Gianni Holmes

Noah is a brat who loves acting out for attention. His father's law firm partner, Sawyer, steps in and decides a stern "Daddy" is what Noah needs. What progresses is a really, loving and beautiful Daddy/boy relationship that does allow Sawyer to blossom into the man he was meant to be. Okay...this is a tough one. I like this author. I've read a lot of her work. This one?? I'm not quite sure what to say about it. Noah is a grown man but sometimes acts like he's 15. I thought at first that it was because he was the rich & privileged guy that was used to getting his own way...but that became a yes and a no. He's in college...not grade school or high school. He seems to be "book" smart...but when it came to his grades, it appeared that he thought they should just automatically be handed to him because of who he was, and besides...he was busy...busy partying with his friends. So much so that when he doesn't get the grade that he needs, he goes to the professor that gave him the grade...has sex with him in the professor's office...and thinks that that will get said professor to change the grade. I have to admit that the professor is a degusting low-class creep but how could smart, "adult" Noah not know that this could/was absolutely going to escalate and blow up in his face? Noah is expelled and the creepy professor is fired...but of course we have not seen the last of him. Noah's Dad and Sawyer were partners in a law firm. Sawyer, as a defense attorney represented some "scum of the Earth" clients...but otherwise he was the smartest, most likeable character in the entire story. As Noah's father was on his honeymoon with his new wife, Sawyer gave Noah a place to stay...with him. Noah at times showed maturity and good common sense...he held a job in Sawyer's law office as Sawyer's PA, he volunteered at an animal rescue center...and he and Sawyer fell in love. Noah's past soon comes roaring back in spades. A very sad, heart-breaking event occurs in the story, which lost it a half star...and some other real drama takes place...almost entirely too much. I loved the character of Sawyer...had mixed emotions about Noah but was happy to see that nothing could stop Noah and Sawyer from finding their happiness. There was just too much that happened in between before them getting there. Will I read another book in this series? Absolutely.… (more)

Perhaps because I'd shared Book #1 and #2 with Declan and Owen, I was loved spending more time with them, like a good TV soap opera.

And I've said it before, I love the cover on this "Us" book - these models are a great representation of our MCs.

I knew this book would be the road to Declan and Owen's marriage. There wasn't one big story line, but a series of involving happenings that knitted together well to lead us to the denouement. I found these "chapters" - the resolution with Summer, the visit to the dungeon, recognition for Declan's philanthropy, the adoption of the abandoned dog, and so on - plenty interesting enough to make a novel.

John Solo gives each of the MCs there own easily distinguished voice - Owen's deep warm tender voice, and Declan's staccato more strident, nasal tone, are just right for each of them.… (more)

Read book #1 in the series about a month ago and found it startling. Ditto book #2. Weird and wonderful as Declan and Owen are, the dynamic between the two is fabulous, and a revelation to me.

Makes this series hugely interesting. So much so that I found the continuing "sidebar" of Owen's family a slightly boring distraction from Owen and Declan's story.

As in book #1, there's something magnetic about Gianni Holmes' romantic leads, Owen and Declan, with the inimitable aid of narrator John Solo.

John Solo does such a brilliant, brilliant job of Declan and Owen, as I mentioned in my review of book #1. In John Solo's hands, the guys are both accessible and gorgeous - such different life experiences, yet so complementary, so rawly honest and accepting of who they are and what they bring to each other.

I agree with the commentator below (Carol420), that it's hard to believe that society would be very accepting of them. Yet, somehow, what each brings to the relationship, Declan the dom, and Owen the submissive, provides a cocoon for the other. Despite all, we know they will be themselves and survive and thrive.

About the roles they play, ie dom and submissive, while I don't doubt they are authentic mantles for them both, they are also roles they play - and it is a kind of play ie playfulness, as much as role-playing. Owen, in particular, seems to hold on to his true self, and willingly play the role he is given, initially by Declan, and later inhabited at his own initiative.

The two are deeply in love by book #2, though Owen has to cross the rubicon and accept the idea they are forever - this isn't a temporary indulgence. It sounds so humdrum in commenting on a romance novel to say that they both have a huge capacity to love and care for each other - but it's like the living breathing third character in the story.

The contrast between Owen's first life, and his second life with Declan, is the stuff of romantic fiction - oh, that's right! that's what this is!

I love the depiction of Owen on the cover. Unfortunately, Declan was too much in shadow to recognise on the book #1 cover. However, I see them both clearly on the cover of book #3, where they stand together, and you do see the publisher's idea of Declan, and wow! that works!

Fortunately, Holmes has written 8 series and 58+ books, according to Library Thing. I'm curious to meet more of her characters.… (more)