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A review by ilovebakedgoods
Moment of Fate by Karen Stivali
5.0
10/10 Would pay for Bryan/Oliver porn.
Goddamn! This was one emotional and hot as fuck book. The chemistry between Oliver and Bryan is off the charts. HOT HOT HOT. Sizzling. All those other synonyms for "sexy as fuck." Not just that, it was intense and passionate.
Oliver is a dreamboat. Such a nice guy! So attentive and adoring and a little bit innocent as he figures out what he wants as a newly open gay man. Bryan, who happens to be sex-on-legs on a self-imposed yearlong celibacy, is a really good guy who carries a lot of weight on his shoulders and in the process of trying to make things easier on those he loves, he makes things harder on himself. He's the perfect person to help Oliver figure out what he wants. He'll just have to figure out what to do about that celibacy ordeal when things between them prove too hot to ignore.
These two are perfect for each other. Bryan just has to deal with some angst before he fully realizes and accepts it. I'm sure this part of the book may have rubbed some readers the wrong way but for me, it worked. Bryan was insecure after a prior relationship ended in a pretty shattering way, he's got some baggage and he doesn't really believe he should be a burden to anyone else, so yeah, his actions make complete sense to me and I'm empathetic, patient and forgiving enough to give someone a chance to get their head out of their ass to see what's right in front of them.
The sex scenes are all hot and all serve a purpose -- it didn't feel gratuitous, in other words. I was thrilled to be an observer to their sexy times, heh. There's a scene at a 'sex party' that made me blush so hot and deep that I probably gave Oliver a run for his money in the blushing department. It isn't that anything necessarily kinky happens, it's just intimate and public and I didn't expect it, plus there's the whole "whispering closely in someone's ear" factor that just does it for me.
I've read all of this author's m/m romance and I have loved them all but I think this might be my favorite! I love her writing style, the way she incorporates scent into the attraction between characters (I swear, it makes me want to go sniff some soap to smell what these guys must smell like), her characters are so fleshed out and tend to have rich friendships and family relationships and human flaws, plus she writes a lot about food, which I love. One of my favorite things about Karen's writing is her ability to take us into the hearts and minds of these young men. I love their voices and I am especially fond of their penchants for talking to or about their cocks. Bryan's cock is giving Collin's (from the first 3 books in the series) a run for its money!!!
Goddamn! This was one emotional and hot as fuck book. The chemistry between Oliver and Bryan is off the charts. HOT HOT HOT. Sizzling. All those other synonyms for "sexy as fuck." Not just that, it was intense and passionate.
Oliver is a dreamboat. Such a nice guy! So attentive and adoring and a little bit innocent as he figures out what he wants as a newly open gay man. Bryan, who happens to be sex-on-legs on a self-imposed yearlong celibacy, is a really good guy who carries a lot of weight on his shoulders and in the process of trying to make things easier on those he loves, he makes things harder on himself. He's the perfect person to help Oliver figure out what he wants. He'll just have to figure out what to do about that celibacy ordeal when things between them prove too hot to ignore.
These two are perfect for each other. Bryan just has to deal with some angst before he fully realizes and accepts it. I'm sure this part of the book may have rubbed some readers the wrong way but for me, it worked. Bryan was insecure after a prior relationship ended in a pretty shattering way, he's got some baggage and he doesn't really believe he should be a burden to anyone else, so yeah, his actions make complete sense to me and I'm empathetic, patient and forgiving enough to give someone a chance to get their head out of their ass to see what's right in front of them.
The sex scenes are all hot and all serve a purpose -- it didn't feel gratuitous, in other words. I was thrilled to be an observer to their sexy times, heh. There's a scene at a 'sex party' that made me blush so hot and deep that I probably gave Oliver a run for his money in the blushing department. It isn't that anything necessarily kinky happens, it's just intimate and public and I didn't expect it, plus there's the whole "whispering closely in someone's ear" factor that just does it for me.
I've read all of this author's m/m romance and I have loved them all but I think this might be my favorite! I love her writing style, the way she incorporates scent into the attraction between characters (I swear, it makes me want to go sniff some soap to smell what these guys must smell like), her characters are so fleshed out and tend to have rich friendships and family relationships and human flaws, plus she writes a lot about food, which I love. One of my favorite things about Karen's writing is her ability to take us into the hearts and minds of these young men. I love their voices and I am especially fond of their penchants for talking to or about their cocks. Bryan's cock is giving Collin's (from the first 3 books in the series) a run for its money!!!