Quick Reads, Quick Reviews 36: Valentine's Inc Edition

  

• Kissing Lessons: Valentines Inc. Book 10, Brittany Cournoyer
• Kissed in Paradise: Valentines Inc. Book 9, Crystal Lacy
• Kiss Me Tomorrow: Valentines Inc. Book 8, Ashe Winters

"Satisfaction guaranteed" only gets you so far when your your client is so surly even your friendliest staff member throws in the towel.  For Witt, he takes the statement to heart and goes so far as to coach Tony in the subtleties of dating himself.  But the lessons sink deep and he not only begins to feel proprietary, he's having trouble keeping his very-real feelings from growing.  Convinced his feelings are one-sided and that the lessons can't continue, he sets his client up with someone who could be their match, and it's not him.  With a bit of meddling and a little Valentine's Day magic Witt might get the forever-after he'd given up hope on keeping.

The set-up of this story was really cute and a bit of a disaster in the best way.  I was really curious as to how Witt would change Tony.  What I loved was that it was less about the changing and more about seeing the wonderful that was always there, it just needed a deeper look.  It had a really strong beginning that drew me into the story and I felt for Witt.  He was a bit much, however, with his intense denial and unwillingness to alter his path despite the glaring signals that it wasn't the right thing to do.  And without enough from Tony's side, getting to know him and his feelings, the end lacked the emotional punch it needed.  Overall, it was a very sweet story with a great ending.  3.5 stars.

It's not every day you get a chance with your "gay epiphany", but Carey's forced holiday just might be more than he could have dreamed when he sees his high-school crush pull in to pick him up from the airport.  Finding out the tour guide is actually a hired four-day date?  It could either be a disaster or an opportunity to be with Fei in a way he only fantasized about.  As he and Fei give in to their attraction and their feelings begin to grow they have a chance to make something permanent, but only if they can overcome distance, past hurts, and confess what's in their hearts.

This was incredibly sexy, very sweet, and so very good.  I loved the idea of a second chance with an old crush that never got off the ground and this was done so well with enough of a conflict to pose an issue, but not enough to really threaten the relationship.  With the story short enough to curtail some of the bonehead moves either man could have made, the focus was kept on the budding feelings and the surmountable odds that could keep them apart.  Ugh, and the steam?  FanTAStic.  Carey was incredibly sweet and his heart was so perfect to balance Fei's insecurities.  I was in love with the couple from the word go.  5 stars.

The pain in our pasts can cripple us or turn into a strength to propel us forward into the lives we were meant to live.  For Mal, he's lost in his depression until his friends finally break through his funk to get him back on his feet.  Levi's past is much heavier and he refuses to see it as a strength and instead hides it while keeping up his cool, calm, charming personality in both school and work.  When a chance meeting followed by a fake date set up bring both men together it's clear that Fate has a plan.  But fear and shame might destroy their chance at forever and it will take everything in Mal's heart to give Levi the freedom to choose happiness.

This wasn't exactly a quick read and with the subject matter included in the story, it shouldn't have been.  What I loved was that the heavy topics weren't shied away from and the healing process wasn't glossed over either.  The build-up of feelings gave a great foundation for the more sexually intimate situations and I was so very pleased with the slow growth of their physical relationship.  Trust and hearts were more important than what they could offer one another sexually and after Levi's past, it was exactly what he needed.  I really liked this story and the title tie-in was unexpected and perfectly sweet.  4 stars.