some skimpy Andrew Christian underwear (and I mean by taking his balls and cock and shoving it in there) seemed so out of place and over the top to me that even the screwball comedy intention of the whole thing fell flat.
Not to mention how Brandt & Donnelly, the stupidly heterosexual machos from the first 50% of the story, suddenly become pride ambassadors, fighting their homophobic surroundings like the LGBTQ activists that they are (not), which took the last shred of credibility out of this story.
I wish I could say I enjoyed it at least as a sexy day trip to the land of gay erotica, but seriously, the music track for the climax scene in Brandt's masturbation video reminding me of Sarah Brightman's high note from the Phantom of the Opera theme song is a tad too much, even for me.
2 stars!
January 3, 2013
DNF 76%
Highly unbelievable but enthusiastically written GFY.
From straight cop to "Oops...I love my partner" and readily embracing the gay lifestyle
in a heartbeat.
Suspending disbelief this was a fun read with characters who - after coming together - were very sweet and lovey-dovey together but what killed the story for me was - of all things - the enthusiastic writing:
"His soul had achieved enlightement..."
"And, in an instant, his life began. Warmth spread through him, and a surge of obliterating joy. A steamroller of bliss crushed him, overwhelming and welcome. He would be made new by this, and he craved rebirth into a life in which this was his whole reality..."
We`re talking about a 69 here...!
That was too cosmic-karma for me...DNF.
Highly unbelievable but enthusiastically written GFY.
From straight cop to "Oops...I love my partner" and readily embracing the gay lifestyle
in a heartbeat.
Suspending disbelief this was a fun read with characters who - after coming together - were very sweet and lovey-dovey together but what killed the story for me was - of all things - the enthusiastic writing:
"His soul had achieved enlightement..."
"And, in an instant, his life began. Warmth spread through him, and a surge of obliterating joy. A steamroller of bliss crushed him, overwhelming and welcome. He would be made new by this, and he craved rebirth into a life in which this was his whole reality..."
We`re talking about a 69 here...!
That was too cosmic-karma for me...DNF.
October 28, 2014
I absolutely adored this. It was sweet and funny and yup loved it! Thanks to Cory and Amy for the BR I devoured this one.
December 29, 2012
This started off fairly strong but kind of went downhill about a 1/3 of the way in. Still overall it's cute and funny.
Areas of Concern
*So things were going fine and dandy with Brandt having the only POV and then out of nowhere at 40% the reader gets this POV from a side character who we never see again and who the reader never gets his POV again. Why was this in there????? WHY?
*After that, all of sudden the reader starts getting the POV from both Brandt and now Donnelly. I started getting whiplash how often it switched back and forth and often couldn't tell who was thinking what. I don't understand why this started happening and why it wasn't fixed in the editing process.
*Next, I can overlook a flimsy plot, but even this pushed it. The case made no sense and appeared to be just put there so that the reader would have as many tropes and hot items in one book. Cops - check, porn stars - check, friends to lovers - check, insta love - check, GFY/OFY - check. There really isn't much realism in this at all.
*Repetition, etc: There were quite a few instances where repetition grated. For instance, the word 'luxuriating' or versions were used no less than 7+ times within just a few passages. There were times when the wrong tense was used and there were times when words were missing from a sentence.
*Also, I"m not really sure what the author was going for but it was confusing as to how the characters viewed themselves sexually. 5 of them had at one point been 100% straight according to the book, and then all of them paired off with men. The idea of bisexuality never came up. It was either I was once straight and now I'm with a man or it was I was 100% straight and still am, but I'm with this guy now. It was just really confusing.
The rest
Ok, so I know it seems like I"m picking it apart, but with all of that above said, I still really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, especially Bryce and Nestor. Adored those two. I loved the sister and Lucas and Will. And Donnelly and Brandt were pretty great with each other, more so at the beginning than the end. I laughed out loud multiple times and smiled often. I also plan on reading the author's freebies of Will and Lucas and with Nick and his guy.
I'd rec this is you want something fun and cute, but you aren't a stickler for the few problems mentioned above.
Areas of Concern
*So things were going fine and dandy with Brandt having the only POV and then out of nowhere at 40% the reader gets this POV from a side character who we never see again and who the reader never gets his POV again. Why was this in there????? WHY?
*After that, all of sudden the reader starts getting the POV from both Brandt and now Donnelly. I started getting whiplash how often it switched back and forth and often couldn't tell who was thinking what. I don't understand why this started happening and why it wasn't fixed in the editing process.
*Next, I can overlook a flimsy plot, but even this pushed it. The case made no sense and appeared to be just put there so that the reader would have as many tropes and hot items in one book. Cops - check, porn stars - check, friends to lovers - check, insta love - check, GFY/OFY - check. There really isn't much realism in this at all.
*Repetition, etc: There were quite a few instances where repetition grated. For instance, the word 'luxuriating' or versions were used no less than 7+ times within just a few passages. There were times when the wrong tense was used and there were times when words were missing from a sentence.
*Also, I"m not really sure what the author was going for but it was confusing as to how the characters viewed themselves sexually. 5 of them had at one point been 100% straight according to the book, and then all of them paired off with men. The idea of bisexuality never came up. It was either I was once straight and now I'm with a man or it was I was 100% straight and still am, but I'm with this guy now. It was just really confusing.
The rest
Ok, so I know it seems like I"m picking it apart, but with all of that above said, I still really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, especially Bryce and Nestor. Adored those two. I loved the sister and Lucas and Will. And Donnelly and Brandt were pretty great with each other, more so at the beginning than the end. I laughed out loud multiple times and smiled often. I also plan on reading the author's freebies of Will and Lucas and with Nick and his guy.
I'd rec this is you want something fun and cute, but you aren't a stickler for the few problems mentioned above.
January 9, 2013
This was amusing but didn't really strike a cord with me. The characters and situations didn't seem very real to me so it made for a fun read but not a substantial one.
That being said, all the scenes with Bryce were golden. He cracked me right up.
That being said, all the scenes with Bryce were golden. He cracked me right up.
Want to read
December 8, 201460% price drop for Kindle! Only $2.99!
January 17, 2016
** 2 Ugh stars **
Audio edition, narrator Peter B. Brooke.
Overall: 2
Performance: 3
Story: 2
DNF at 61%.
----------------------------------
"Is it straight to want to rip those shorts off of you? Yeah, I don't care. I've got to see that huge dick."
~Nick~ (who's not the love interest btw..)
----------------------------------
Gawd, I can't take this anymore.
First of all, Otila's review explains my issues with this story. Her review is spot on.
I didn't expect much either going into this story, but issue after issue annoyed me and reading her review made me go "yes, yes, yes!"
- completely non-plausible plot
- the romance between Brandt and Connelly, I didn't feel at all
- there were more chemistry between Nick and Brandt, than the actual love interests Brandt and Donnelly
What annoyed me the most was the overwhelmingly need for every character to point out that they're SO straight.
------------------------------------
"We're straight."
"Oh, I'm sorry," tuttet Bryce.
"Yeah, well, thanks." Donnelly drew a confused breath.
(...)
"Your straight friend is so hot."
"We're both straight, remember?"
(...)
"You're going to have men falling at your feet, big boy--even the straight ones."
(...)
He handed Brandt a pair of jeans that looked, to his straight eyes, just exactly like the pair he was wearing.
(...)
"But what kind of straight guy does--that?" Donnelly pointed at the screen.
(..)
"Is it straight to want to rip those shorts off of you?"
-------------------------------------
You get the picture.
The only gay gay characters were so stereotypical, it kinda turned my stomach after a while. Very flamboyant, effeminate and all talking with a lisp (in the narrator's voice). So story and character "development" plus "gay" narration made me start feeling offended over so shallow characterization of gays and straight people. It's like a bad joke gone bad. It's like the book tries to be funny, but fails horribly.
So.
Ugh.
I cannot recommend this to any of my friends, even though there were some highlights and fun moments.
Narration:
Despite what I said above, the narrator did a decent job. He had different voices for all the characters and some were pretty good. And his tone of voice, young-ish and light, fitted the story.
He did have a tendency to make nasal voices, though. And his voices for the gay gay characters were very stereotypical flamboyantly gay. With a lisp. Of course the bad character development isn't the narrators fault, since he only narrates the script aka the story. The combination, though, I did not like.
PS. After I finished writing this review, I saw another great review . It was awesome. Please check it out. I'm so stealing borrowing the phrase "dickmatized". LOL!
February 25, 2018
4 Stars
You know what? At first, I wasn't gonna rate this book so high but I had such a fun time listening to it and I realized I'd totally read the next one! (Audio would be better. *hint hint*)
Like many "undercover gay" books, I knew I had to suspend disbelief and not get all uptight about the procedural aspects...and surprisingly those were still done relatively well! For a hot minute there I forgot, and was about to get really mad that the DA's office didn't do due diligence on the background/paperwork aspect of the case (that's usually the very first step, and keeps from wasting money and resources) - but we pretty quickly learn why that didn't happen and yup, I'm good with that. Kept the whole operation from feeling like a waste of time, too. (Although, I loved Brandt's view of how, even if it had been, it wasn't a waste for him because he learned more about himself and got Donnelly out of the deal!)
Also, I love that the head honchos were on the ball. Not everyone in the porn/cam business is a sleazy, greasy, money-grubbing asshole and these guys were (while a bit unicorn-ish) kind of honorable, in a squint & tilt your head way. (Although, yes, money was still a factor for the investor/manager; it IS a business. And knowing they watched the supposedly private show was kind of icky, especially when it was policy not to record them or have it available for viewing.)
Plus, like I mentioned in an update, Bryce & Nestor stole the whole show, and they were't even in that many scenes. Sure, Brandt & Donnelly were the main draw (I'm a sucker for OFY stories) and I really liked how their relationship progressed, going from typical Dude-Bro protestations of having to deal with The Gay to realizing they were in love and wanting to have a physical relationship. I even liked the range of sexualities in the story...although I'm not sure why the reluctance for any of the characters to call themselves Bisexual and I would have liked there to have been more actual gay men - proudly calling themselves that - working in the house.
(By the way: Having a side-character's POV suddenly on page was a little weird - I usually hate that - but OMG that scene was so hot...as was the one where Brandt performs for Donnelly. *fans self*)
You know what? At first, I wasn't gonna rate this book so high but I had such a fun time listening to it and I realized I'd totally read the next one! (Audio would be better. *hint hint*)
Like many "undercover gay" books, I knew I had to suspend disbelief and not get all uptight about the procedural aspects...and surprisingly those were still done relatively well! For a hot minute there I forgot, and was about to get really mad that the DA's office didn't do due diligence on the background/paperwork aspect of the case (that's usually the very first step, and keeps from wasting money and resources) - but we pretty quickly learn why that didn't happen and yup, I'm good with that. Kept the whole operation from feeling like a waste of time, too. (Although, I loved Brandt's view of how, even if it had been, it wasn't a waste for him because he learned more about himself and got Donnelly out of the deal!)
Also, I love that the head honchos were on the ball. Not everyone in the porn/cam business is a sleazy, greasy, money-grubbing asshole and these guys were (while a bit unicorn-ish) kind of honorable, in a squint & tilt your head way. (Although, yes, money was still a factor for the investor/manager; it IS a business. And knowing they watched the supposedly private show was kind of icky, especially when it was policy not to record them or have it available for viewing.)
Plus, like I mentioned in an update, Bryce & Nestor stole the whole show, and they were't even in that many scenes. Sure, Brandt & Donnelly were the main draw (I'm a sucker for OFY stories) and I really liked how their relationship progressed, going from typical Dude-Bro protestations of having to deal with The Gay to realizing they were in love and wanting to have a physical relationship. I even liked the range of sexualities in the story...although I'm not sure why the reluctance for any of the characters to call themselves Bisexual and I would have liked there to have been more actual gay men - proudly calling themselves that - working in the house.
(By the way: Having a side-character's POV suddenly on page was a little weird - I usually hate that - but OMG that scene was so hot...as was the one where Brandt performs for Donnelly. *fans self*)
October 30, 2014
I really liked this one!
It was cute and fun the read. I loved the additional characters of Nick, Bryce, and Nestor. I really thought that Nick was sweet.
The conversations between Ethan and Gabriel were fun to read and I thought the story moved along at a nice pace. I'm really looking forward to reading the second book.
Thanks to Sandi and Amy for reading with me! :)
It was cute and fun the read. I loved the additional characters of Nick, Bryce, and Nestor. I really thought that Nick was sweet.
The conversations between Ethan and Gabriel were fun to read and I thought the story moved along at a nice pace. I'm really looking forward to reading the second book.
Thanks to Sandi and Amy for reading with me! :)
November 17, 2013
Frat House Troopers - The Story Of Disbelief
Disbelief didn't take it too personally when his loving mistress Td told him to take a well needed break, gently pushed him out the door and locked herself away to read about troopers. She doesn't ask this of him often and if he was being honest with himself, a break was very much welcomed.
There was still a need for Disbelief to be vigilant if only in a more relaxed manner and he made himself comfortable outside the door. Whatever reluctance Disbelief felt at leaving his mistress defenseless and vulnerable to possible crappiness quickly fled as the story began. Disbelief found himself chuckling along with his mistress as the absurdity of it all was not only accepted but enjoyed. Disbelief gave much credit to secondary characters Bryce and Nestor and their delightful flamboyance from almost distracting Disbelief into complete carelessness. Almost...
Hmmm...Brandt and Donnelly must do a not as private as they previously thought live web cam show together. Disbelief mentally agreed with his mistress that it was pretty hot. But wait...Disbelief suddenly went on alert. Where are all these tears coming from? The men are practically sobbing. Wait, wait, wait...60% of the book went along fine and now there's crazy head hopping all over the place. Disbelief's head was reeling, he was certain his mistress will not approve. More tears from the men...Disbelief sensed his mistress' slight distress, this was going downhill way too quickly. He gently tapped on the door, all he wanted was to make sure his mistress was alright. His mistress told him to go away, that she was fine. Bullshit! His mistress was being stubborn again!
Disbelief began to pace in an agitated matter. He could feel the growing misery on the other side of the door. What? Previously utterly straight Brandt and Donnelly are now all over each other? A bath with candles and bubbles? Love? Are they bringing LOVE up ALREADY! This is unacceptable! Disbelief knocked more firmly on the door, he must protect his mistress! Yes, he was right! They are declaring love to one another! A 69 with full in mouth load dumpage? Holding hands... Disbelief can clearly hear his mistress whimpering now. He rattled the door knob and banged harder on the door while trying not to panic.
What? They came out to Donnelly's family? Full tongue in ass rimming? More I Love You's...? Disbelief tried not puke his guts out, he needed to keep it together. He kicked at the door determined to get to his mistress. They came out at WORK? All easy like that? No one is surprised? Every one kind of KNEW! PDA's? This is what became of the investigation? Enough! Disbelief finally busted through the door and ran to his mistress. She was a pitiful mess cowering in the corner of the room with a lost, wild look in her eyes. She clung to Disbelief while muttering nonsensically "...head-hopping...insta-love...the purply sex...su-su-sugar..." Disbelief soothed his mistress as best he could. He reassured her everything would be alright and vowed never to leave her on her own again.
Disbelief is once again perched on his mistress' shoulder where he belongs. He knows not to be too stern, to allow some flexibility; his mistress can be moody after all but he will not let her to kick him out completely. His mistress stated she would never doubt him again. He knows better, he knows she will and he'll be there through it all to protect her the best way he can always.
The End
Disbelief didn't take it too personally when his loving mistress Td told him to take a well needed break, gently pushed him out the door and locked herself away to read about troopers. She doesn't ask this of him often and if he was being honest with himself, a break was very much welcomed.
There was still a need for Disbelief to be vigilant if only in a more relaxed manner and he made himself comfortable outside the door. Whatever reluctance Disbelief felt at leaving his mistress defenseless and vulnerable to possible crappiness quickly fled as the story began. Disbelief found himself chuckling along with his mistress as the absurdity of it all was not only accepted but enjoyed. Disbelief gave much credit to secondary characters Bryce and Nestor and their delightful flamboyance from almost distracting Disbelief into complete carelessness. Almost...
Hmmm...Brandt and Donnelly must do a not as private as they previously thought live web cam show together. Disbelief mentally agreed with his mistress that it was pretty hot. But wait...Disbelief suddenly went on alert. Where are all these tears coming from? The men are practically sobbing. Wait, wait, wait...60% of the book went along fine and now there's crazy head hopping all over the place. Disbelief's head was reeling, he was certain his mistress will not approve. More tears from the men...Disbelief sensed his mistress' slight distress, this was going downhill way too quickly. He gently tapped on the door, all he wanted was to make sure his mistress was alright. His mistress told him to go away, that she was fine. Bullshit! His mistress was being stubborn again!
Disbelief began to pace in an agitated matter. He could feel the growing misery on the other side of the door. What? Previously utterly straight Brandt and Donnelly are now all over each other? A bath with candles and bubbles? Love? Are they bringing LOVE up ALREADY! This is unacceptable! Disbelief knocked more firmly on the door, he must protect his mistress! Yes, he was right! They are declaring love to one another! A 69 with full in mouth load dumpage? Holding hands... Disbelief can clearly hear his mistress whimpering now. He rattled the door knob and banged harder on the door while trying not to panic.
What? They came out to Donnelly's family? Full tongue in ass rimming? More I Love You's...? Disbelief tried not puke his guts out, he needed to keep it together. He kicked at the door determined to get to his mistress. They came out at WORK? All easy like that? No one is surprised? Every one kind of KNEW! PDA's? This is what became of the investigation? Enough! Disbelief finally busted through the door and ran to his mistress. She was a pitiful mess cowering in the corner of the room with a lost, wild look in her eyes. She clung to Disbelief while muttering nonsensically "...head-hopping...insta-love...the purply sex...su-su-sugar..." Disbelief soothed his mistress as best he could. He reassured her everything would be alright and vowed never to leave her on her own again.
Disbelief is once again perched on his mistress' shoulder where he belongs. He knows not to be too stern, to allow some flexibility; his mistress can be moody after all but he will not let her to kick him out completely. His mistress stated she would never doubt him again. He knows better, he knows she will and he'll be there through it all to protect her the best way he can always.
The End
January 29, 2014
I really enjoyed this one. It is hilarious - Ethan and Gabriel had me laughing out loud more than once. When they figure things out, the sweetness comes out. There is plenty of hotness in the under cover stuff, as well as when the mc's are exploring each other.
There are a lot of great side characters, including some guys from the House. My favorite was Bryce, the gay clothing expert.
The only thing I didn't love was the seemingly insta love that happened as soon as the guys figured out they wanted each other. They have been work partners for two years, but it still seemed rather insta to me.
There was also a point when the guys were really getting into discovering what being together was like when I was worried that the under cover stuff wouldn't have time to play out. I was pleasantly surprised when it picked back up and threw a twist and turn in to boot.
So, all in all, a fun, sweet, funny 4.5 star story for me. Hope we get to see more of these guys again.
There are a lot of great side characters, including some guys from the House. My favorite was Bryce, the gay clothing expert.
The only thing I didn't love was the seemingly insta love that happened as soon as the guys figured out they wanted each other. They have been work partners for two years, but it still seemed rather insta to me.
There was also a point when the guys were really getting into discovering what being together was like when I was worried that the under cover stuff wouldn't have time to play out. I was pleasantly surprised when it picked back up and threw a twist and turn in to boot.
So, all in all, a fun, sweet, funny 4.5 star story for me. Hope we get to see more of these guys again.
August 9, 2016
This over-the-top ridiculous f'ing shit....tickled my lazy ass. What the hell would my life be without reading. A f'ing tragedy..that's what.
This is some simple shit and that's why it works. (My) passion for reading is directly joined at the hip with the fluidity of my emotions..content in the simple fact..that it never stays the same.
It's not that this is exceptionally humorous material. Instead it's the MC character chemistry and the spontaneity of Donnelly. Their dialogue is not only natural but really entertaining. Cracked me up to no end.
This is some simple shit and that's why it works. (My) passion for reading is directly joined at the hip with the fluidity of my emotions..content in the simple fact..that it never stays the same.
It's not that this is exceptionally humorous material. Instead it's the MC character chemistry and the spontaneity of Donnelly. Their dialogue is not only natural but really entertaining. Cracked me up to no end.
December 5, 2014
I should have liked this book more than I did. I love GFY, not to mention a double GFY! I love MCs with witty dialog and a sense of humor. And I love entertaining secondary characters (hello Bryce and Nestor!). But for some reason the story didn’t really click with me. Brandt and Donnelly went from being completely heterosexual (and making sure each other knew it!) to being 100% in love in less than 24 hours. Maybe it happens that way for some people. It all just seemed a bit rushed to me.
I did enjoy the book, just not as much as I thought I would. Thanks for the BR Sandi and Cory!!
I did enjoy the book, just not as much as I thought I would. Thanks for the BR Sandi and Cory!!
August 3, 2018
HECK YEAH. . . I'd give this more than five stars if I could. Scorching hot, incredibly sweet, funny, and well-written. Adored just about all of the characters. A totally FUN read which also dealt with some things in ways that made me want to cheer and applaud. Definitely a new favorite that will be re-read.
June 6, 2014
Well, damn. That was fun. The narrator did a great job with Brandt and Donnelly so their banter had me cracking up. Add in Bryce and Nestor and I was sold.
I definitely bookmarked a couple of chapters there. You know, the ones I want read aloud to me again. And again.
I definitely bookmarked a couple of chapters there. You know, the ones I want read aloud to me again. And again.
January 30, 2015
Hm. This book was kind of entertaining, but at the same time too confusing for me. Or maybe too weird.
There were more than 2 POVs in this book, which is fine by me as long as there is some consistency. Unfortunately, I had the feeling they were popping up every now and then, sometimes never to return.
This was a problem for me especially when I find the supporting character more interesting than the two MCs.
And the whole GFY thing in this book made me roll my eyes frequently...
Despite the strangeness, it's still not all bad, with a bit of mystery on the side. And it was hot, so maybe you just need to be in the right mood to read this one.
Maybe if read like an OTT statement of GFY romance, or read with the tongue firmly pressed into the cheek, it is an excellent read. Since I take my romance novels (mostly) quite seriously, this one was not really for me.
There were more than 2 POVs in this book, which is fine by me as long as there is some consistency. Unfortunately, I had the feeling they were popping up every now and then, sometimes never to return.
This was a problem for me especially when I find the supporting character more interesting than the two MCs.
And the whole GFY thing in this book made me roll my eyes frequently...
Despite the strangeness, it's still not all bad, with a bit of mystery on the side. And it was hot, so maybe you just need to be in the right mood to read this one.
Maybe if read like an OTT statement of GFY romance, or read with the tongue firmly pressed into the cheek, it is an excellent read. Since I take my romance novels (mostly) quite seriously, this one was not really for me.
March 7, 2016
This book was funny, sweet and hot! Based on the title alone, I would never have picked this book up (reminded me of the title of a bad 80's movie), but after seeing other reviews and a recommendation when I was looking for something light, I am so glad I picked it up.
The MC's Ethan and Gabriel relationship was just plain fun and the shopping scenes with the secondary characters Bryce and Nestor had me laughing out loud. If you are looking for a serious police procedural storyline forget it. If you are looking for a fun read with steamy sex and a sweet love story, read this book now!
This is the first book from author Xavier Mayne, but I hope there will be more to come.
The MC's Ethan and Gabriel relationship was just plain fun and the shopping scenes with the secondary characters Bryce and Nestor had me laughing out loud. If you are looking for a serious police procedural storyline forget it. If you are looking for a fun read with steamy sex and a sweet love story, read this book now!
This is the first book from author Xavier Mayne, but I hope there will be more to come.
May 2, 2015
This is one of those books where you have to check reality at the door. I just can't, in a million years, see some of the events that happened in this book happen.
That being said, so long as you check your reality before getting started, this is a very enjoyable book. The characters were quite likable, and there was minimal angst when the guys realized they had feelings for each other.
It did all feel a bit too easy all the way around, but this was light, fluffy, and fun, and I recommend it to anyone who likes a sweet GFY (and this really was GFY) story
That being said, so long as you check your reality before getting started, this is a very enjoyable book. The characters were quite likable, and there was minimal angst when the guys realized they had feelings for each other.
It did all feel a bit too easy all the way around, but this was light, fluffy, and fun, and I recommend it to anyone who likes a sweet GFY (and this really was GFY) story
February 1, 2013
Maybe I was in the wrong mood when I read this, but the humour just didn't work for me in this one. I did love the energy and enthusiasm, but it wasn't quite enough to carry me through all the suspension of disbelief required for this one.
I'm in the minority here, I know. I liked it okay, I just didn't love it.
Weirdly, I would have liked there to be less sex and more investigation.
I'm in the minority here, I know. I liked it okay, I just didn't love it.
Weirdly, I would have liked there to be less sex and more investigation.
December 25, 2012
Funny, entertaining, and hotter than sin. Character's you love and dialogue that's real. What's not to love?
October 16, 2018
Brandt ist Polizist und soll Undercover in eine Organisation einsteigen bzw. dort vorsprechen. So weit, so gut, nur dass diese Organisation Online-Pornos produziert und Brandt somit nackt vor der Kamera stehen müsste. Brandt ist von dem Ganzen natürlich überhaupt nicht begeistert, aber liefert beim „Vorsprechen“ so eine gute Leistung ab, dass er genommen wird.
Bandts Partner, Donnelly, steht ihm mit Rat und Tat zur Seite. Und so kommt es, dass Donnelly Brandt sogar ersteigert, da sich dieser vor dem Höchstbietenden live vor der Webcam ausziehen muss. Plötzlich ändert sich alles zwischen den beiden und sie müssen sich die Frage stellen, was oder wen sie denn eigentlich wollen. Und natürlich sollte nebenbei auch noch der Fall gelöst werden.
Ich muss ehrlich sagen, der Klappentext hat mich neugierig gemacht, aber was ich schlussendlich bekommen habe, damit habe ich nicht gerechnet. Irgendwie war die gesamte Geschichte für mich mehr als unplausibel und verworren. Und jetzt aufgepasst, denn ohne zu spoilern, kann ich meine Gedanken zu dem Buch leider nicht plausibel begründen.
Es fängt schon mit dem ganzen Undercover-Fall an. Denn wer zum Teufel soll vor der Kamera, wo er sich ausziehen muss, feststellen oder Beweise finden können, dass hier ein Steuerbetrug vorliegt? Nun ja, klingt für mich ehrlich nicht sehr logisch. Und ich denke mir, die ganzen Steuererklärungen und sonstiges einzufordern hätte da wohl weit mehr gebracht. Aber gut, Brandt musste in diese Organisation rein, und anscheinend fand der Autor diesen Weg am plausibelsten.
Sein Weg dorthin war auch abenteuerlich. Er hat sich als Handwerker ausgegeben bzw. als Student, der Geld braucht und sich daher vorstellen kann sich vor der Kamera auszuziehen. Und um auf sich aufmerksam zu machen, kauft Brandt sich 300 – 400 Dollar teure Jeans, extrem teure Unterwäsche und was weiß ich. Ja, sehr plausibel – Student, der pleite ist, kauft sich teure Klamotten, da man das Geld, wenn es knapp ist, eh für nix anderes braucht als Klamotten. Vermutlich habe ich als Student deshalb nie was zu Essen gehabt. ;-)
Ich hätte auch gut (zähneknirschend *hust*) drüber hinwegsehen können, wenn mich nicht andere Dinge auch noch etwas verwirrt zurückgelassen hätten. Irgendwie waren alle Männer an und für sich hetero, nur dass dann plötzlich beinahe jeder zweite einen festen Freund hatte ... ähm, ja. Auch vollkommen plausibel. Weil so etwas wie Bisexualität gibt es ja anscheinend nicht. Zumindest war ich dann schon ziemlich glücklich, dass die beiden Verkäufer schwul waren ... also so wirklich schwul ... nicht hetero mit der Angewohnheit halt doch irgendwie auf Schwänze zu stehen.
Donnelly war für mich auch so eine verwirrende Konstante, denn ich habe überhaupt nicht nachvollziehen können warum er auf einmal auf Brandt steht, vor allem da ich ihn vorher eher so wahrnahm, dass er von der Vorstellung, schwul zu sein, eher angeekelt war. Und urplötzlich, während dieser Liveübertragung, ändert sich das. Wie gesagt, ich konnte es überhaupt nicht nachvollziehen. Vielleicht hätte man da mal Donnelly zu Wort kommen lassen sollen, einfach damit man seine Gedankengänge auch mitbekommt. So war es für mich eher unpassend.
Wie der Fall schlussendlich gelöst wurde, hat mir nur mehr ein müdes Lächeln gekostet. Darauf will ich auch gar nicht weiter eingehen, da ich eh schon sehr viel gesagt habe. Ich begreift wahrscheinlich schon, dass das Buch überhaupt nichts für mich war. Aber zumindest muss ich anmerken, dass ich Bryce und Nestar, die beiden Verkäufer, absolut grandios fand.
Wie gesagt, die Geschichte hat für mich überhaupt nicht funktioniert und ich kann daher auch keine Leseempfehlung aussprechen.
https://www.gaydanken.at/2018/10/16/421/
Bandts Partner, Donnelly, steht ihm mit Rat und Tat zur Seite. Und so kommt es, dass Donnelly Brandt sogar ersteigert, da sich dieser vor dem Höchstbietenden live vor der Webcam ausziehen muss. Plötzlich ändert sich alles zwischen den beiden und sie müssen sich die Frage stellen, was oder wen sie denn eigentlich wollen. Und natürlich sollte nebenbei auch noch der Fall gelöst werden.
Ich muss ehrlich sagen, der Klappentext hat mich neugierig gemacht, aber was ich schlussendlich bekommen habe, damit habe ich nicht gerechnet. Irgendwie war die gesamte Geschichte für mich mehr als unplausibel und verworren. Und jetzt aufgepasst, denn ohne zu spoilern, kann ich meine Gedanken zu dem Buch leider nicht plausibel begründen.
Es fängt schon mit dem ganzen Undercover-Fall an. Denn wer zum Teufel soll vor der Kamera, wo er sich ausziehen muss, feststellen oder Beweise finden können, dass hier ein Steuerbetrug vorliegt? Nun ja, klingt für mich ehrlich nicht sehr logisch. Und ich denke mir, die ganzen Steuererklärungen und sonstiges einzufordern hätte da wohl weit mehr gebracht. Aber gut, Brandt musste in diese Organisation rein, und anscheinend fand der Autor diesen Weg am plausibelsten.
Sein Weg dorthin war auch abenteuerlich. Er hat sich als Handwerker ausgegeben bzw. als Student, der Geld braucht und sich daher vorstellen kann sich vor der Kamera auszuziehen. Und um auf sich aufmerksam zu machen, kauft Brandt sich 300 – 400 Dollar teure Jeans, extrem teure Unterwäsche und was weiß ich. Ja, sehr plausibel – Student, der pleite ist, kauft sich teure Klamotten, da man das Geld, wenn es knapp ist, eh für nix anderes braucht als Klamotten. Vermutlich habe ich als Student deshalb nie was zu Essen gehabt. ;-)
Ich hätte auch gut (zähneknirschend *hust*) drüber hinwegsehen können, wenn mich nicht andere Dinge auch noch etwas verwirrt zurückgelassen hätten. Irgendwie waren alle Männer an und für sich hetero, nur dass dann plötzlich beinahe jeder zweite einen festen Freund hatte ... ähm, ja. Auch vollkommen plausibel. Weil so etwas wie Bisexualität gibt es ja anscheinend nicht. Zumindest war ich dann schon ziemlich glücklich, dass die beiden Verkäufer schwul waren ... also so wirklich schwul ... nicht hetero mit der Angewohnheit halt doch irgendwie auf Schwänze zu stehen.
Donnelly war für mich auch so eine verwirrende Konstante, denn ich habe überhaupt nicht nachvollziehen können warum er auf einmal auf Brandt steht, vor allem da ich ihn vorher eher so wahrnahm, dass er von der Vorstellung, schwul zu sein, eher angeekelt war. Und urplötzlich, während dieser Liveübertragung, ändert sich das. Wie gesagt, ich konnte es überhaupt nicht nachvollziehen. Vielleicht hätte man da mal Donnelly zu Wort kommen lassen sollen, einfach damit man seine Gedankengänge auch mitbekommt. So war es für mich eher unpassend.
Wie der Fall schlussendlich gelöst wurde, hat mir nur mehr ein müdes Lächeln gekostet. Darauf will ich auch gar nicht weiter eingehen, da ich eh schon sehr viel gesagt habe. Ich begreift wahrscheinlich schon, dass das Buch überhaupt nichts für mich war. Aber zumindest muss ich anmerken, dass ich Bryce und Nestar, die beiden Verkäufer, absolut grandios fand.
Wie gesagt, die Geschichte hat für mich überhaupt nicht funktioniert und ich kann daher auch keine Leseempfehlung aussprechen.
https://www.gaydanken.at/2018/10/16/421/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2012
I loved this book, it was so funny I was laughing out loud in lots of places. OK, it was a classic 'cop under cover - or maybe not in this case - you'll see what I mean!!' story, but even at the start Ethan Brandt and his partner in crime Gabriel Donnelly were suspicious of the case they'd been asked to deal with by the District Attorney - tax evasion (?) at a 'frat' house which was being used by an on-line porn site? Strange indeed.
As Ethan was the younger (and more ripped supposedly) of the two, it was he who was nominated to go under cover and obtain all the necessary evidence to convict the tax evaders. He was definitely STRAIGHT, and NOT GAY IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, so he felt really uncomfortable being asked to infiltrate 'Str8 Frat Dudes!' and waltz around with his kit off in front of cameras (after posing as a carpenter working on the house as an intro), but of course, once the guys at the house saw how good-looking he was, it was a given that he'd be approached and offered a job. To enable him to get this job and make it seem more convincing, he and Donnelly went shopping in the gay district, and there they found Bryce (who is one of the best and funniest 'Flaming Queens' I've ever read about) working in 'Camp & Dragg'. He was hilarious and, taking every opportunity to get 'wood' into the conversation, showed them the kind of clothes that Ethan would never have bought in a month of Sundays otherwise, but which were exactly right to impress his new employers. Fast forward, Ethan (or Jason as he is known at the house), starts work as Mason (for protection against on-line stalkers) with a Shower scene which absolutely sizzles, and gets the highest ratings the place has ever seen! He starts to make friends with some of the guys at the house, especially Nick who despite being 'straight' has a boyfriend and seems to be into Ethan in a big way, and Tim Drake the accountant, and generally, although still feeling very uncomfortable about the guys and what else he might be asked to do, gets on with his job. One night when Nick sees how upset with all this Ethan is, he softly kisses Ethan, which doesn't freak Ethan out as much as it should. Donnelly still 'has his back' and they're very close, hanging with each other every day as they have done for the 2 years that they've been partners, even going to the gym and hanging out at weekends when not at work. Ethan meets Gabriel's sister Chris and her surrogate childs fathers, Will and Lucas, who are partners. Will explains to Ethan that he wasn't gay when he met Lucas, but as a result of injuries obtained in Iraq, Lucas was the only person to see Will for what he could be and not as he was, and that made Will slowly fell in love with him.
The problems start when 'Jason, the star of the show' is asked to do a private show for the highest bidder, as guys in the house are always trying to come up with new ways to broaden the scope of their work. Oh dear, panic time, big time for Ethan. The chief at the trooper station says that they can bid up to $20,000 to ensure that Ethan will do the 'private show' in front of Gabriel, and no-one else will see anything because the viewing is private (Gabriel says they can spend the time playing chess), but Ethan is unaware that the whole thing will be filmed by Nick as 'protection' in case the bidder goes nuts, and so Nick will see that Gabriel knows Ethan and everything will be over. What no-one realises is that Gabriel has fallen in love with Ethan (even though he protests vehemently that he is as straight as they come), and has been repeatedly watching Ethan's star turn in the shower. When the night of the private show arrives, Gabriel is as uncomfortable at first as Ethan, but when Ethan discovers that Gabriel has watched him in the shower scene and wants to replicate that 'jerking off' between the two of them now, he is horrified, and then aroused and titillated, and they do the necessary.
Fast forward, Ethan goes home to find Gabriel waiting for him in the dark, lots of anger and tears, truths and regrets - they kiss, and that's all. Off we go again to see Bryce and his boyfriend Nestor for more clothes, grab lunch and talk about what happened the previous evening, and suddenly they could be a couple - which Gabriel is very comfortable and happy with, Ethan still not so sure but maybe. They spend the weekend together as usual, but this time around with less time at the gym and a LOT more time in bed. Whoopee!! From there, everything goes to plan. They 'come out' to Chris, Will and Lucas (Will's gaydar had told him that it was only a matter of time for the both of them), Bryce and Nestor, and even kiss in front of the other troopers before the final sting is put into place. However, all is not well with what is actually happening back at the house as far as taxation etc., is concerned - there's not a thing that the people in the house can be charged with, everything is above board and legal. The operation is pulled before anything else can go wrong, and questions start being asked into all sorts of background events. We fast forward again and discover the DA has been trying to get the website shut down in any way he can as a member of his family has been buying into the stuff they show, and it could get very awkward for the DA as he tries to become Governor. Ethan and Gabriel are now a committed couple, and the guys at the house throw a party for them in a local restaurant as a thank you for keeping them open.
Whew, that was long-winded, but great fun to re-live. I will be looking out for some more of Xavier Mayne's work on this showing!
As Ethan was the younger (and more ripped supposedly) of the two, it was he who was nominated to go under cover and obtain all the necessary evidence to convict the tax evaders. He was definitely STRAIGHT, and NOT GAY IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, so he felt really uncomfortable being asked to infiltrate 'Str8 Frat Dudes!' and waltz around with his kit off in front of cameras (after posing as a carpenter working on the house as an intro), but of course, once the guys at the house saw how good-looking he was, it was a given that he'd be approached and offered a job. To enable him to get this job and make it seem more convincing, he and Donnelly went shopping in the gay district, and there they found Bryce (who is one of the best and funniest 'Flaming Queens' I've ever read about) working in 'Camp & Dragg'. He was hilarious and, taking every opportunity to get 'wood' into the conversation, showed them the kind of clothes that Ethan would never have bought in a month of Sundays otherwise, but which were exactly right to impress his new employers. Fast forward, Ethan (or Jason as he is known at the house), starts work as Mason (for protection against on-line stalkers) with a Shower scene which absolutely sizzles, and gets the highest ratings the place has ever seen! He starts to make friends with some of the guys at the house, especially Nick who despite being 'straight' has a boyfriend and seems to be into Ethan in a big way, and Tim Drake the accountant, and generally, although still feeling very uncomfortable about the guys and what else he might be asked to do, gets on with his job. One night when Nick sees how upset with all this Ethan is, he softly kisses Ethan, which doesn't freak Ethan out as much as it should. Donnelly still 'has his back' and they're very close, hanging with each other every day as they have done for the 2 years that they've been partners, even going to the gym and hanging out at weekends when not at work. Ethan meets Gabriel's sister Chris and her surrogate childs fathers, Will and Lucas, who are partners. Will explains to Ethan that he wasn't gay when he met Lucas, but as a result of injuries obtained in Iraq, Lucas was the only person to see Will for what he could be and not as he was, and that made Will slowly fell in love with him.
The problems start when 'Jason, the star of the show' is asked to do a private show for the highest bidder, as guys in the house are always trying to come up with new ways to broaden the scope of their work. Oh dear, panic time, big time for Ethan. The chief at the trooper station says that they can bid up to $20,000 to ensure that Ethan will do the 'private show' in front of Gabriel, and no-one else will see anything because the viewing is private (Gabriel says they can spend the time playing chess), but Ethan is unaware that the whole thing will be filmed by Nick as 'protection' in case the bidder goes nuts, and so Nick will see that Gabriel knows Ethan and everything will be over. What no-one realises is that Gabriel has fallen in love with Ethan (even though he protests vehemently that he is as straight as they come), and has been repeatedly watching Ethan's star turn in the shower. When the night of the private show arrives, Gabriel is as uncomfortable at first as Ethan, but when Ethan discovers that Gabriel has watched him in the shower scene and wants to replicate that 'jerking off' between the two of them now, he is horrified, and then aroused and titillated, and they do the necessary.
Fast forward, Ethan goes home to find Gabriel waiting for him in the dark, lots of anger and tears, truths and regrets - they kiss, and that's all. Off we go again to see Bryce and his boyfriend Nestor for more clothes, grab lunch and talk about what happened the previous evening, and suddenly they could be a couple - which Gabriel is very comfortable and happy with, Ethan still not so sure but maybe. They spend the weekend together as usual, but this time around with less time at the gym and a LOT more time in bed. Whoopee!! From there, everything goes to plan. They 'come out' to Chris, Will and Lucas (Will's gaydar had told him that it was only a matter of time for the both of them), Bryce and Nestor, and even kiss in front of the other troopers before the final sting is put into place. However, all is not well with what is actually happening back at the house as far as taxation etc., is concerned - there's not a thing that the people in the house can be charged with, everything is above board and legal. The operation is pulled before anything else can go wrong, and questions start being asked into all sorts of background events. We fast forward again and discover the DA has been trying to get the website shut down in any way he can as a member of his family has been buying into the stuff they show, and it could get very awkward for the DA as he tries to become Governor. Ethan and Gabriel are now a committed couple, and the guys at the house throw a party for them in a local restaurant as a thank you for keeping them open.
Whew, that was long-winded, but great fun to re-live. I will be looking out for some more of Xavier Mayne's work on this showing!
April 14, 2017
Ridiculous. Ludicrous. Absurd. Non-sensical. Illogical. Boring. Overly-wordy. One-dimensional... I think you get the idea. Now that that's off my chest, let's see if we can break this down.
This would have made a decent 30 page short story consisting of an intro to Donnelly and Brandt, Brandt's solo jerk off scene, the private session and resultant fallout , and then the resolution. But everything else was unnecessary and added nothing to the story in hotness, emotion, plot, or depth of any kind. Despite their insistence, Nick was mostly useless. While Bryce was cute, all the shopping excursions were a waste of fucking time and only contributed to the stereotypical view of actual gay men (unlike all the manly straight gay men).
Speaking of which, the whole gay-for-you thing. What the ever loving fuck?!? I'm okay with a GFY romance where two long-time friends realize that they love each other, even though one or both of them had previously only been attracted to women. But FOUR men who continue to identify as "straight" while discussing their "boyfriend"... and sucking mad cock... and staring at everyone else's dicks... and making constant/cheesy sexual innuendoes of penises... I just can't.
Then there's the "police investigation," if you can call it that. There was so much time spent on what amounted to absolutely fucken nothing. And while I can suspend reality, this was all just too much. If you want to have absurd police procedural stuff within a smutty sexscapade story, fine, whatever. But they really tried to have legitimate police stuff, and it was just embarrassing. Brandt was going undercover as a straight construction worker/college student who looks strapped enough for cash to do jerk-off scenes on camera... so he wore $300+ Diesel jeans to a construction site with Ginch Gonch underwear?!?! WHAT?!?!?!
I probably skimmed more than half of this, and outright skipped over the other half. At 50% our guys finally have some interaction that isn't homophobic bro-time, and I'll admit it was hot, but then it all went downhill . They literally said nothing during sexy times, it was all long flowery inner monologues about "the surge of sex energy flowing to [Brandt's] cock" and how it was "as if his cock had required the presence of another like itself to reach its full potential. And also, "churning testes". I know I'm saying this a lot but... What. The. Ever. Loving. FUCK?!??!
And I just realized that I forgot to even mention the "romance", so that should tell you something. It turned on a fucking dime at 50% and Donnelly pretty much got a personality transplant. But totally still straight though dude. But in love with you. But also totally straight, because I'm so manly. But I also love you so fucken much and wanna snuggle and out us to everyone without consulting you whatsoever... even though we're totes straight.
I own book 2, Wrestling Demons, but no way am I doing this to myself again.
This would have made a decent 30 page short story consisting of an intro to Donnelly and Brandt, Brandt's solo jerk off scene, the private session and resultant fallout , and then the resolution. But everything else was unnecessary and added nothing to the story in hotness, emotion, plot, or depth of any kind. Despite their insistence, Nick was mostly useless. While Bryce was cute, all the shopping excursions were a waste of fucking time and only contributed to the stereotypical view of actual gay men (unlike all the manly straight gay men).
Speaking of which, the whole gay-for-you thing. What the ever loving fuck?!? I'm okay with a GFY romance where two long-time friends realize that they love each other, even though one or both of them had previously only been attracted to women. But FOUR men who continue to identify as "straight" while discussing their "boyfriend"... and sucking mad cock... and staring at everyone else's dicks... and making constant/cheesy sexual innuendoes of penises... I just can't.
Then there's the "police investigation," if you can call it that. There was so much time spent on what amounted to absolutely fucken nothing. And while I can suspend reality, this was all just too much. If you want to have absurd police procedural stuff within a smutty sexscapade story, fine, whatever. But they really tried to have legitimate police stuff, and it was just embarrassing. Brandt was going undercover as a straight construction worker/college student who looks strapped enough for cash to do jerk-off scenes on camera... so he wore $300+ Diesel jeans to a construction site with Ginch Gonch underwear?!?! WHAT?!?!?!
I probably skimmed more than half of this, and outright skipped over the other half. At 50% our guys finally have some interaction that isn't homophobic bro-time, and I'll admit it was hot, but then it all went downhill . They literally said nothing during sexy times, it was all long flowery inner monologues about "the surge of sex energy flowing to [Brandt's] cock" and how it was "as if his cock had required the presence of another like itself to reach its full potential. And also, "churning testes". I know I'm saying this a lot but... What. The. Ever. Loving. FUCK?!??!
And I just realized that I forgot to even mention the "romance", so that should tell you something. It turned on a fucking dime at 50% and Donnelly pretty much got a personality transplant. But totally still straight though dude. But in love with you. But also totally straight, because I'm so manly. But I also love you so fucken much and wanna snuggle and out us to everyone without consulting you whatsoever... even though we're totes straight.
I own book 2, Wrestling Demons, but no way am I doing this to myself again.
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