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Calling The Shots (2012)

by Christine d'Abo(Favorite Author)

3.85 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1426894473 (ISBN13: 9781426894473)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Carina Press

series

Long Shots

review 1: 3.75 out of 5. Final book in a 4-book series that features a BDSM club and a specialty coffee shop named Pulled Long. All the books are connected through the characters and now those familiar with the family members who have been featured in the other books have an opportunity to hear Josh's story, the owner/operator of Mavericks, a private BDSM club. He is typical of so many people whose families of origin have taught them that love and marriage are really about abuse and pain, about judgmentalism and excluding those whose lifestyle don't "fit" within one's own morality. Josh's mother was his emotional "hair shirt" and one who has smothered him with her anger, her sense of revulsion over who Josh is, namely a bisexual who is honest enough to admit it. His dad has alw... moreays accepted him, but when the emotions get thick around him, he withdraws even as he is listening to his mother's "voice" in his head reminding him of what a "whore" he is for loving men as well as women. Now he is at a point in his life where he wants the connection, the settled and loving life many of his friends have found, but Josh has always managed to be the "outsider" even when participating in a threesome. His attraction to two of his employees not withstanding, Josh is still pulling away, listening to that inner diatribe of his mother's, allowing her criticism to pollute his willingness to be vulnerable or to take a chance with Beth and Oliver. This is a very emotional book and one that has lots of emotional highs and lows. There is a stalker and some public assaults on the club. There are opportunities for redemption that Josh turns away from. There are times when the reader isn't sure this man can ever find his own HEA. It's a book that will hook the reader's interest from page one as the author certainly knows how to pull that off. The writing itself testifies to an author who thinks through her story, manages to develop it in such a way that it flows toward its crisis and resolution, whose characters are real and gritty. It's a terrific read and I would have given it more stars except I am always disappointed when a long-awaited story turns out to be simply a novella. I hope this author continues to bring really good romance fiction our way on a regular basis.
review 2: Josh owns the sex club Mavericks, and even though he's happy that business is booming, he still finds a part of himself missing. He is very attracted to two of his coworkers, Beth and Oliver, and the feelings are definitely mutual. A threesome, long-term relationship is not the norm, but after dealing with their pasts and a psychotic hater, a move and the relationship is just what they all need. Good hot read!! less

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