Review: Fantastic and Hot!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 22, 2013
King Cobra is the first in Jayne Rylon's new Hot Rods series. Hot Rods is a offshoot of her successful Powertools series, and with Hot Rods, Ms. Rylon has turned up the heat even more, with lots of super hot men and one woman, each with a special talent to complete the team.Eli London runs the very unique and successful Hot Rods Restoration Team. The team is Eli's family, maybe not by blood, but in every other way that counts. They grew up together, taken in by Eli's father to honor the memory of his mother. Now, they are a respected and talented team of auto restorers, making magic with each car they restore.But Eli has been distracted, ever since he and his best friend/head mechanic Alanso got back from a visit to see his cousin Joe. What they saw there, with Joe and the whole crew, keeps going through Eli's head, and he wants what the crew has: a close and loving relationship with the team. Especially Alanso, and yet, he is afraid that acting on his desires could ruin what they have. Alanso wants it all as well, but most of all, he wants Eli, and not as just a friend anymore. When Eli hesitates too long, Alanso takes off, determined to find out what being with a man can be like.When Eli finally tells the team what has been on his mind, the surprise him with their enthusiastic interest in the idea, but tell Eli he had better bring Alanso back from wherever he's gone, before things go all wrong. What Eli sees from his vantage point takes him past the point of no return, and he and Alanso finally admit their feelings for each other. After an incinerating bedroom scene between these two, things are looking up, until bad news arrives, in the form of a letter concerning Alanso's long gone mother. As Eli tries to help Alanso cope, they spend a night drinking, and bring a woman back to the garage to share. Unknown to them, they have an audience of one, Mustang Sally, and she is devastated by their actions. When sobriety returns, they realize that they have, however unintentionally, hurt one of the team, one special woman they both love. Can they build on their relationship, and figure out how to bring Sally back into their lives? Can Alanso finally put the ghost of his mom to rest? And will the Hot Rods be ready and willing to take things to the next level, together?Seven men, one woman, with high revving libidos all around. The characters are all well defined, charismatic and deeply passionate, at work and outside it. King Cobra sets the stage for what is to come in this series, and what a fantastic start it is. I like this world Ms. Rylon created, a place where people can be what they are meant to be, and relationships are complex and yet never confusing.Eli London is King Cobra, leader of the team of Hot Rods. Strong, caring and torn in two by his feelings for not just Alanso, but the whole team. He considers all of them family, and he doesn't know how he could lust after these people he has grown up with. It's only when the fear that he may have driven Alanso away forever, that he faces his fears, and the team, with what he wants. I love Eli, because he tries so hard to do what is right, he is so loyal and determined to do what is best. It is only when he realizes he has to be true to himself that he is able to reach out to the others and see a chance at having it all.Alanso Diaz is strong, sexy and frustrated by Eli's hesitance. He knows what he wants, what he is, and I liked that about him, his innate honesty in the face of Eli's denial. I worried a bit when he took off, determined to find out what he was missing, but that worked out better than I could have hoped. I cried a bit at the news about his mom, but it did bring some closure for him, showing him the truth. I was happy to see his ability to roll with the punches, and stay strong even when he makes an error in judgment.There are some really hot bits in this, and the secondary characters are as well crafted and the leads in this one. I can't wait to see how the rest of the team fit in to the dynamic that started here. I look forward to seeing more of Roman, Sally, Kaige, Carver Holden and Bryce, and how each one becomes a part of the whole. The emotion in this one touched me, I cried, I laughed and I fell in love with Eli and Alanso. I look forward to falling under the spell of each and every member of the team, and I hope my fan will last through the series. This is for all those romance fans that believe love is love, and where there is love, life is just fine.Originally posted at Long and Short Reviews