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Icon Men #1
The First Real Thing
My name’s Cameron. And I’m a male escort. I’m the best, and most expensive, at what I do. I have one rule—never let anyone in.In five years of hooking I’ve never picked up the wrong guy. But when I met Toronto ad man Trevor Barclay in a Manhattan bar, his soft green eyes and shy smile drew me right in. When I discovered the error I had made, I should have written it off as a mistake and moved on. But memories of the steamy encounter we shared in his hotel room continued to haunt me.I never should have agreed to see him again, but from that very first night he worked his way under my skin and into my heart. I can’t stop thinking about him. But how can I tell him the first man he’s been with in sixteen years sells himself for a living?
123 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2010
3 people are currently reading
469 people want to read
About the author
Cat Grant
51 books462 followersIf you're looking for epic sci-fi, fantasy, or historicals, that's not me. Contemporary all the way, baby!
However, if you're looking for down to earth, complicated characters dealing with real-world problems (and the occasional comfort read!), I might just fit the bill. :)
My Books:
Courtland Chronicles (m/m & m/m/f)
By Chance
Strictly Business
Complications
The Arrangement
Triad
Allegro Vivace (m/m)
Sonata Appassionata (m/m)
Icon Men (all m/m)
The First Real Thing (2012 EPIC Award Winner - Erotica)
Appearing Nightly
A Fool for You
Habanera (Originally titled Entangled Trio - 2012 EPIC Award Finalist - Erotica) (m/m/f)
Once a Marine (m/m)
Power Play (with Rachel Haimowitz) (m/m BDSM)
Power Play: Resistance
Power Play: Awakening
Irresistible Attraction (all m/m)
Priceless
Doubtless
Fearless
Flawless (2014 EPIC Award Finalist - Short Fiction)
Forthcoming:
The Only One Who Knows (with LA Witt) - January 2014
The Only One Who Matters (with LA Witt) - March 2014
Black Dog (Bannon's Gym #1) - April 2014
Takedown (Bannon's Gym #2) - July 2014
Guarded (with LA Witt) (work in progress)
However, if you're looking for down to earth, complicated characters dealing with real-world problems (and the occasional comfort read!), I might just fit the bill. :)
My Books:
Courtland Chronicles (m/m & m/m/f)
By Chance
Strictly Business
Complications
The Arrangement
Triad
Allegro Vivace (m/m)
Sonata Appassionata (m/m)
Icon Men (all m/m)
The First Real Thing (2012 EPIC Award Winner - Erotica)
Appearing Nightly
A Fool for You
Habanera (Originally titled Entangled Trio - 2012 EPIC Award Finalist - Erotica) (m/m/f)
Once a Marine (m/m)
Power Play (with Rachel Haimowitz) (m/m BDSM)
Power Play: Resistance
Power Play: Awakening
Irresistible Attraction (all m/m)
Priceless
Doubtless
Fearless
Flawless (2014 EPIC Award Finalist - Short Fiction)
Forthcoming:
The Only One Who Knows (with LA Witt) - January 2014
The Only One Who Matters (with LA Witt) - March 2014
Black Dog (Bannon's Gym #1) - April 2014
Takedown (Bannon's Gym #2) - July 2014
Guarded (with LA Witt) (work in progress)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
February 8, 2014
This pretty much followed the formula of the rent boy who falls in love, but there were just enough unique things about it to make it stand out. Cam was more towards the end his career rather than the beginning, he really made no apologies about his profession to anyone and didn't have miles and miles of drama that drove him to his career. To him it really was a career and he was a pro.
I liked how he met Trev, that was different and the story told through Cam's blog made the ultimate reveal to Trev more believable. How Trev discovered what Cam did for a living? - awkward!
Well written and believable for this theme.
I liked how he met Trev, that was different and the story told through Cam's blog made the ultimate reveal to Trev more believable. How Trev discovered what Cam did for a living? - awkward!
Well written and believable for this theme.
September 25, 2014
Wow, I'm totally shocked.
I kind of loved this one.
Usually rent boy stories don't do much for me, but I couldn't put this one down.
Sure, it is totally unrealistic, with a rent boy living the high life, with fine wines, fancy clothes, maid service... but I didn't really care!
*blinders to reality, engaged*
It was so sweet, and I fell hard for Trevor. Really, really hard.
Okay, so I have a thing for that won't quit! So sue me, I have a type! ;)
Just adorable, hot, emotional stuff. I'll be looking for more Cat Grant in the future.
**Read for project GRL 2014- My quest to read authors that I've never tried before**
I kind of loved this one.
Usually rent boy stories don't do much for me, but I couldn't put this one down.
Sure, it is totally unrealistic, with a rent boy living the high life, with fine wines, fancy clothes, maid service... but I didn't really care!
*blinders to reality, engaged*
It was so sweet, and I fell hard for Trevor. Really, really hard.
Okay, so I have a thing for that won't quit! So sue me, I have a type! ;)
Just adorable, hot, emotional stuff. I'll be looking for more Cat Grant in the future.
**Read for project GRL 2014- My quest to read authors that I've never tried before**
June 9, 2012
4.5 stars
After having this book recommended to me and reading the blurb, I really didn't know what to expect with the main character having a life as an escort. But from the beginning I absolutely loved Cameron, he had his faults, but deep down he was just a product of circumstance, but didn't blame anyone for where he was or what he was doing. Then he meets Trev and breaks his one rule of never letting anyone in. Trev may have seemed unsure in the beginning after being in the closet for 16 years, but once he embraced who he was he turned out to be such a strong individual. These two just belonged together. I enjoyed this story so much from beginning to end and am looking forward to reading the sequel to find out more.
After having this book recommended to me and reading the blurb, I really didn't know what to expect with the main character having a life as an escort. But from the beginning I absolutely loved Cameron, he had his faults, but deep down he was just a product of circumstance, but didn't blame anyone for where he was or what he was doing. Then he meets Trev and breaks his one rule of never letting anyone in. Trev may have seemed unsure in the beginning after being in the closet for 16 years, but once he embraced who he was he turned out to be such a strong individual. These two just belonged together. I enjoyed this story so much from beginning to end and am looking forward to reading the sequel to find out more.
Read
September 15, 2010It’s the wee hours of the morning and for some odd reason I decide to put my thoughts down about this book before I sleep on it. Why, because
THE FIRST REAL THING
rocks and I did not want to lose this euphoric feeling that I have with something as mundane as sleep, before I put my thoughts down.
Once again it was no hardship to drop everything to read this book when it hit my inbox and read it in one go I did. Literally from the first page I was drawn into the story, into the blog that Cameron used as his medium to tell this story through. Cameron is a man for hire – he’s been at if for a while, he knows his job and he is more than anything else professional about it.
One might think it odd that a member of the sex trade decides to blog about his time in the business, giving advice and literally telling his readers about the pitfalls and the sometimes less than graceful adventures of his life. Cameron starts the blog because he has met someone and not just anyone – This one feels real.
It starts when out on a call in a swanky joint and with all the signs in place for “a go” he moves in and make the link up with his client. The night goes well, who am I kidding the night rocked and he places his card on the night table and leaves the hotel room with his pay in the envelope he pick up off the bar earlier. Feeling really good about the past few hours he is surprise at the call he picks up on his phone from the man he is actually suppose to be meeting.
Surprise and mistakes do not come often to Cameron these days, but he is knocked off balance because not only has he just slept with a stranger – but he has left his card on this unknowns man bedside table – And so the story begins.
This lucky man happens to be out of town business man Trevor Barclay , easy on the eyes , manners of a gentleman and exploring a side of his sexuality that he has not had the chance to explore for years. Really lucky for him he meets a wonderful man in the bar and the night was great.
How could he resist following up on his next visit and his next visit after that.
Cameron is the one now with the secrets and eventual lies. With wanting to see how far this first real thing will go, he tries to juggle first blush with life, but life has a way of folding in when you least expect it to and Cameron has his fingers literally in too many pies and too many issues to come out without some loses.
Where do I begin with describing how much I enjoyed this book, from the moment I read the blurb I knew Ms Grant was aiming for something special and for me she achieved it. I have read the whole "pretty woman " scenario various times and while the blurb might sound like this book goes that route it doesn't.
What I like
The plot - I rarely read a plot that I am totally pleased with what an author brings to it enough to mention it. But the little edges and the spin on the norm that Ms Grant ties into this plot made a difference and made me really liked it.
The characters - I could not like the two main protags more if I tried. Cameron is just great. A boy who had to grow up and learn things the hard way, but ultimately knows the value of true friends and looking after number one.
Trevor is just so fresh, so naive in certain ways - but I liked his openness, the fact that he took things at face value and just wanted happiness.
The minimum predictability - I love a book where I am just able to connect with the cast and see where they are either going or coming from and most of that is achieved by minimizing the predictables. There are a few in this but not enough to take away from how great the overall book was.
Blog style - The story is told from Cameron's POV and as such I got a very professional person who knows that although he is in the business of selling his best asset, he is also objective enough to tell us the reader about the ups and downs of his life. Probably because I am a blogger I can relate to the fact that he uses a pseudo name in his business and on his blog and also because blogs are more or less faceless entities, he can also tell it as it really is without really anyone second guessing him. Loved that.
Pace - With every book I read by this author her pacing gets better and better. I saw Cameron and Trevor meet, connect and found the time to know each other and not at a break neck speed. I also saw some of the minor subplot move much faster but only because that was where that plotline took it.
A story - The business of pimps and their wares is not the easiest to read without actually hating a good majority of the cast, I thought the authors choice of choosing high-end clientele and setting made a huge difference to my enjoyment. No tardy little alley or back of a car for these guys… Cameron made sure I saw his world the plush-ness and the seedy side of the business as well. This was naturally Cameron’s story and while I could say I needed more of Trevor's history – I wont, because Trevor gave it to me through Cameron.
Page time - I am a moaner about page time to develop characters and expand on issues and situations, but at 125 pages I thought Ms Grant packed a whole lot of Cameron's life along with enough about Trevor's and their developing relationship to satisfy me - any longer and it would have just gone flat.
Niggles
I thought how Trevor found out about Cameron was a little stilted and only one of the few predictable moment in the book.. While I knew Trevor would eventually find out about Cameron’s secret life – it just felt too like “here it comes – I was expecting that”.
Bottom line..
I think I have said enough about how much I like this book, right to the last page I had a great time reading this and was pleased that I was left on a most satisfied high... Definitely a recommended read.
Once again it was no hardship to drop everything to read this book when it hit my inbox and read it in one go I did. Literally from the first page I was drawn into the story, into the blog that Cameron used as his medium to tell this story through. Cameron is a man for hire – he’s been at if for a while, he knows his job and he is more than anything else professional about it.
One might think it odd that a member of the sex trade decides to blog about his time in the business, giving advice and literally telling his readers about the pitfalls and the sometimes less than graceful adventures of his life. Cameron starts the blog because he has met someone and not just anyone – This one feels real.
It starts when out on a call in a swanky joint and with all the signs in place for “a go” he moves in and make the link up with his client. The night goes well, who am I kidding the night rocked and he places his card on the night table and leaves the hotel room with his pay in the envelope he pick up off the bar earlier. Feeling really good about the past few hours he is surprise at the call he picks up on his phone from the man he is actually suppose to be meeting.
Surprise and mistakes do not come often to Cameron these days, but he is knocked off balance because not only has he just slept with a stranger – but he has left his card on this unknowns man bedside table – And so the story begins.
This lucky man happens to be out of town business man Trevor Barclay , easy on the eyes , manners of a gentleman and exploring a side of his sexuality that he has not had the chance to explore for years. Really lucky for him he meets a wonderful man in the bar and the night was great.
How could he resist following up on his next visit and his next visit after that.
Cameron is the one now with the secrets and eventual lies. With wanting to see how far this first real thing will go, he tries to juggle first blush with life, but life has a way of folding in when you least expect it to and Cameron has his fingers literally in too many pies and too many issues to come out without some loses.
Where do I begin with describing how much I enjoyed this book, from the moment I read the blurb I knew Ms Grant was aiming for something special and for me she achieved it. I have read the whole "pretty woman " scenario various times and while the blurb might sound like this book goes that route it doesn't.
What I like
The plot - I rarely read a plot that I am totally pleased with what an author brings to it enough to mention it. But the little edges and the spin on the norm that Ms Grant ties into this plot made a difference and made me really liked it.
The characters - I could not like the two main protags more if I tried. Cameron is just great. A boy who had to grow up and learn things the hard way, but ultimately knows the value of true friends and looking after number one.
Trevor is just so fresh, so naive in certain ways - but I liked his openness, the fact that he took things at face value and just wanted happiness.
The minimum predictability - I love a book where I am just able to connect with the cast and see where they are either going or coming from and most of that is achieved by minimizing the predictables. There are a few in this but not enough to take away from how great the overall book was.
Blog style - The story is told from Cameron's POV and as such I got a very professional person who knows that although he is in the business of selling his best asset, he is also objective enough to tell us the reader about the ups and downs of his life. Probably because I am a blogger I can relate to the fact that he uses a pseudo name in his business and on his blog and also because blogs are more or less faceless entities, he can also tell it as it really is without really anyone second guessing him. Loved that.
Pace - With every book I read by this author her pacing gets better and better. I saw Cameron and Trevor meet, connect and found the time to know each other and not at a break neck speed. I also saw some of the minor subplot move much faster but only because that was where that plotline took it.
A story - The business of pimps and their wares is not the easiest to read without actually hating a good majority of the cast, I thought the authors choice of choosing high-end clientele and setting made a huge difference to my enjoyment. No tardy little alley or back of a car for these guys… Cameron made sure I saw his world the plush-ness and the seedy side of the business as well. This was naturally Cameron’s story and while I could say I needed more of Trevor's history – I wont, because Trevor gave it to me through Cameron.
Page time - I am a moaner about page time to develop characters and expand on issues and situations, but at 125 pages I thought Ms Grant packed a whole lot of Cameron's life along with enough about Trevor's and their developing relationship to satisfy me - any longer and it would have just gone flat.
Niggles
I thought how Trevor found out about Cameron was a little stilted and only one of the few predictable moment in the book.. While I knew Trevor would eventually find out about Cameron’s secret life – it just felt too like “here it comes – I was expecting that”.
Bottom line..
I think I have said enough about how much I like this book, right to the last page I had a great time reading this and was pleased that I was left on a most satisfied high... Definitely a recommended read.
December 31, 2014
Mistakes happen to the best of us. That's how Cameron, professional male escort, happens to pick up Trevor instead of his intended client. When he discovers the mix-up, it's already too late. Cameron has done waht he's vowed to never let happen: he's fallen for another man. But how will Trevor react when he learns what Cam does for a living? Drawn deeper and deeper intp the torrent of lies and misunderstandings, Cam tumbles headlong into desaster.
This book is written in form of Cam's blog, so Cam becomes the 1st person narrator. His voice is witty, bitchy at times, laced with a refreshingly acrid humor, and honest to the point of painfulness despite the way he keeps pretending with Trev. Cam's personality and story are perfectly believable, although the client/ date mix up in the beginning comes across a little clicheed. Yet, Cam's voice makes it still worth wile, and afterwards - it's just great. The way the author makes the sex scenes an integral part of character development and plot forwarding is gratifying.
Everything else, I'd totally buy, too, from Trev's lifelong hiding and explosive openness after his coming-out, first to himself and then to his family to Cam's fear of rejection and his desperation when he discovers he can't simply stop doing what he does. The supportive cast was equally fine, particularly Mike the Drag queen and Trev's son Brian, the sour, nosey teenager.
A fine, character - driven story with a dry, no-nonsense narrator's voice and some heartwarming moments of angst, heartache and sweet emotion. Highly recommended.
First read in Oct 2010
Reread for www.prismbooksalliance.com
This book is written in form of Cam's blog, so Cam becomes the 1st person narrator. His voice is witty, bitchy at times, laced with a refreshingly acrid humor, and honest to the point of painfulness despite the way he keeps pretending with Trev. Cam's personality and story are perfectly believable, although the client/ date mix up in the beginning comes across a little clicheed. Yet, Cam's voice makes it still worth wile, and afterwards - it's just great. The way the author makes the sex scenes an integral part of character development and plot forwarding is gratifying.
Everything else, I'd totally buy, too, from Trev's lifelong hiding and explosive openness after his coming-out, first to himself and then to his family to Cam's fear of rejection and his desperation when he discovers he can't simply stop doing what he does. The supportive cast was equally fine, particularly Mike the Drag queen and Trev's son Brian, the sour, nosey teenager.
A fine, character - driven story with a dry, no-nonsense narrator's voice and some heartwarming moments of angst, heartache and sweet emotion. Highly recommended.
First read in Oct 2010
Reread for www.prismbooksalliance.com
January 16, 2011
While this story might not make me emotional BUT I must say that this one is better than a string of other M/M romances I read lately. Thus, I'm willing to give it a 4 star.
I always love the theme of rent-boy/whore. One thing I totally appreciate in The First Real Thing is that it is NOT over-dramatized. Often, story about rent-boy/whore maximized the drama and pain/torture/humiliation life. Not so with Cameron. He likes what he does and he takes full responsibility of the life he is living. I also enjoy the secondary characters in Mike/Michelle and Ryan. Since this story is written in 1st POV, with Cameron as narrator, I don't know much about Trevor to develop full sympathy but hey, if he makes Cameron happy, that I'm all in :).
I always love the theme of rent-boy/whore. One thing I totally appreciate in The First Real Thing is that it is NOT over-dramatized. Often, story about rent-boy/whore maximized the drama and pain/torture/humiliation life. Not so with Cameron. He likes what he does and he takes full responsibility of the life he is living. I also enjoy the secondary characters in Mike/Michelle and Ryan. Since this story is written in 1st POV, with Cameron as narrator, I don't know much about Trevor to develop full sympathy but hey, if he makes Cameron happy, that I'm all in :).
Read
November 18, 2010This book was a little surprise since I’m not used to find pretty much classical romance in the Ellora’s Cave offer, erotica plenty, don’t get me wrong, but erotica not always equal to romance.
Moreover The First Real Thing is also a classical theme, the hustler who fall in love of his/her customer. What probably gave me the nicer contrast it was the cold and detached description of Cameron’s life as whore and instead the sweet romance of his relationship with Trevor. And in a way it’s better that the description of Cameron’s life as a whore is cold and detached, than dirty and down, otherwise there would be too much distance between the two side of Cameron, the whore and the lover, and it would be impossible for him to concile them.
The first encounter between Cameron and Trevor was a mistake, and so Trevor doesn’t know that Cameron is a whore; by the way, as Cameron himself will say, he doesn’t look as a whore, he is average handsome, very much elegant and discreet; he gathers to an expensive clientele, and he is proud of it. Cameron’s life as a high paied rent boy is not that bad, but for sure it’s a bit cold; when he, accidentally, has the chance to experiment what it means having a boyfriend and a steady relationship, he re-evaluate all his life.
When Cameron was young he liked sex, as probably many other guys that age; he was not interested in a long-term relationship, he was only interested in getting off and having fun; when money got short, becoming a rent boy was an easy and fast solution. Cameron is not dumb, and he was enough clever to understand the do and don’t of the profession. But at almost 30 years old, Cameron is also clever enough to understand that his career is reaching to final point. Now I’m not sure that Cameron falling in love with a nice man is strictly related to the fact that he, in any case, couldn’t continue for all his life with his chosen career, but for sure it was a good coincidence that those events matched.
Even if older, Trevor is not more experienced, on the contrary he is pretty naïve; he has no idea that Cameron is a rent boy, and when he wonders on Cameron’s lifestyle, he is smitten enough to believe to the tale of a wealthy family. Probably Trevor, who was in the closet for 16 years, married and with a son, is still astonished by the fact that an handsome man like Cameron picked him up in a bar, and not only that, Cameron also agreed to meet again; Trevor is enjoying the ride until it lasts, and when things get serious, he is too blinded by happiness. Trevor basically is a nice man, as they don’t exist today, and probably in his naivite he is the only man who can really accept Cameron and his past.
As I said the story is a really good romance, made of nice dinners, sweet kisses, and yes, also some hot sex scenes, but they are not so much, or too much, to ruin the overall feeling of romanticism.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0044DEGM2/?...
Moreover The First Real Thing is also a classical theme, the hustler who fall in love of his/her customer. What probably gave me the nicer contrast it was the cold and detached description of Cameron’s life as whore and instead the sweet romance of his relationship with Trevor. And in a way it’s better that the description of Cameron’s life as a whore is cold and detached, than dirty and down, otherwise there would be too much distance between the two side of Cameron, the whore and the lover, and it would be impossible for him to concile them.
The first encounter between Cameron and Trevor was a mistake, and so Trevor doesn’t know that Cameron is a whore; by the way, as Cameron himself will say, he doesn’t look as a whore, he is average handsome, very much elegant and discreet; he gathers to an expensive clientele, and he is proud of it. Cameron’s life as a high paied rent boy is not that bad, but for sure it’s a bit cold; when he, accidentally, has the chance to experiment what it means having a boyfriend and a steady relationship, he re-evaluate all his life.
When Cameron was young he liked sex, as probably many other guys that age; he was not interested in a long-term relationship, he was only interested in getting off and having fun; when money got short, becoming a rent boy was an easy and fast solution. Cameron is not dumb, and he was enough clever to understand the do and don’t of the profession. But at almost 30 years old, Cameron is also clever enough to understand that his career is reaching to final point. Now I’m not sure that Cameron falling in love with a nice man is strictly related to the fact that he, in any case, couldn’t continue for all his life with his chosen career, but for sure it was a good coincidence that those events matched.
Even if older, Trevor is not more experienced, on the contrary he is pretty naïve; he has no idea that Cameron is a rent boy, and when he wonders on Cameron’s lifestyle, he is smitten enough to believe to the tale of a wealthy family. Probably Trevor, who was in the closet for 16 years, married and with a son, is still astonished by the fact that an handsome man like Cameron picked him up in a bar, and not only that, Cameron also agreed to meet again; Trevor is enjoying the ride until it lasts, and when things get serious, he is too blinded by happiness. Trevor basically is a nice man, as they don’t exist today, and probably in his naivite he is the only man who can really accept Cameron and his past.
As I said the story is a really good romance, made of nice dinners, sweet kisses, and yes, also some hot sex scenes, but they are not so much, or too much, to ruin the overall feeling of romanticism.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0044DEGM2/?...
November 15, 2011
3.5
I did like this book. What's not to like about Cameron, he's a slut! I love sluts! He said it! "There's a reason I've been so successful in this business. I'm a slut." I love when characters are honest about themselves, but there was something that prevented me from loving the whole book and I have no idea what it was. It wasn't Trevor, I liked him too. Again, no idea. Now I want to know what happens with Michael and Ryan.
I did like this book. What's not to like about Cameron, he's a slut! I love sluts! He said it! "There's a reason I've been so successful in this business. I'm a slut." I love when characters are honest about themselves, but there was something that prevented me from loving the whole book and I have no idea what it was. It wasn't Trevor, I liked him too. Again, no idea. Now I want to know what happens with Michael and Ryan.
February 22, 2013
Slightly different take on the theme of a male escort hiding his true profession. Cameron mistakes Trevor for his client and they share one night together. Trev is unaware of the mix up and wants to see Cameron again. What follows is a romance between the two men as Cameron struggles with how to tell Trev the truth and how to leave the business while Trev deals with his own issues.
A nice story with a happy ending.
A nice story with a happy ending.
October 28, 2011
This is a nice story about Cam, a high paid male escort and Trev, a newly out of the closet man.
It's cute to watch Trevor discover his sexuality and Cameron discover love.
Of course the path is not easy, and when Trev discovers Cam's real job, he is understandably upset!
But it's an easy, nice and a pretty angst free read that I enjoyed.
It's cute to watch Trevor discover his sexuality and Cameron discover love.
Of course the path is not easy, and when Trev discovers Cam's real job, he is understandably upset!
But it's an easy, nice and a pretty angst free read that I enjoyed.
September 22, 2010
Good m/m romance about a male escort who picks up the wrong guy in a bar and finds himself in an actual relationship... with a guy who doesn't know what he does for a living.
February 12, 2014
I really liked this one. I loved the plot, the characters are believable and the story is heartwarming.
Cam is a rent boy who accidentally sleeps with the wrong man. Then he can't forget the guy who stole his heart in an instant.
I loved Trev and the way he is able to get under Cam's skin. Both of their lives are going through huge changes and the different ways they handle these changes were very interesting to watch.
I enjoyed that this story is told as if Cam was writing a blog about his life and watching him change his mind about his job was great. The secondary story of his ill and dying friend is a nice touch. I'm actually looking forward to reading the next two books in this series.
February 17, 2014
2.5* rounded up.
This was... pat.
Very slick prose, m/m-speak with way too many brand names thrown about (the author might wish to remember that a) not everyone is impressed by brand names and that b) many brands are culture-specific and pretty much meaningless abroad) and sex the kind of which I've read so often, I found it boring. At the same time it was better written and plotted than many other m/m romances I read lately, so I round up rather than down.
I will read the author again, though in the hope that the namedropping gets less and the writing more individual.
This was... pat.
Very slick prose, m/m-speak with way too many brand names thrown about (the author might wish to remember that a) not everyone is impressed by brand names and that b) many brands are culture-specific and pretty much meaningless abroad) and sex the kind of which I've read so often, I found it boring. At the same time it was better written and plotted than many other m/m romances I read lately, so I round up rather than down.
I will read the author again, though in the hope that the namedropping gets less and the writing more individual.
August 18, 2011
Wow! I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did!
Rent-boy is one of my favorite cliches, but I'm usually a little wary about 1st person pov, but here it was done really tactfully and beautifuly!
I absolutely loved Cameron - he's a 3-dimentional very likeable character with his flaws and his goodnesses. Trev's a nice guy too and I loved the supportive cast as well, especially Mike and Charles. And Ryan :)
Now I'll go and read the sequels!
Rent-boy is one of my favorite cliches, but I'm usually a little wary about 1st person pov, but here it was done really tactfully and beautifuly!
I absolutely loved Cameron - he's a 3-dimentional very likeable character with his flaws and his goodnesses. Trev's a nice guy too and I loved the supportive cast as well, especially Mike and Charles. And Ryan :)
Now I'll go and read the sequels!
February 17, 2014
Predictable but I love escort/rent boy stories. This was a short, easy, angst free read, which is just what I needed right now. Love how Trev found out about Cameron... embarrassing!
February 6, 2014
3.75
A Sweet story that I enjoyed but wasn't unputdownable. Will check out other works by this author.
A Sweet story that I enjoyed but wasn't unputdownable. Will check out other works by this author.
March 8, 2014
'The First Real Thing' by Cat Grant is book one in her new series 'Icon Men'. I was intrigued by the description and Cameron's voice. The book is written exclusively in Cameron's point of view, with the added fun of his voice being his blog he's just started about his life. I have read many books by this author and always enjoy them so I jumped right in.
No matter how professional you are, having sex with strangers is still an intimate act, and hiding yourself from that for years will, eventually, come back to bite you. In my opinion. As Cameron says, it doesn't matter what you call him, whore, prostitute, rent boy, it all comes down to the same thing; he sells himself for a living and he enjoys it. He's been in the business for five years and I was pleasantly surprised to discover he wasn't some young kid. Nope. Cameron is thirty and seems happy with his life until he meets Trevor, and everything Cameron thought goes straight out the window.
It was an honest mistake picking Trevor up in the bar and assuming he was Cameron's client for the night. When he realizes what's happened, Cameron doesn't know how to feel as his two hours with Trevor is the most real he's felt in five years. But Trevor is just coming out of a divorce and Cameron is the first man he's slept with in sixteen years. Trevor isn't even out to his family. Oh boy. Now what? Cameron figures Trevor will go home to Toronto and he won't call. Cameron is wrong and now he's tentatively seeing Trevor when he's in town and juggling his work. Uh-oh. What's the saying about tangled webs?
The author introduced really great secondary characters like Cameron's best friend, Mike, or on drag nights, Michelle. Ryan, the young concierge who inadvertently loses his job and Cameron tries to prevent from making the same choices he did. And the bar, Icon, that Mike works at and will become a fixture in the series, although I can't say too much about it and ruin the surprise of Cameron's book.
This was an easy read, not too long, not too short, with some hot sex and a little drama. It was predictable in how Cameron and Trevor's relationship developed and the truth reveal by Cameron, but I still enjoyed it. Thank you, Cat, I had fun with your guys!
No matter how professional you are, having sex with strangers is still an intimate act, and hiding yourself from that for years will, eventually, come back to bite you. In my opinion. As Cameron says, it doesn't matter what you call him, whore, prostitute, rent boy, it all comes down to the same thing; he sells himself for a living and he enjoys it. He's been in the business for five years and I was pleasantly surprised to discover he wasn't some young kid. Nope. Cameron is thirty and seems happy with his life until he meets Trevor, and everything Cameron thought goes straight out the window.
It was an honest mistake picking Trevor up in the bar and assuming he was Cameron's client for the night. When he realizes what's happened, Cameron doesn't know how to feel as his two hours with Trevor is the most real he's felt in five years. But Trevor is just coming out of a divorce and Cameron is the first man he's slept with in sixteen years. Trevor isn't even out to his family. Oh boy. Now what? Cameron figures Trevor will go home to Toronto and he won't call. Cameron is wrong and now he's tentatively seeing Trevor when he's in town and juggling his work. Uh-oh. What's the saying about tangled webs?
The author introduced really great secondary characters like Cameron's best friend, Mike, or on drag nights, Michelle. Ryan, the young concierge who inadvertently loses his job and Cameron tries to prevent from making the same choices he did. And the bar, Icon, that Mike works at and will become a fixture in the series, although I can't say too much about it and ruin the surprise of Cameron's book.
This was an easy read, not too long, not too short, with some hot sex and a little drama. It was predictable in how Cameron and Trevor's relationship developed and the truth reveal by Cameron, but I still enjoyed it. Thank you, Cat, I had fun with your guys!
March 14, 2017
Puoi trovare questa recensione anche sul mio blog ---> La siepe di more
La prima cosa vera si presenta come una variazione di una storia vista parecchie volte (il prostituto che si innamora del cliente), ma sarebbe stato carino se non presentasse alcuni difetti che mi hanno fatto storcere il naso.
Punto primo, sono rimasta infastidita da questa mania di Cameron, l’escort, di gongolare sulle dimensioni del suo pene e sulla capacità del suo culo. Siamo tutti contenti per te, tesoro, ma quest’esaltazione fine a se stessa non ti rende più simpatico. Sarà una quisquilia, ma davvero fastidiosa.
Il secondo punto è più grave: in diversi dialoghi, Grant rende evidente di aver bisogno di troncare la conversazione e non si fa scrupoli di tagliarla bruscamente, lasciando il lettore stordito. Inoltre, ha la mania di riportare in dettaglio qualunque cosa mangino o cucinino i personaggi: sembra di stare su Giallo Zafferano! L’insieme dà l’idea di ingenuità: dove sarà stato l’editor? Per non parlare poi di questa scemenza del blog, del quale si riporta un post prima di ogni capitolo e che ha come unico scopo quello di sistemare in qualche modo un finale troppo tirato via.
Infine, c’è la questione della prostituzione. Possibile che il leitmotiv sia sempre “non posso stare con te se fai sesso a pagamento”? Insomma, chi si prostituisce è condannato alla solitudine? Mi piacerebbe leggere un finale diverso, una volta tanto, uno nel quale il partner accetta di stare accanto all’uomo che si prostituisce (o qualunque sia la combinazione di generi nella coppia). Ci sono un sacco di varianti possibili per non scrivere sempre la solita storia, anche nell’ambito della letteratura d’evasione, coglietele, benedetti autori!
La prima cosa vera si presenta come una variazione di una storia vista parecchie volte (il prostituto che si innamora del cliente), ma sarebbe stato carino se non presentasse alcuni difetti che mi hanno fatto storcere il naso.
Punto primo, sono rimasta infastidita da questa mania di Cameron, l’escort, di gongolare sulle dimensioni del suo pene e sulla capacità del suo culo. Siamo tutti contenti per te, tesoro, ma quest’esaltazione fine a se stessa non ti rende più simpatico. Sarà una quisquilia, ma davvero fastidiosa.
Il secondo punto è più grave: in diversi dialoghi, Grant rende evidente di aver bisogno di troncare la conversazione e non si fa scrupoli di tagliarla bruscamente, lasciando il lettore stordito. Inoltre, ha la mania di riportare in dettaglio qualunque cosa mangino o cucinino i personaggi: sembra di stare su Giallo Zafferano! L’insieme dà l’idea di ingenuità: dove sarà stato l’editor? Per non parlare poi di questa scemenza del blog, del quale si riporta un post prima di ogni capitolo e che ha come unico scopo quello di sistemare in qualche modo un finale troppo tirato via.
Infine, c’è la questione della prostituzione. Possibile che il leitmotiv sia sempre “non posso stare con te se fai sesso a pagamento”? Insomma, chi si prostituisce è condannato alla solitudine? Mi piacerebbe leggere un finale diverso, una volta tanto, uno nel quale il partner accetta di stare accanto all’uomo che si prostituisce (o qualunque sia la combinazione di generi nella coppia). Ci sono un sacco di varianti possibili per non scrivere sempre la solita storia, anche nell’ambito della letteratura d’evasione, coglietele, benedetti autori!
August 30, 2016
http://bianchianita1971.blogspot.it/2...
Questo romanzo narra le avventure di un ragazzo che vende il suo corpo per vivere e che si innamora per la prima volta nella sua esistenza. A differenza di altri romanzi del genere Cameron ha (più o meno) scelto questo stile di vita e non cerca scuse o scappatoie: si prostituisce con facoltosi clienti che pagano una fortuna per poter trascorrere del tempo con lui. Ha trascorso abbastanza tempo nell'ambiente per essere diventato cinico e distaccato ma anche per iniziare a porsi delle domande sul suo futuro: ha trent'anni e si chiede cosa ne sarà di lui dopo che dovrà smettere la sua "professione". Proprio in questo momento così particolare il destino mette sulla sua strada Trev, un uomo appena divorziato che sperimenta per la prima volta sensazioni strepitose con Cameron, ma Trev non sa cosa faccia Cameron per vivere...
Questa è stata una lettura davvero molto carina, con un'alternanza tra momenti drammatici e momenti più sensuali, dove l'amore (ma anche l'amicizia) dimostra tutta la sua forza salvifica. Molto interessanti, poi, i personaggi secondari, tra i quali spiccano in maniera particolare proprio Mike e Ryan che saranno i protagonisti del prossimo romanzo.
Questo romanzo narra le avventure di un ragazzo che vende il suo corpo per vivere e che si innamora per la prima volta nella sua esistenza. A differenza di altri romanzi del genere Cameron ha (più o meno) scelto questo stile di vita e non cerca scuse o scappatoie: si prostituisce con facoltosi clienti che pagano una fortuna per poter trascorrere del tempo con lui. Ha trascorso abbastanza tempo nell'ambiente per essere diventato cinico e distaccato ma anche per iniziare a porsi delle domande sul suo futuro: ha trent'anni e si chiede cosa ne sarà di lui dopo che dovrà smettere la sua "professione". Proprio in questo momento così particolare il destino mette sulla sua strada Trev, un uomo appena divorziato che sperimenta per la prima volta sensazioni strepitose con Cameron, ma Trev non sa cosa faccia Cameron per vivere...
Questa è stata una lettura davvero molto carina, con un'alternanza tra momenti drammatici e momenti più sensuali, dove l'amore (ma anche l'amicizia) dimostra tutta la sua forza salvifica. Molto interessanti, poi, i personaggi secondari, tra i quali spiccano in maniera particolare proprio Mike e Ryan che saranno i protagonisti del prossimo romanzo.
February 11, 2017
All'inizio ero un po' spiazzata perché mi ricordava molto Lasciati svelare di Lynda Aicher, poi però prende una piega tutta diversa, che mi è piaciuta. Avrei gradito solo il finale un po' meno frettoloso e che ci fosse anche il punto di vista di Trev. Molto coinvolgente l'atmosfera newyorkese.
October 7, 2010
Cameron is a high end escort and one night he meets his client in the bar and is strangely attracted, but when he leaves with his envelope of money it contains a plane ticket. Ooops, he picked up the wrong guy, not his client. Trev is from Toronto and when he comes back to town invites Cameron out thinking he’s just a guy. Cameron is a bit freaked, he doesn’t have a private life but he really likes Trev and he starts to think maybe it’s time to get out of the business. Just as he’s about to buy a friend’s bar, Trev brings his teen son with him to meet Cameron and the son has awesome google-fu skills and seems to have found Cameron’s website. Double oops. Not a great response when Trev finds out the truth. I enjoyed this story and it was told as if Cameron was writing a blog about his life so that was a bit different and watching him change his mind about the business and the secondary story of his ill and dying friend was a nice touch.
September 8, 2012
I had put this off for a long time simply because I have horrible luck with stories written in 1st person POV. This was not the case with this one. Grant did a wonderful job with this POV, showing the story where others would resort to telling. The MC, Cam, mentioned this story was his blog, but I kept forgetting because I was lost completely in my suspense of disbelief for each scene, feeling his feelings and (just as rare in 1st POV) understanding Trev's as well.
Very well done. Definitely buying book two in the series.
Very well done. Definitely buying book two in the series.
September 30, 2011
The first book of the Icon men trilogy. It's an interesting set up and a case of mistaken identity. What would you do you are a gigolo and the boyfriend you start to really care for finally found out about you? And it was his son who out him? That's what Cameron has to face when Trevor learned about who he is... Is there any chance for them? Cameron would do everything to remedy the situation. If only Trevor wants him back...
I liked reading this book. But the second half is a bit heavy handed because it also deals with other issues, which is a set up for the second book.
I liked reading this book. But the second half is a bit heavy handed because it also deals with other issues, which is a set up for the second book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2012
I think this could have been really good, but I just didn't ever really connect with the characters. I continued reading anyway, and it was moderately enjoyable, but then the ending was way too convenient. The ultimate conflict I thought was well done, and brought about in an interesting way, but then it was just solved with no real effort and it lacked any impact it could have had. A high two stars.
May 7, 2011
This is one of the few m/m books I've read where I thought the "big misunderstanding" was realistic and believable. I understood Cam's reasons for not wanting to reveal his secrets - unlike in other books where I thought that the 'secret' was no big deal and couldn't understand why the MC didn't just tell his love interest.
November 21, 2010
This is my favorite Cat Grant book so far... different and more mature than her previous offerings, which I quite liked. I'm usually not caught up by 'hooker with a heart of gold' sort of stories, but here, Cameron was such a well-drawn, thoughtfully characterized person, that I slipped into his mind and fell in love right along with him.
December 1, 2010
So far I am enjoying it. The style is smooth and easy. And for a story about a male escort not to graphic in the sex, its more sweet. But definitely sexy!
Okay, now I am done and I must say I really enjoyed this book. The sex was steamy but not over the top for the subject and the romance was what won me over. Believable and great. I will read Cat Grant again!
Okay, now I am done and I must say I really enjoyed this book. The sex was steamy but not over the top for the subject and the romance was what won me over. Believable and great. I will read Cat Grant again!
June 10, 2014
The brand name dropping, the over-the-top (read: unrealistic) lifestyle of a rent boy and the insta-love have crushed my soul. The sad thing is, the writing's not half bad: good structure/organization, decent editing, okay chemistry between the MCs. The story though. Meh.
Don't mind me, I'll be out there searching for my lost reading mojo...
Don't mind me, I'll be out there searching for my lost reading mojo...
August 30, 2016
3 STELLINE E MEZZA!
Qui la mia recensione:
http://mmedintorni.blogspot.it/2016/0...
Qui la mia recensione:
http://mmedintorni.blogspot.it/2016/0...
June 8, 2018
3 e 1/2
Una storia molto carina che avrei preferito fosse incentrata più sulla storia dei due personaggi che sulla vita "segreta" di uno dei due.
Una storia molto carina che avrei preferito fosse incentrata più sulla storia dei due personaggi che sulla vita "segreta" di uno dei due.
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