Review: An enjoyable and spicey read......
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 8, 2012
This is my second book by this writing team (my first was Truthful Change) and I am sure it won't be my last! They seem to create characters that spark my interest and make me want to just keep reading. I can actually see everything they are "showing" me and I like that in a story I have purchased to entertain me. I was able to clearly see myself in the Square Peg (the Gay friendly bar owned by the 2 main character's) having a drink and chatting with Vin the bartender. I was able to immerse myself in this book and I quite enjoyed the vacation from my real life.The story starts with Benjamin, a mild mannered accountant by day, inheriting half interest in a gay bar from his estranged father. Shane was the live above the bar longtime manager who now owns the other half. The instant squabbling between the two was entertaining and very understandable. Ben has a business and numbers background and has big plans to improve the bar while Shane has a history with the place and no desire to change a thing. More arguing ensues when the true problems Square Peg faces comes to light and both men have to learn to compromise. A sexual chemistry that burned up my Kindle adds another level to their already shaky partnership. When they finally got their HEA, I had to just sit back and exhale.....loudly ... and smile because these guys really had to work for it.The BDSM aspect was fairly nicely done. I admit to a slight squick regarding two small (or maybe not so small) things that Ben does to Shane. One is a "slap" across the face and another is a "slap" to Shane's head.  It threw me a bit because as many BDSM themed books as I have enjoyed (M/M and M/F) I have never seen that type of "discipline" meted out. I was able to remind myself that Ben was brand new to his Dom kink and that together they were just feeling their way but it just did not sit well with me. It was not violent per say nor repeated throughout the story so I was able to finish the book and enjoy it but for some this could be a red flag. Ben was seriously possessive of Shane and the writers really made it obvious that Shane and Ben had a very loving relationship that included a BDSM element but it very easily could have read differently. It's a fine line IMHO so just beware.The secondary characters were incredible. I am not so silently hoping that we will get Vin's story sometime soon please?? He could almost have stolen the show from our main men and I loved him. All in all I would recommend Square Peg to those who love their M/M with angst, heat, romance and a well-deserved HEA. I will definitely be looking out for future works from this writing duo