Review: 4 stars!  Compulsion (stand-alone).  Max haunted by trauma hooks up with mysterious Seve only to have his past & present collide
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 10, 2014
“It didn’t matter, at least not while I was so high on him. Just like we were both high on the impulse and the risk involved. We weren’t so desperate that we wanted to be caught—it wasn’t that kind of recklessness. But the need for each other was always in our next breath…”Compulsion is Max Newman’s story.  Orphaned at age seven he grew in the foster system.  While going to University Max was close friends with Jack and Louis.  But shortly before his final exam he dropped out and begun living recklessly.  Soon his life spun out of control and things went terribly wrong, what exactly will unfold with story.Six months prior to book’s opening, haunted by secrets and trauma, Max has sought refuge with his friends in a seaside town.  He is trying to piece his life back together by becoming a recluse and working at a construction site. One night his friends talk him into coming out with them to the newly re-opened night spot Compulsion.Severino Nuñez, Seve has come to town to manage Compulsion, part of a family empire.  He spots Max and their attraction is instantaneous and a force of nature.  It seem neither has a choice in the matter and they end up having sex in the dark against a wall in an enclosed backyard.And so an addictive, strictly sexual relationship begins.  The sex between Max and Seve is single-minded; hot and heavy and in forbidden places. It also causes Max to recall and reflect over his recent stay in London as well as question if he is falling back into his old waysWhat started as mostly hot sexy encounters, but with glimpses of hope for more gets complicated when the painful past of Max starts colliding with murky secretive side to Seve.  Suddenly the truth stands between them… But what is the truth?  Mystery, danger and intrigue takes over story and keeps it going until the end…MAX NEWMAN: British/23 years/construction worker/University drop-out/Ash blond hair/blue eyes/orphan/bottom (& top).Max Newman and I were slower at connecting as he is not as interesting.  He is likeable; sweet, tender, reflective and my heart hurt for him and for what he had been through.  I wanted him to find himself and his footing.Seven words to describe Max: Charming, reflective, lost, insecure, withdrawn, easy-going and redeeming.“No one has ever given me more, Max! But you give as much as you take. You’re honest with your desire. I never felt that you surrendered to me, only that you willingly participated.”SEVERINO NUÑEZ, SEVE : Spanish/~25 years/Manager at Compulsion part of Media Group/Nephew to Medina head of family/$$$/black hair/brown eyes/beard/ex-swimmer/top.Severino Nuñez, Seve kept the story and mystery going for me, but unfortunately he never opened up.  There were also sides to his sexuality I would have liked to have seen explored.Seven words to describe Seve: Enigmatic, commanding, jaded, blunt, elusive, decent and complacent.“You didn’t expect anything different, did you? But not since you—and not here. I like my sex fast, immediate, and sometimes dangerous. There’s an added excitement to creative locations, don’t you agree?”Compulsion went from steam to mystery and angst and arrived at peace and closure.  But the ending was too abrupt.  I’d welcome an epilogue catching up with Max and Seve some years into the future.  Aside from not connecting with MCs I enjoyed the storytelling and Briticism, but dialogue felt a bit stilted at times.Steamy and mind-blowing sex in dangerous places!  Mysterious and suspenseful plot!  Mistakes and redemption!  4 stars!“No, I don’t. But I will for you. In fact, I’ll do more than that. I’ll fight for you, Max. I’ll fight to have you for as long as I can.”***Max’s rating: 3.5 starsSeve’s rating: 4 starsSex scenes rating: 5 starsSex scenes frequency: 4 starsStoryline concept rating: 3.5 starsStorytelling skills rating: 4 starsStory ending rating: 3.5 starsBook editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): 4.5 stars************************************************Overall rating: 4 starsWould I recommend this book: Yes.Would I re-read this book: Probably not.Would I read future books by this author: Yes.