Just Ask by Mia Downing

Just Ask
Grade-B-
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Low, some very mild D/s
Genre: m/m, contemporary
Reviewed by Kate
When tycoon Jordan Hill inherits half of an island resort, he wants nothing more than to sell it quickly. But first, he has to spread his uncle’s ashes and meet the other owner, Ryan McCale (you see where this is heading, don’t you?). His uncle wanted him to take a vacation and relax, but Jordan doesn’t do vacations or relaxing.

Jordan takes a horseback tour of the island looking for a places to spread the ashes, but finds himself looking at the male tour guide instead. Which is weird since he’s straight, right? When the guide turns out to be Ryan, Jordan knows they will be spending more time together.

Jordan gets the impression that Ryan might be interested in him and decides to throw caution to the wind. A weekend of sex sounds good to both Jordan and Ryan. Not wanting him to sell the resort, Ryan decides to use the lure of sex to force Jordan explore and really see the island as more than just a business. Both are surprised by their feelings in what was supposed to be a what-happens-on-the-island-stays-on-the-island weekend.

I liked the connection between Ryan, who is very secure in his sexuality, and Jordan, who is exploring this new side of himself. What pulled me out of the story a bit was the suddeness of their affair. One minute Jordan is wondering why he’s turned on by Ryan and the next minute they are romping naked in the ocean. There was no hesitation or second guessing on Jordan’s part. He jumped in with both feet, which seemed a bit unbelievable. Once I got past the suddeness I enjoyed the story.

Kate’s Best Books of 2012

When putting my list together, I realized that my favorites came from all sorts of genres. And how can I pick just one to be number one? How can you compare a shifter to a m/m to a historical? You see my dilemma, right? So here is my top ten list of books I’ve read this year, by genre, in no particular order.

Sci-fi: To the Princess Bound by Sara King

Contemporary: Sweet Inspiration (Klaus Brothers #1) by Penny Watson (a holiday story)

Alternative (m/m): No Souvenirs by K.A. Mitchell

Pirate/Seafaring: Castaway Dreams by Darlene Marshall

Menage: Southern Seduction (Bride Train #8) by Reece Butler

BDSM: To Command and Collar (Shadowlands #6) by Cherise Sinclair

Paranormal/Shifter: Bear Meets Girl by Shelly Laurenston

Historical: Marry Me by Jo Goodman

Short Story: Tales from the Hotel Bentmoore by Shelby Cross (BDSM short stories)

YA Romance: Wrecked by Elle Casey

Honorable Mention: Kissin’ Tell (Rough Riders #13) by Lorelei James for the creative-and unforgettable-use of a trampoline

 

No Souvenirs by K.A. Mitchell

 No Souvenirs (Florida Books, #3)
Grade-A
Hotness Level-inferno
Kink Level-No kink
Series-Florida Books #3
Reviewed by Kate

Jae Sun Kim is an emotionless trauma surgeon who goes on a dive trip where he meets dive master Shane McCormack. Shane, a commitment-phobe, has flitted his way from one job to another after nine years of college. Like all polar opposites, they are attracted to each other. A vacation fling seems right to Kim, and since Shame is planning on moving onto the next job after this dive trip, he’s all for it too. Hotness ensues, much hotness. Often. I really enjoyed their story on the dive trip. And then it got so, so, so much better. And did I mention…hot.

Other notes:
1. This book has characters from Collision Course (Florida Books #2) in it, especially the second half, but it is definitely stand alone-able.

2. I loved the characters. Shane is so open and almost too honest about himself, but toward the end he fights to change. Kim is so closed off throughout the book, but when we finally found out his back story, I completely understood.

3. Read, read, read it.