Country Mouse & City Mouse by Amy Lane and Aleksandr Voinov

Why I read it: I received a review copy from the publisher so I'd understand the second book (which I got via NetGalley).

What it's about: (from Goodreads)  Owen may be a bit of a country mouse, but he's loving his vacation in London. After a long day playing tourist, he's on the hunt for some cheap beer and a good burger. Instead he finds a man hunting him, an arrogant prick with only one thing on the brain: the kind of meat that doesn't come on a bun.

Eighty-hour weeks at a trading desk don't leave Malcolm Kavanagh much time for meaningful relationships. Besides, in his world, everything's a competition-even sex. When his newest one-night-sub fails to show, Malcolm sets his sights on the pretty young Yank on the bar stool beside him.

Owen's all for an adventure with a native, but he's not the pushover Malcolm thinks he is, and Malcolm's not as shallow as he tries to be. They both soon learn that nothing's too intimate to share with a stranger, and the strangest things happen when two people share the most important pieces of their hearts.

What worked for me (and what didn't): I write this having finished Country Mouse and not having started City Mouse.  This novella, clocking in at just under 80 pages, tells the story of the initial meeting and first weekend together of Owen and Malcolm.  It ends in a hopeful HFN because, as can be expected, they really don't know each other well enough for a believable HEA.   I think in some ways the blurb and the title worked against me.  I didn't see Owen as particularly 'country'.  He was an American new to London but he didn't react with fear to the big city.  It's not like he'd never seen traffic or high rise buildings.  His own self reference as 'a bit of a country mouse' didn't sit right to the way I saw him.  And Malcolm isn't the Dom the blurb led me to expect.  Taking out those two items which did throw me off the scent a bit, I did enjoy this story.  Once Malcolm and Owen had made it back to Malcolm's penthouse, the characters started to shine and I began to get a handle on who these men are and why they could be so good together. 

Take It Off by LA Witt & Aleksandr Voinov

Why I read it: I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

What it's about: (from Goodreads)  Turnabout is foreplay.

High-end Market Garden rentboys Tristan and Jared have found their niche. Men are willing to pay good money to watch Tristan tease Jared, and the two of them seduce London’s elite with sex and power games.

Except Tristan is less and less interested in getting money out of the johns these days. He wants his partner in crime, and he wants the seduction to be real. But is Jared just in this for the pay?

When Rolex, the john who started it all, returns to Market Garden, the boys jump on the opportunity to service him—and each other—for a fresh pile of cash. Rolex isn’t the only one itching for a rematch, though. Jared’s been waiting for a chance to get back at Tristan for teasing him so mercilessly the first time.

And for a former stripper, revenge is a dish best served extra hot.

What worked for me (and what didn't): In my review of the first book Quid Pro Quo, I mentioned that Tristan was not well known because it was told from Jared's point of view.  Delightfully, this story is told from Tristan's perspective so I feel I have a better handle on the couple now.  I know from the first book, that Jared was very attracted to Tristan.  In this book, which takes place some little time afterwards, Tristan has found himself smitten but is uncertain of Jared's affections.  Because there has been some time which has passed and Tristan acknowledges that he recognised Jared's crush earlier, the reader is left in somewhat delicious doubt of Jared's affections - just as Tristan himself is.

Quid Pro Quo by LA Witt and Aleksandr Voinov

Why I read it: I saw a tweet from Sarah Frantz which said this book was super hot so I pre-ordered.  It was even on special.  That's called karma.

What it's about:  (from Goodreads)  For the past six months, Jared’s been selling sex at Market Garden, a London club that caters to the better-off. But business is slow in the run-up to Christmas, when businessmen and bankers are too busy bickering over bonuses to rent themselves a little high-class action.

Though Jared’s wallet finds the downtime unnerving, the rest of him rather enjoys the opportunity it gives him to admire Tristan, an old hand in the club whose reputation usually sees him well-booked. Jared has been crushing on Tristan for months—he’s no more immune to Tristan’s cockiness and confidence than the johns, and those are just Tristan’s inner qualities.

Just as Jared’s about to chat Tristan up, a businessman asks for something a little different: he wants to book them both. They agree—and Jared finds himself going from crush to mind-bending lust as he’s made the pawn in a sexual power game. Tristan shows him how a pro handles a john while delivering the top-shelf sex for which the Market Garden is so rightly renowned.

What worked for me (and what didn't): The blurb is spot on as to what happens in the book so I knew not to expect a traditional romance with HEA.  It is an erotic short story, not a romance.  There does appear to be some romantic interest between Jared and Tristan (certainly on Jared's part anyway) but whether it will turn into anything remains to be seen.  I gather that there are further books in this series planned, so I'm hoping to see a romantic arc develop.  The story is told from Jared's deep third person POV so Tristan remains largely unknown.  I'm certainly looking forward to learning more of him.